Wedding Cake Sydney Harbour Works Complete

Wedding Cake Works Complete

The Western Channel Light Station has been restored to its former glory, with the reconstruction of the Wedding Cake now complete, Ports and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi said today.

“After a final lick of paint yesterday, the Western Channel Beacon, affectionately known as the ‘Wedding Cake’ is back in business,” Mr Tripodi said.
 
“Over the years it has become a sentimental harbour fixture for boaters as well as commuters travelling on the Manly Ferry.”
 
The beacon is one of a pair of lighthouses in Sydney Harbour known as the ‘Wedding Cakes’ due to their white-painted, tiered construction. 
 
“Unfortunately, two years ago it collapsed into the harbour as one or two of the twelve piles supporting it gave way.”
 
Mr Tripodi said the task of reconstructing the 85 year old maritime structure and retaining its maritime heritage required careful consideration and planning by Sydney Ports Corporation.
 
“Sydney’s maritime heritage is very important to the NSW Government, which is why Sydney Ports took some time to carefully consider the options for rebuilding the Wedding Cake.
 
“The new structure has been designed to look very similar to the 1924-built Wedding Cake and to restore the visual relationship with the other Wedding Cake, the Eastern Channel Light station. 
 
“It was rebuilt using the salvaged and refurbished lantern house with only minor visible differences in the new lower section, originally known as the gas house.” 
 
Mr Tripodi said the Wedding Cake will remain a core component of the navigation system within Sydney Harbour.
 
“Its restoration comes just in time for the start of the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race and the annual New Years Eve harbour celebrations.”