Did You Know The Lighthouse? Ya maybe some of them duno but now i gona show you! Watch and Reach! Detail of the LightHouse
The LightHouse

It is difrricult to imagine that for most of singapore's history, fort canning was one of the mose promisnet landmarks of singapore for ships entering the harbour. although the south lookout is now hidden from the sea by broad areas of reclamation and tall buildings. for most of singapore's recent history fort canning hill and the structure on it guided many ships to safe anchorages.

one of the most important aides to shippers was the lighthouse on the hill. the height of the hill (120 feet/36.3 meters) plus the height of the lighthouse tower (82 feet/24.3 meters) gave the light a total elevation of 202 feet/60.6 meters, making it visible 18 miles/30 kilometers away.

Technically the light itself was of the dioptric occulting type of the first order, visible for 17 seconds, followed by an eclipse for 3 seconds. the lighthouse keeper reached a watch room just below the light by climbing. the light was focused by dioptric lenses and mirrors. the light was "eclipsed" (darkened) every 17 seconds by lowering a metal cylinder around the burner for 3 seconds, thus giving rise to the term "occulting type".

The first signal light on fort canning was a simple lantern attached to the top of the flagstaff in 1855. the flagstaff light was replaced by the lighthouse on february 27, 1902 by riley, hargreaves & co., who in 1909 combined with another company to form united engineers. their prenises for many years stood nearby, on river valley road.

The light was created by a burner of the latest type fuelled by kerosene. which generated 20,000 candlepower. it was said to have been extremely reliable and its consumption of fuel, 320 liters per month, not excessive. this light source was used right up untill decemers 14, 1958, when the lighthouse was closed and a new signal light useing electricity was erected on top of the fullerton building.

The fort canning lighthouse was closed because already in 1958 tall building were making it invisble from the sea. the fullerton building light was itself taken down in 1979 and is now in the maritime museum.