Cape Schanck Lighthouse

Cape Schanck is on the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula. It is part of a triangle of Bass Strait lights, the other two being Cape Otway and Cape Wickham Lighthouses, of radio controlled lights and signals.

History

The tower was built in 1859 from limestone and painted white. It is the second coastal light established in Victoria.

It is considered by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to be the most original lighthouse under its jurisdiction.

An unusual feature of this lighthouse is its stone stairway rather than the usual wrought iron.

The present apparatus, installed in 1915 is a first order Chance Brothers lens. Upgrades of this lantern were carried out in 1907, 1917 and 1940.

The original clockwork mechanism is still in place, though the light is now turned by an electric motor.

The lighthouse was renovated from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Work included the refurbishment of the lantern.

There is an excellent Museum in the old Assistant Lightkeepers Quarters.

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Cape Schanck working
Image: Garry Searle

Early postcard (1920s?) of the Cape Schanck Lighthouse
Published by the Rose Stereograph Co.

The Cape Schanck Lighthouse at dusk
Image: Kristie Eggleston

Part of the Victorian LoA group at Cape Schanck lighthouse Clockwise from top left: Malcolm Macdonald, Linda Merson, Jen Eggleston, Paul Shultz, Leonie Adams, Doug Huxley, John Ibbotson, Max Huxley, Jack Hanath, Denise Shultz, Steve Merson and Kristie Eggleston — Part of the Victorian LoA group at Cape Schanck lighthouse
Clockwise from top left: Malcolm Macdonald, Linda Merson, Jen Eggleston, Paul Shultz, Leonie Adams, Doug Huxley, John Ibbotson, Max Huxley, Jack Hanath, Denise Shultz, Steve Merson and Kristie Eggleston
Image: Steve Merson

The clockwork mechanism
Image: Ed Kavaliunas

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© All images are copyright of their respective photographers and are not to be used without permission.

Title	Address	Description
Eastern (McCrae)	658 Point Nepean Rd, McCrae VIC 3938, Australia	Eastern (McCrae)
Cape Schanck	Cape Schanck Access Rd, Cape Schanck VIC 3939, Australia	Cape Schanck
Cape Liptrap	755 Cape Liptrap Rd, Tarwin Lower VIC 3956, Australia	Cape Liptrap
Citadel Island	Citadel Island, Victoria, Australia	Citadel Island
South East Point (Wilsons Promontory)	Unnamed Road, Wilsons Promontory VIC 3960, Australia	South East Point (Wilsons Promontory)

continued from above …

More history.

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.

Technical Details

First Exhibited	1859
Architect
Status	Active
Location	Lat: 38° 29.5720' S Long: 144° 53.1890' E
Original Optic	Chance 920mm fr catadioptric, alternate 45° flash panels and drum lens segments
Current Optic	As above
Automated	21/9/87
Demanned
Construction	White stone tower and lantern with red cupola
Height	21 m
Elevation	100 m
Range	Nominal: Long Flash white: 19 nmiles red: 16 nmiles Short Flash white: 27 nmiles red: 23 nmiles Geographical: 25 nmiles
Character	Morse: "N" ( - . ) in 22.5 secs White with Red sectors
Intensity	Long Flash white: 90,000 cd red: 22,000 cd Short Flash white: 1,700,000 cd red: 430,000 cd
Light Source	120V, 1000W, T.H.
Power Source	240V AC mains
Operator	AMSA
Notes	As at June 2012

NB: Information is historical data and is not for navigational purposes.

Access

The tower is not open to the public except by tour.

Tours

Tours are available www.facebook.com/lighthousecapeschanck

Accommodation

No lighthouse accommodation is available