The Cape Otway Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse on the mainland of Australia!
Not far from the Cape Otway National Park, you’ll find the Cape Otway Lightstation, which is just off the southern coast of Victoria.
When was the Cape Otway Lightstation built?
Built in 1859, this iconic lighthouse is significant not only to Victoria but to all of Australia, as it’s the oldest standing lighthouse!
Perched dramatically on the southern coast of Victoria, the Cape Otway Lightstation is located right at the balance point where the Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean meet.
The waters below are treacherous, and the rocks are rugged and windswept. The Lightstation stands a mighty 20 meters high, 90 meters above sea level.
Visit on a clear day, and you’ll get pristine views of the whole Bass Strait. Visit on a grey, cloudy day, and you’ll soak up the moody atmosphere of the lighthouse in its glory.
Cool facts about the oldest lighthouse in Australia:
The lighthouse was built from the quarried stone sourced from nearby rock structures. With a powerful beam that reached over 48 kilometres out to sea, this powerful beacon
The structure of the lighthouse
The lighthouse was originally lit by whale oil, but later it was upgraded to kerosene. In the 20th century, the lighthouse was finally powered by electricity! It remained this way until 1994, when the lighthouse was powered by solar instead.
Visiting the lighthouse
The Cape Otway Lighthouse is an additional stop-off in any Great Ocean Road trip!
To visit the lighthouse today, you can go up to the top of the ladder after looking around the museum. Do a 360-degree walk around the top of the lighthouse to admire some unparalleled views from the top.
The museums showcase the secret war history of the lighthouse. Some families lived in the lighthouse through
Visitors can also stay over at the unique lighthouse keeper’s cottage next to the lighthouse.
Don’t forget to climb to the top of the lighthouse – if you’re lucky, you might spot whales migrating!
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