Gantheaume Point Lighthouse

The current steel skeletal tower is the fourth lighthouse at Gantheaume Point.

The first was established by the WA government in July 1905 after lobbying by traders and pearling masters. The notice to mariners describes the light as a ‘dioptric fixed light of the fourth order…on an open braced steel tripod’. The white light was 56 feet (17m) above high water.

A cottage for the lightkeeper was built nearby. All that remains of the cottage is the fireplace and chimney.

In early 1910 the tripod was replaced by a more substantial structure, a pyramidal steel tower with a service room underneath the lantern. The character of the light was changed to occulting, i.e. the period of light is longer than the period of darkness. The lighthouse was built by the Public Works Department with steelwork supplied by the Perth firm of Bela Makutz, which supplied the Cape Leveque tower in 1911.

The light was tranferred to the Commonwealth in 1915 and is now managed by AMSA.

In 1917 the light was converted from kerosene to automatic operation with acetylene. The keeper was withdrawn and the cottage was eventually sold to local identity Patrick Percy.

The second tower survived until the early 1960s when it was replaced by a steel lattice tower with a new lantern.

The current tower was erected in 1984 and is powered by mains electricity.

© 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

Keepers

Sven Peter Anderson, Lightkeeper, July 1905 – late 1915/early 1916 

Charles James Abercrombie, Assistant (in charge), By 31 August 1916

Ernest Murray MacDonald, Assistant (in charge), By Nov 1916 – 10/1917

Position abolished Oct 1917 on automation of the light.

Technical Details

First Exhibited1905
CurrentTower1984
Architect
StatusActive
LocationLat: 17° 58.449' S
Long: 122° 10.647' E
Original Optic
Current OpticVega VRB-25
Automated
Demanned
ConstructionWhite NAL-1 lantern on stainless steel lattice tower
Height24 m
Elevation33 m
RangeNominal: 18 nm Geographical: 16 nm
CharacterFl. W. 10 secs
Intensity63,155 cd
Light Source12V, 35W C8 Halogen LP PR30s
Power Source240V AC Mains
OperatorAMSA
NotesAs at Oct 2016
  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

Julie Taylor

Keeper information: Government Gazettes and Trove