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Dent Island Lighthouse

Fl W 5s🇦🇺Queensland's East Coast, AUOperational

Location & Light Range

About Dent Island Lighthouse

This white, round metal tower stands 33 meters tall, with a focal height of 37 meters. It features a red cupola and emits a white flash every 5 seconds, visible for 11 nautical miles. The lighthouse was constructed in December 1879, alongside Cape Cleveland Light, and received upgrades in the 1920s with an incandescent gas mantle and a new lens. It was converted to solar power in 1983 and became unmanned in 1987. The structure is clad with galvanized iron plates and topped by a lantern room.

Why it matters: The lighthouse guides ships navigating the Whitsunday Passage and marks the Dent Island Passage. It is listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List.

Background
Dent Island Light is an active lighthouse on Dent Island, a small island off the coast of Queensland, Australia, part of the Whitsunday Group of the Whitsunday Islands. Located on the southwest tip of the island, the light guides ships navigating the Whitsunday Passage, between Whitsunday Island and the islands to the west, and marks the Dent Island Passage. From its inception, the lighthouse was closely connected to Cape Cleveland Light. Both lighthouses were recommended, approved, tendered and finally, in December 1879, constructed together. The light had two upgrades in the 1920s, replacing both the oil lamp and fourth-order lens with an incandescent gas mantle and a new lens. In 1983, it was converted to solar power; and was demanned in 1987. The lighthouse is a typical for Queensland, made of a timber frame clad with galvanized iron plates. It is topped by a Chance Brothers lantern room, and painted white with a red dome. A modern ML-300 lantern replaced the original lens.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl W 5s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
White
Flash Count
1 flash
Interval
5s
Raw Code
Fl.W. period 5s
Focal Height
37m
Geographic Range
11NM

Construction & History

Heritage Status
listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List

References & Identifiers

Admiralty No.
K3064
NGA No.
10204
Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →
Wikidata
Q5259374 →

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
33m
Tower Shape
round
Tower Color
white and red
Material
metal

Structure: White round metal tower, red cupola; 33

Location

City
Queensland's East Coast
Country
🇦🇺AU
Latitude
-20.3693°
Longitude
148.9289°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Dent Island Lighthouse at night?+
Dent Island displays the characteristic Fl W 5s — 1 white flash every 5 seconds. Each lighthouse has a unique flash pattern published in the List of Lights, allowing mariners to positively identify it and distinguish it from other navigation aids in the area.
Which ports and harbors does Dent Island Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Dent Island Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is HAMILTON ISLAND at 1.7 NM to the NE. Other ports served include Whitsunday Island (8.7 NM NE), SHUTE HARBOUR (9.3 NM WNW), AIRLIE (13.3 NM WNW), Abell Point (13.9 NM WNW). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Dent Island Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Dent Island Lighthouse is currently operational. It is actively maintained and continues to emit its characteristic light signal for marine navigation. Most modern lighthouses are automated and monitored remotely by the national maritime authority.
How can I track vessels near Dent Island Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Dent Island Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.