Point Lonsdale Lighthouse
A vigil is kept by the still manned Point Lonsdale Lighthouse over the narrow entrance to Port Phillip Bay. The Rip, as it is known, is one of the most notorious entrances to any bay in the world.
History
his lighthouse is one of the few left that is staffed 24 hours a day. The base has an signal and observation room for the control of shipping through the Heads.
Point Lonsdale received a signal station in 1852 to help ships negotiate its dangerous waters.
Four years later, a red pillar beacon was built to warn of Lonsdale Rock.
A wooden lighthouse from Shortland Bluff was then dismantled and re-erected at Point Lonsdale in 1863.
The present lighthouse was built in 1902, but the earlier wooden lighthouse was not cut up for firewood until 1912.
In 1915 the light passed from the Victorian State Government to Commonwealth control. It was handed back in 1934 and classified as a harbour entrance light rather than a “Coastal Highway Light”.
The base was altered in 1950 to provide an observation and shipping control room.
This is possibly the last manned lighthouse in Australia.
The lighthouse celebrated its centenary in 2002.
© All images are copyright of their respective photographers and are not to be used without permission.
| Title | Address | Description |
|---|---|---|
Melbourne Leading Light Rear | 66 Beacon Vista, Port Melbourne VIC 3207, Australia | Melbourne Leading Light Rear |
Melbourne Leading Light Front | Bay Trail, Port Melbourne VIC 3207, Australia | Melbourne Leading Light Front |
Williamstown Timeball | Timeball Tower, Williamstown VIC 3016, Australia | Williamstown Timeball |
Point Gellibrand Pile Light | 31 Battery Rd, Williamstown VIC 3016, Australia | Point Gellibrand Pile Light |
West Channel Pile Light | 75 Bluff Rd, St Leonards VIC 3223, Australia | West Channel Pile Light |
South Channel Pile Light | 2591 Point Nepean Rd, Rye VIC 3941, Australia | South Channel Pile Light |
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 |
Shortland Bluff (Black) | 66 Gellibrand St, Queenscliff VIC 3225, Australia | Shortland Bluff (Black) |
Queenscliff (Low) White | 133 Hesse St, Queenscliff VIC 3225, Australia | Queenscliff (Low) White |
Port Phillip Lights | 133 Hesse St, Queenscliff VIC 3225, Australia | Port Phillip Lights |
Point Lonsdale | 9-13 Point Lonsdale Rd, Point Lonsdale VIC 3225, Australia | Point Lonsdale |
Split Point | Federal St, Aireys Inlet VIC 3231, Australia | Split Point |
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 | |
| Permanent Tower | |
| CurrentTower | |
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| Original Optic | |
| Current Optic | |
| Automated | |
| Demanned | |
| Construction | |
| Height | |
| Elevation | |
| Range | |
| Character | |
| Intensity | |
| Light Source | |
| Power Source | |
| Operator | |
| Custodian | |
| Notes |
NB: Information is historical data and is not for navigational purposes.
Access
The lighthouse is a public reserve accessible by road and walking to the south of the Point Lonsdale township.
Tours
The Lighthouse was being opened regularly on Sundays. Check with the Queenscliff Maritime Museum. 
Accommodation
No lighthouse accommodation is available
Museum
Queenscliff Maritime Museum has many Lighthouse artifacts
