South Mole Lighthouse

History

The South and North moles were built by Western Australia’s legendary chief engineer CY O’Connor as part of the Fremantle harbour works, which began in 1893. Two cast iron pre-fabricated lighthouse towers and all associated equipment were ordered from Chance Brothers, one lighthouse for the end of each mole. Around 1898 a 24ft high steel skeleton frame was built on South Mole from which a fifth order red occulting light was shown.

By July 1903 the cast iron tower had replaced the temporary skeletal tower and a white occulting light was shown for the first time on the 20th of that month. The lighthouse had been supplied with a fourth order optic, at the request of the harbour master at the time. It was immediately realised that the light was too powerful and might be confused with the white sector of the Woodman Point light. It was quickly changed to a fixed green light. In 1947 it was changed to a green flash every second, and from 2018 a very quick green flash.

When erected, the tower was painted French grey with a white lantern and remained in this colour scheme for many decades. At some time after World War II the tower was painted green and has been various shades of green ever since. A security fence was erected around the lighthouse after 2013. In 1942 Fremantle harbour was closed and it became the largest submarine base in the southern hemisphere; 170 British, American and Dutch submarines were based there at different times throughout the rest of the war. In 1943 the lanterns were removed from the two mole lighthouses so that observation posts and anti-submarine guns could be placed on top. The lanterns were placed on wooden structures. The lantern of the South Mole lighthouse was reinstated in November 1946; North Mole lighthouse at a later date.

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