Low Head Lighthouse - Georgetown
Another shot of Low Head Lighthouse showing the shed to the left that houses the foghorn which can be seen protruding from the roof.
It was decided in the 1920’s to install a Fog Alarm at the Low Head Light Station to warn ships that they were approaching a dangerous shore and to advise them by means of a unique signal that the shore was Low Head.
The equipment necessary for this installation was manufactured in Birmingham, England by Chance Bros., the same company who had made the equipment for the Lighthouse and who were the leading makers of marine navigation equipment in the world at the time.
The installation was shipped to Tasmania and installed in 1929. The Foghorn was commissioned and operated without fail whenever fog was imminent. The original installation consisted of 2 air compressors (1 a standby) powered by 2 Gardner kerosene motors (1 a standby) supplying air to 2 joined air receivers, each of a capacity of 6.5 cu.m. to an operating pressure of 30lbs/sq.in. An air operated timing mechanism controlled operating and sounding valves which produced the unique tone in the Diaphone which could be heard at distances up to 20 miles. In the late 1930’s, electric power was provided to the Lightstation and Fog Horn. One of the Gardner motors was removed and replaced with an electric motor. In 1973, it was decided that, due to the rapid advancement of electronic navigation aids, the use of the foghorn was no longer necessary and the installation was decommissioned.
