Maritime history buffs will no doubt be aware that 1 July 2015 marked the centenary of the Australian Government’s management of lighthouses and other aids to navigation in Australian waters.
One hundred years ago, the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service (CLS) officially accepted responsibility for all lightstations around Australia’s 37,600-kilometre coastline. This role is now performed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which maintains a network of nearly 490 navigation aids at approximately 380 sites. AMSA’s guiding “lights” extend to all points of the continental compass: to Bramble Cay, northeast of Thursday Island (closer to PNG than the Australian mainland), Maatsuyker Island in the Southern Ocean off Tasmania, Steep Point (WA), and to the mainland’s most easterly point, Cape Byron (NSW).
Australia’s first colonial navigation beacon was a bonfire lit in 1793, on South Head, Port Jackson, for the passenger ship Bellona. A metal basket fuelled by Newcastle coal was introduced in 1794, and in turn replaced in 1818 by Australia’s first lighthouse, the Macquarie Light, at Dunbar Head (Vaucluse).
Featured article in October’15 issue of On The Road magazine.
Contacts and information
Australian Heritage Lighthouses
http://www.amsa.gov.au/navigation/services/aton/lighthouses
Lighthouse Accommodation in Australia
http://www.lighthouses.org.au/lights/Holiday/Accommodation.asp
Cape Byron Bay Trust
P: 13000 PARKS (1300 072 757)
Green Cape
NPWS (Eden District) – Merimbula
P: (02) 6495 5000
E: eden.district@npws.nsw.gov.au
W: NPWS Accommodation and Booking Information
Cape Otway Lightstation Keepers’ Cottages
P: (03) 5237 9240
E: keeper@lightstation.com
Cape Nelson Lightstation Keepers’ Cottages
P: (03) 5523 5119
E: capenelsonlighthouseaccom@gmail.com
www.capenelsonlighthouse.com.au
Cape Bruny Lightstation Keeper’s Cottage
P: (03) 6298 3114
Low Head Pilot Station
(03) 6382 2826
E: bookings@lowheadpilotstation.com.au
Low Head Light Keepers Cottage
E: bookings@lowheadpilotstation.com.au
Cape Willoughby Lighthouse Keepers’ Cottages
SA Department for Environment & Natural Resources
P: (08) 8553 4410
E: kiparksaccom@sa.gov.au
www.parks.sa.gov.au/kiaccommodation
Cape Borda Lighthouse Cottages
SA Department for Environment & Natural Resources
P: (08) 8553 4410
E: kiparksaccom@sa.gov.au
www.parks.sa.gov.au/kiaccommodation
Bathurst Point Keepers’ Cottages
Rottnest Island Authority
P: (08) 9432 9111
Cape Capricorn Lightstation Keeper’s Cottage
Contact: Bruce and Glenice Kingston
P: 0418 740 067 or (07) 4125 3447
E: sandbarcharters@hotmail.com
Cape Don Lightstation Keepers’ Cottages
Cape Don Experience (aka FishingEarth)
(08) 8979 0030 or 0447 789 777
E: info@fishingearth.com
www.ozhorizons.com.au/nt/darwin/capedon/capedon.htm