aquilareen
Semaphore Signal Station
Set up 1856 on LeFevre’s Peninsula, location soon named Semaphore, demolished Dec 1937 (leaving Time Ball tower) after signal station had been transferred to Outer Harbor Feb 1937. [Photo from State Library of SA: B 29158 (1920)]
“The Collector of Customs. . . considered a Signal Station on Lefevre's Peninsula preferable to the semaphore on O'Hallorau Hill, as it would convey intelligence of vessels rounding Troubridge Shoal, as well as from all other parts of the Gulf.” [Adelaide Observer 24 Sep 1853]
“The French Barque Cora. . . made a lengthy passage from the Mauritius of 45 days. . . and brought up to an anchor abreast the Semaphore Signal Station in the evening. She was neither boarded by the reporter or the pilot until the following morning, owing to the boisterous state of the weather.” [Advertiser 18 Oct 1858]
“The Admella, steamer, arrived abreast the Semaphore Signal Station, at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, having during her trip round from Melbourne fully tested her steaming power during the fury of a strong north-west gale.” [Advertiser 16 May 1859]
“It is the function of the semaphore station, from which the district takes its name, to record the arrival and departure of all interstate sod overseas ships using Port Adelaide or Outer Harbor. In the case of incoming overseas vessels, which use the pilot service, the .station communicates with the pilot, instructing him when to leave for the Semaphore anchorage to board the ship. Another of its functions is to signal the state of the tides.” [Advertiser 4 Mar 1936]
“the old Semaphore signal station had deteriorated beyond repair, and as the old site was no longer suitable for signal station purposes, owing to the increased illuminations in the vicinity, it had been decided not to reconstruct the station at the Semaphore, but to transfer it to a site at the Outer Harbor.” [Advertiser 8 Jul 1936]
“Semaphore signal station was used to signal to ships for the last time today. The new tower at Outer Harbor is now completed, and will be used for the first time tomorrow. The little white cabin at the end of a short pier which has served as the look-out, and which has been a landmark ever since Semaphore has been Semaphore-in fact, it gave the town its name, has been the victim of dry rot and attacks by white ants. This, with the need for a more modern station, caused the Harbors Board to move the station to Outer Harbor.” [News 4 Feb 1937]
“Within the next few days a beginning will be made on the demolition of the old Harbors Board signal station at Semaphore which has not been used since the new 50-ft. concrete tower at Outer Harbor was opened in February this year. The Semaphore signal station, from which Semaphore got its name, is associated with the earliest history of the district, and, because of its historical interest, a number of Semaphore residents asked to have the landmark preserved when the transfer to Outer Harbor was made, but the unsafe condition of the structure made it impossible for the request to be granted.” [Advertiser 8 Dec 1937]
Semaphore Signal Station
Set up 1856 on LeFevre’s Peninsula, location soon named Semaphore, demolished Dec 1937 (leaving Time Ball tower) after signal station had been transferred to Outer Harbor Feb 1937. [Photo from State Library of SA: B 29158 (1920)]
“The Collector of Customs. . . considered a Signal Station on Lefevre's Peninsula preferable to the semaphore on O'Hallorau Hill, as it would convey intelligence of vessels rounding Troubridge Shoal, as well as from all other parts of the Gulf.” [Adelaide Observer 24 Sep 1853]
“The French Barque Cora. . . made a lengthy passage from the Mauritius of 45 days. . . and brought up to an anchor abreast the Semaphore Signal Station in the evening. She was neither boarded by the reporter or the pilot until the following morning, owing to the boisterous state of the weather.” [Advertiser 18 Oct 1858]
“The Admella, steamer, arrived abreast the Semaphore Signal Station, at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, having during her trip round from Melbourne fully tested her steaming power during the fury of a strong north-west gale.” [Advertiser 16 May 1859]
“It is the function of the semaphore station, from which the district takes its name, to record the arrival and departure of all interstate sod overseas ships using Port Adelaide or Outer Harbor. In the case of incoming overseas vessels, which use the pilot service, the .station communicates with the pilot, instructing him when to leave for the Semaphore anchorage to board the ship. Another of its functions is to signal the state of the tides.” [Advertiser 4 Mar 1936]
“the old Semaphore signal station had deteriorated beyond repair, and as the old site was no longer suitable for signal station purposes, owing to the increased illuminations in the vicinity, it had been decided not to reconstruct the station at the Semaphore, but to transfer it to a site at the Outer Harbor.” [Advertiser 8 Jul 1936]
“Semaphore signal station was used to signal to ships for the last time today. The new tower at Outer Harbor is now completed, and will be used for the first time tomorrow. The little white cabin at the end of a short pier which has served as the look-out, and which has been a landmark ever since Semaphore has been Semaphore-in fact, it gave the town its name, has been the victim of dry rot and attacks by white ants. This, with the need for a more modern station, caused the Harbors Board to move the station to Outer Harbor.” [News 4 Feb 1937]
“Within the next few days a beginning will be made on the demolition of the old Harbors Board signal station at Semaphore which has not been used since the new 50-ft. concrete tower at Outer Harbor was opened in February this year. The Semaphore signal station, from which Semaphore got its name, is associated with the earliest history of the district, and, because of its historical interest, a number of Semaphore residents asked to have the landmark preserved when the transfer to Outer Harbor was made, but the unsafe condition of the structure made it impossible for the request to be granted.” [Advertiser 8 Dec 1937]