Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse

On the most Southern Westerly tip of Australia, where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet, stands Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse as a solitary sentinel.

It was totally manually operated until 1982 by a clockwork mechanism and  kero burner, one of the last in the world.

History

Built from 1895 to 1896 the tower and cottages are built of local limestone.

The Cape Leeuwin Light was first mooted in 1881, but took 15 years to eventuate.

Disputes raged over the best site for the lighthouse. Also, until the Kalgoorlie-Coolgardie gold rushes Western Australia was the poorest State, and with no assistance from the Eastern States, it was unable to proceed with a project of this size.

Further delays occurred when it was found the the initial test bores that showed bedrock at 2.5 metres had only found a rock shelf and it was then necessary to excavate to 6.7 metres.

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The original 1895 plan included two lights. The present high white light tower and in front of it, a low red light tower. Although the foundations for this low tower were completed, the structure was never built because it was considered that a second light would cause confusion and draw ships closer to the Cape.

Almost as famous is the waterwheel and wooden flume constructed to bring fresh spring water to the lighthouse from a distance away.

It has been calcified by the minerals and salts reminiscent of a limestone area known for its huge caves.

The original light source was kerosene wick lamp, then the world’s largest, revolving in a mercury bath.

This light had an intensity of 250,000 candelas and was visible for 40km.

In 1925, the light was upgraded to vapourised kerosene with a mantle, giving a light intensity of 780,000 candelas.

In 1955, a radio beacon was installed.

The light was totally manually operated until 1982 when it was converted to electricity replacing the clockwork mechanism and kero burner, one of the last in the world. The new 1,000 watt halogen lamp increased the candelas to 1,000,000.

This light was automated in September 1992.

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.