Norah Head is on a magnificent headland on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia, south of Newcastle and north of Sydney. The nearest main town is Toukley where there is lots of accommodation. It is a beautiful lighthouse with extremely scenic views, and is a popular spot for weddings with a marriage celebrant - the celebrant can tell you how to book your wedding and the Norah Head lighthouse or any other scenic spot on the Central Coast [1] It is the site of the last built significant lighthouse, a 27 metre tower, completed in 1903 with assistance of Edward Hargraves of Norahville after considerable numbers of ships foundered on the coast near the headland. Originally powered by a kerosene concentric wick lamp and featuring a Fresnel lens prism floating on a mercury bath. The prism was rotated by descending weights, the light was electrified in 1961 and fully automated in 1995. The light flashes twice in 30 seconds, and is visible to 27 nautical miles (50 km).
The former lighthouse keeper's cottages (Head Keeper's separate cottage and two assistants semi-detached quarters) are maintained, and are available for rent.
It was the site of sea battles between the Japanese Navy and Merchant navy ships in World War II: Two ships were sunk, Nimbin (1067 tonnes) by a mine on 5 December 1940 and BHP's Iron Chieftain (4877 tonnes) by a submarine on 3 June 1942. The Age (4775 tonnes) was also attacked on 3 June 1942.
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