Pt Malcolm Lighthouse

The Point Malcolm Lighthouse is Australia’s only inland lighthouse.

History

The Point Malcolm Lighthouse was built in 1878 on the eastern side of the narrows between Lake Alexandria and Lake Albert, opposite Narrung, a small Aboriginal community. 

The importance of the Murray River trade and the expected increase in the exporting of riverine-delivered produce via Port Victor (now Victor Harbour) led to the decision to build the lighthouse at Point Malcolm. The lighthouse was built to assist ships that were passing through Lake Alexandria on their way to Lake Albert or the ports on the Murray River.

The lighthouse was built by Richard Trenouth, a well-known builder from Strathalbyn, at a cost of ì°´3 for both the tower and keeper’s cottage. The light was first exhibited on 1 February 1878.

The lighthouse was turned off in September 1931, due a decline in river traffic. The switching off was stated in Notice to Mariners No. 3 of 1931, issued by the South Australian Harbours Board.

The keepers’ cottage and adjacent buildings are boarded up and derelict, but basically intact. The keepers were self-sufficient and sold extra produce to locals. They stored it in a small cave near the riverbank, which was cool and damp, while they waited for a boat to transport it to town for sale. A hole in the ground near the lighthouse dropped immediately to the cave below.

An automatic “light on a pole” has been installed next to the old tower, to guide recreational and commercial traffic using the river and lake system.

The concrete tower appears to be in relatively good condition, but the accompanying keepers’ cottages are deserted and dilapidated.

Keepers

We need your help in compiling a list of keepers for this lighthouse. If you have any information then send it to keeper@lighthouses.org.au.

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.