Cape Inscription Lighthouse

The lighthouse is the second built of six new lights (Bedout was the first) of lights built by the Government of Western Australia in the period 1908 to 1915 along the Western Australian coast to fill in navigation black spots identified by shipping companies using the route to Singapore. In conjunction with the Cape St Cricq light on Dorre Island, the Cape Inscription lighthouse marks the entrance into Naturaliste Channel and Shark Bay. Built at the northern end of the island, the lighthouse is a 15 metre high concrete tower with keepers quarters, storehouse, stables and an oil store constructed with work starting in October 1908. First lit on the 1st of March 1910.The original character was occulting, light 5 sec, dark 2.5 sec achieved by a clockwork driven revolving screen. Cape Inscription lighthouse had two keepers with supplies landed at a 71 metre Jetty connected to the lightstation by a 600mm guage tramway. The lighthouse stands 110 metres from where Dirk Hartog landed on the island in 1616 and a plaque now marks the spot. The Wilkens & Co lantern and the 3rd order  Barbier, Bernard & Turcune lens were reused from Breaksea Island.

On the 15th of May 1917 the occulting light of 40,00 cp was converted to automatic acetylene operation and demanned after only seven years. The light character was converted to group flashing (3) 15 sec. The character and operation of the light remained unchanged until conversion to solar power on the 12th of December 1985. The small 12 volt filament lamps used as part of conversion of the light to solar power led to obscuration of light caused by lantern astrigals compounded by the the  Barbier, Bernard & Turcune lens design. Various options were considered but thankfully the heritage value of the light saw the 1858 lantern retained and the BBT lens replaced with the current AGA 400mm catadioptric drum lens manufactured by the Swedish company AGA in 1960.

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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

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Keepers

William Edward Chessher, lightkeeper, 1st March 1910 – July 1917.

John Dean Swift, assistant lightkeeper, 5th March 1910 – May 1911.

Thomas George McCheane, assistant lightkeeper, 21st June 1911 – 1912, first posting in service, resigned.

George Mainland, assistant lightkeeper, 1 Sept 1912 – 15 Feb 1915.

Patrick Thomas George Baird, assistant lightkeeper, 15 Feb 1915 – early 1916. He was killed in action at Fleurs, France on 3 November 1916, aged 21. Son of Patrick David Baird, keeper at Rottnest and Cape Naturalist. First posting in service.

Technical Details

First Exhibited1st March 1910
Architect
StatusActive
LocationLat: 25° 28.9170' S Long: 112° 58.3180' E
Original Optic3rd order Barbier, Bernard & Turcune
Current OpticAGA 400 mm fr Catadioptric drum.
Automated15th of May 1917
Demanned1917
ConstructionGrey concrete tower, white cupola
Height15 m
Elevation39 m
RangeNominal: 14 nm
Geographical: 17 nm
CharacterFl. W. (3) in 15 secs
Intensity7,440 cd
Light Source12V 35W C8 Halogen
Power SourceSolar Conversion. 12/12/1985
OperatorAMSA
NotesAs at August 2015

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

Access

The tower is not open to the public.

Site Access

The lighthouse grounds are open all year round.

Tours

No tours are available.

Accommodation

No lighthouse accommodation is available

Museum

Detail to come.

Friends Group

There is no Friends Group

Associated Lighthouse

Detail to come.

Links

Detail to come.

Sources

  • AMSA archives, photos and information
  • Julie Taylor keeper info
  • Sandy McInerney photos