Bathurst Point Lighthouse

The Bathurst Lighthouse forms the subsidiary light to the Main Rottnest Island Light, enabling vessels entering and leaving the Port of Fremantle to safely navigate the reefs around the island.

History

Built from local limestone in 1900, the tower is painted white with a gold lantern dome.

The Bathurst Lighthouse was built as a result of shipwrecks culminating in the the “City of York” disaster in 1899.

The light was one of four erected between 1910 and 1912 leading up to the Commonwealth takeover of coastal lights in 1915.

The tower is on the north east cape of Rottnest Island.  It is the subsidiary light to the Main Rottnest Island Lighthouse in the centre of the island.  This meant that vessels, travelling to and from the Port of Fremantle, could safely navigate around the reefs using triangulation.

The light was erected close the the original Pilot Station which was known to have been established by 1866.

The lamphouse and light mechanism was the one originally intended for use as the lower light at Cape Leeuwin but never used.

The original fixed acetylene open flame light source was replaced in 1920 by an acetylene flasher and the light was then demanned.

In 1986 the light was converted to electric operation.

The keepers cottage was sold to the Rottnest Island Board and is at present occupied by Board employees.

continued below …

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

Title Address Description
Cape Leeuwin
Leeuwin Rd, Augusta WA 6290, AustraliaGo to Cape Leeuwin
Breaksea Island
Unnamed Road, Nanarup WA 6330, AustraliaGo to Breaksea Island
Cave Point
Unnamed Road, Torndirrup WA 6330, AustraliaGo to Cave Point
Eclipse Island
The Gap Rd, Torndirrup WA 6330, AustraliaGo to Eclipse Island
Cape Naturaliste
Bunker Bay Walk Trail, Naturaliste WA 6281, AustraliaGo to Cape Naturaliste
Casuarina Point
1 Bennett Way, Bunbury WA 6230, AustraliaGo to Casuarina Point
Arthur Head
15 Captains Ln, Fremantle WA 6160, AustraliaGo to Arthur Head
South Mole
1 Fleet St, Fremantle WA 6160, AustraliaGo to South Mole
North Mole
N Mole Dr, North Fremantle WA 6159, AustraliaNorth Mole
Woodman Point
597 Cockburn Rd, Munster WA 6166, AustraliaGo to Woodman Point
Wadjemup (Rottnest)
Wadjemup Rd, Rottnest Island WA 6161, AustraliaGo to Wadjemup (Rottnest)
Bathurst Point
Lancier St, Rottnest Island WA 6161, AustraliaGo to Bathurst Point
Guilderton
5 Tank Road, Guilderton WA 6041, AustraliaGo to Guilderton
Escape Island
Escape Island, Western Australia, AustraliaGo to Escape Island
Pelsaert Island
Houtman Abrolhos WA 6530, AustraliaGo to Pelsaert Island
Point Moore
481-485 Marine Terrace, West End WA 6530, AustraliaGo to Point Moore
Bluff Point
118A Kempton St, Bluff Point WA 6530, AustraliaGo to Bluff Point
Cape Inscription
Unnamed Road, Dirk Hartog Island WA 6537, AustraliaGo to Cape Inscription
Babbage Island
13 Annear Pl, Babbage Island WA 6701, AustraliaGo to Babbage Island
Point Quobba
Unnamed Road, Macleod WA 6701, AustraliaGo to Point Quobba
Point Cloates
Cardabia-Ningaloo Rd, Ningaloo WA 6701, AustraliaGo to Point Cloates
Vlaming Head
Yardie Creek Rd, North West Cape WA 6707, AustraliaGot to Vlaming Head
Jarman Island
Reader Head Rd, Cossack WA 6720, AustraliaGo to Jarman Island
Gantheaume Point
Lurujarri Walk, Minyirr WA 6725, AustraliaGo to Gantheaume Point
Cape Bossut
Cape Bossut, Lagrange WA 6725, AustraliaGo to Cape Bossut
Cape Leveque
Broome-Cape Leveque Rd, Dampier Peninsula WA 6725, AustraliaGo to Cape Leveque
Caffarelli Island
Caffarelli Island, Western Australia, AustraliaGo to Caffarelli Island

continued from above …

More history.

Keepers

George W Waters, Lightkeeper, April 1900 to 30 June 1915 (retired), Sven Peter Anderson, Assistant Lightkeeper (in charge), Late 1915 – July 1919, Ernest Murray McDonald, Assistant Lightkeeper (acting in charge), July 1919 – Oct 1920. Demanned on or about 15 Oct 1920

Technical Details

First Exhibited1 September 1900
CurrentTower1900
Architect
StatusActive
Location31° 59.4´ S 115° 32.4´ E
OpticChance Bros 2nd order Fixed
Automated
Demanned
ConstructionGrey stone tower, gold cupola
Height19 m
Elevation30 m
Range14 nm
CharacterFl.(4)W. every 16 secs
Intensity
Light Source
Power Source
Operator
Notes
  NB: Information is historical data and is not for navigational purposes.

Access

Rottnest Island can be reached by ferry from Perth.  The lighthouse is within easy walking or cycling distance.  There are regular formal tours conducted by the Rottnest Island.

Site Access

The lighthouse grounds are open all year round.

Tours

No tours are available.

Accommodation

Accommodation is available in the original keepers cottage.

Associated Lighthouse

Rottnest Island Lighthouse