Appeal puts foghorn on track to sound again

A community campaign to bring back the iconic Point Lonsdale foghorn has exceeded its fundraising target in just four days.

The Queenscliff Maritime Museum launched the appeal late last month to help restore the nearly 100-year-old foghorn, with the aim of returning the historic signal to more regular use.

The appeal raised more than its $2,000 target within four days, prompting the museum to continue seeking donations and volunteers to support a broader restoration of the foghorn.

Museum president Kerri Erler said the enveloping, deep sound of the foghorn reminded many people in the community, including herself, of their childhood.

“When you heard it, you knew it was foggy and if it was early in the morning or late at night, you just slid down a little bit deeper in your bed or in your blankets,” she said.

“But you knew the ships were out there trying to sail through the fog and this was the sound that was to bring them in safely.

“That’s what we’re trying to bring back.”

When operating, the foghorn was synchronised with the lighthouse beacon to guide ships through heavy fog, with its sound carrying up to 12km offshore and into Ocean Grove.

Built by Chance Brothers of Birmingham, England, the foghorn operated from 1928 until it was decommissioned in 1993 and replaced by a more modern system.

It was restored by volunteers from the Queenscliff Maritime Museum between 2003 and 2006 but is now only sounded for rare ceremonial occasions.

The initial fundraising will cover a safety inspection of the air tanks and repairs to two air valves, work required before the foghorn can sound again.

“We thought ‘We’ll put out a bit of a callout’ and it just went gangbusters,” Erler said.

“It just means for us we can do the basic repairs to hopefully get it going by International Lighthouse Weekend and then have a program of events, because I’ve already had people coming forward to volunteer to keep it going and there’s more work to be done inside the shed.

“It’s really an issue of having the people who have the know-how and who are dedicated to make it happen.”

Everyone who donates to the appeal will become a founding member of The Hornblowers and be invited to witness the first sounding of the foghorn.

“Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale are some of the most maritime towns in Victoria,” Erler said.

“It’s such a special place. We really want to celebrate the maritime history.”