Overview:

: Cape Otway Lightstation is a renowned lighthouse situated at Cape Otway, Victoria in Australia. It was built in 1848 and is the oldest surviving lighthouse on the mainland of Australia. It is also the second oldest navigational beacon still in operation in Australia. It is located on the eastern end of the Great Ocean Road and is the only surviving navigational aid along the coastline for the first half of the journey. The 79 foot tower is built on a cliff overlooking Bass Strait and features a white rotating light flashes that can be seen from 18 nautical miles away. Cape Otway Lightstation is a popular tourist destination and is open to the public. In addition to the lighthouse itself, visitors can explore the former assistant lighthouse keepers' quarters, former fog signal station, and the restored vertical walkway to the top of the tower. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Australia
Prominent Features:

, the Cape Otway Lightstation is a historic lighthouse located on the south-westernmost tip of mainland Australia. The lightstation was built in 1848 and was the first built in Victoria. It is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Victoria, and one of the oldest in Australia. The tower is 27 metres (89 feet) tall, with a focal plane of 65 metres (213 feet). The light is dioptric, which means the light is produced by a complex system of prisms and lenses. The tower and lens were originally powered by colza oil, but has since been converted to electricity. The lightstation is known for its distinctive white and red stripes, which is characteristic of lights on the South Australian-Victorian coastline. Visitors to the area can take guided tours and climb up to the top of the lighthouse, taking in views of Great Otway National Park and Bass Strait. The lighthouse has become an iconic symbol of the region, and even featured on the Australian $20 note from 1993 to 1996. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Australia.

History:

The Cape Otway Lightstation, located off the coastline of Victoria in Australia, has been providing a vital navigational aid to seafaring vessels since 1848. It is the oldest surviving lighthouse in mainland Australia and is one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in the world. The first lighthouse at Cape Otway was designed and built in 1848. It was built from materials sourced locally, and the building consists of limestone, brick and a cedar-clad mullioned tower. The light of this first lighthouse was a white light with a visibility range of about 12 nautical miles. In 1884, the light was replaced by a more sophisticated lighthouse. This new lighthouse was made up of two beacons, one which was an automatic 'pulsating' beacon, and the other a flashing beacon. This lighthouse had a greater visibility range of 18 nautical miles. Around the beginning of the twentieth century, the original lighthouse and the nearby convict jetty were replaced by new construction. The convict jetty was replaced by a pier and the new lighthouse was built in 1903. Instead of using the original limestone stones, a new lighthouse was constructed from reinforced cement. The new beacon featured a revolving lens and a power house, enabling the lighthouse to be seen further out at sea. The lighthouse provided a crucial navigational aid to the vessels travelling past the nearby Bass Strait. It was of such importance that during World War 2 in 1941 a battery of anti-submarine guns were set up on the cliffs overlooking the lighthouse to provide coastal protection. Over the past 170 years, numerous renovations and repairs have been done, including the construction of an automated light system in 1997. The automated system uses a solar-powered generator and LED lamps, which have increased both the reliability and efficiency of the system. Today, the light station is managed by Parks Victoria as an historic tourism destination in the region. Visitors can explore the lighthouse and its grounds, and experience a piece of living history. Visit one of the famous monuments of Australia with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Cape Otway Lightstation was established in 1848 and is the oldest original, still operating, lighthouse in mainland Australia. 2. The 48 m tower at Cape Otway is the longest serving, still operating lightstation in mainland Australia. 3. The Lightstation is part of the Great Ocean Road and is located near the famous Twelve Apostles rock formation. 4. The lightstation was automated in 1994 and is listed on the Register of the National Estate. 5. Cape Otway was one of the locations used in the film ‘The Castle’. 6. The area is renowned for its wildlife, particularly its koalas, and recently celebrated the opening of a new Koala Protection Area at the site. 7. The lightstation is a popular tourist attraction and visitors can stay in historic accommodation, take guided tours, and visit the Lighthouse museum. 8. The area is also home to the spectacular Cape Otway Flyover, Australia’s longest running interactive bird show. One of the historical monuments of Australia, it tells the story of a bygone era