Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
On the most Southern Westerly tip of Australia, where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet, stands Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse as a solitary sentinel.
It was totally manually operated until 1982 by a clockwork mechanism and kero burner, one of the last in the world.
Built from 1895 to 1896 the tower and cottages are built of local limestone.
The Cape Leeuwin Light was first mooted in 1881, but took 15 years to eventuate.
Disputes raged over the best site for the lighthouse. Also, until the Kalgoorlie-Coolgardie gold rushes Western Australia was the poorest State, and with no assistance from the Eastern States, it was unable to proceed with a project of this size.
Further delays occurred when it was found the the initial test bores that showed bedrock at 2.5 metres had only found a rock shelf and it was then necessary to excavate to 6.7 metres.
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|Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia, Australia||Go to Cape Leeuwin|
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|15 Captains Ln, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia||Go to Arthur Head|
|1 Fleet St, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia||Go to South Mole|
|N Mole Dr, North Fremantle WA 6159, Australia||North Mole|
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|Wadjemup Rd, Rottnest Island WA 6161, Australia||Go to Wadjemup (Rottnest)|
|Lancier St, Rottnest Island WA 6161, Australia||Go to Bathurst Point|
|5 Tank Road, Guilderton WA 6041, Australia||Go to Guilderton|
|Escape Island, Western Australia, Australia||Go to Escape Island|
|Houtman Abrolhos WA 6530, Australia||Go to Pelsaert Island|
|481-485 Marine Terrace, West End WA 6530, Australia||Go to Point Moore|
|118A Kempton St, Bluff Point WA 6530, Australia||Go to Bluff Point|
|Unnamed Road, Dirk Hartog Island WA 6537, Australia||Go to Cape Inscription|
|13 Annear Pl, Babbage Island WA 6701, Australia||Go to Babbage Island|
|Unnamed Road, Macleod WA 6701, Australia||Go to Point Quobba|
|Cardabia-Ningaloo Rd, Ningaloo WA 6701, Australia||Go to Point Cloates|
|Yardie Creek Rd, North West Cape WA 6707, Australia||Got to Vlaming Head|
|Reader Head Rd, Cossack WA 6720, Australia||Go to Jarman Island|
|Lurujarri Walk, Minyirr WA 6725, Australia||Go to Gantheaume Point|
|Cape Bossut, Lagrange WA 6725, Australia||Go to Cape Bossut|
|Broome-Cape Leveque Rd, Dampier Peninsula WA 6725, Australia||Go to Cape Leveque|
|Caffarelli Island, Western Australia, Australia||Go to Caffarelli Island|
continued from above …
The original 1895 plan included two lights. The present high white light tower and in front of it, a low red light tower. Although the foundations for this low tower were completed, the structure was never built because it was considered that a second light would cause confusion and draw ships closer to the Cape.
Almost as famous is the waterwheel and wooden flume constructed to bring fresh spring water to the lighthouse from a distance away.
It has been calcified by the minerals and salts reminiscent of a limestone area known for its huge caves.
The original light source was kerosene wick lamp, then the world’s largest, revolving in a mercury bath.
This light had an intensity of 250,000 candelas and was visible for 40km.
In 1925, the light was upgraded to vapourised kerosene with a mantle, giving a light intensity of 780,000 candelas.
In 1955, a radio beacon was installed.
The light was totally manually operated until 1982 when it was converted to electricity replacing the clockwork mechanism and kero burner, one of the last in the world. The new 1,000 watt halogen lamp increased the candelas to 1,000,000.
This light was automated in September 1992.
We need your help in compiling a list of keepers for this lighthouse. If you have any information then send it to firstname.lastname@example.org.
Please include this lighthouse’s name, the keepers full name and what years they were keepers. Also include the same information for any other lights they were on.
|Location||Lat: 34° 22.4900’ S Long: 115° 08.1800’ E|
|Current Optic||Chance Bros. 920 mm focal radius|
|Construction||White round masonary tower with white Chance Bros. 12'0''dia. lantern with curved glazings|
|Range||Nominal: 26 nm Geographical: 20 nm|
|Character||Fl. W. 7.5 secs|
|Light Source||120V, 1000W TH 3000hr|
|Power Source||240V AC|
|Notes||As at Sept 2015|
The tower is not open to the public.
The lighthouse grounds are open all year round.
No tours are available.
No lighthouse accommodation is available
Detail to come.
There is no Friends Group
Detail to come.
Detail to come.
- Detail to come