Lighthouses of Australia: Tasmania

The independent Commonwealth of Australia occupies the entire Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. British exploration and settling of the continent began late in the 1700s, with the first colony established in the Sydney area in 1788. By the 1850s there were six British colonies, including New South Wales and Queensland in the east, Victoria and South Australia in the south, Western Australia in the west, and Tasmania off the south coast. The Commonwealth was formed on New Years Day 1901 as a federation of the six colonies.

Australia is both the smallest continent and the sixth-largest country in the world, with a population of about 26 million. It continues to be a federation of the six original states, plus the federally administered Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, and Jervis Bay Territory. It is a Commonwealth Realm recognizing the British monarch as head of state.

Australia's island state of Tasmania is located off the southeastern coast, separated from Victoria by the 240 km (150 mi) wide Bass Strait. Shaped roughly like a shield, Tasmania is a little over 300 km (190 mi) in diameter. The island is accessible by air and also by the ferry steamer Spirit of Tasmania, which makes regular sailings from Geelong (near Melbourne) on the mainland to Devonport in Tasmania.

The most accessible lighthouses in Tasmania are on the north coast, where a series of handsome towers can be reached easily by road. Elsewhere many of the lighthouses are in more remote locations. Lighthouse preservation has become a concern in the state as several historic lighthouses have been deactivated in recent years. Although there is no state preservation society there have been strong local efforts at many sites.

Coastal aids to navigation in Australia are maintained by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), but usually AMSA manages only the lighting equipment. Some of the smaller lights are maintained by Maritime and Safety Tasmania (MAST). Many of the stations are managed by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service.

The International Hydrographic Organization defines South East Cape, the southern tip of Tasmania, to be the point of division between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. However, in Australia the waters between the Australian continent and Antarctica are considered part of the Southern Ocean.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights, Admiralty numbers are from volume K of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals, and U.S. NGA numbers are from NGA Publication 111.

General Sources
Tasmanian Lighthouses
The section of the Lighthouses of Australia site devoted to Tasmania lights.
AMSA Heritage Lighthouses
An interactive map links to information and photos for the major AMSA lighthouses.
Lighthouses and Lightvessels in Australia - Tasmania
Index to Wikipedia articles; many include photos.
Tassie Lights
Dr. Joseph Ferrari's January 2004 article on Tasmanian lighthouses in Lighthouse Digest.
Lighthouses in Tasmania
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
World of Lighthouses - Tasmania
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Online List of Lights - Tasmania and Bass Strait
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas. Lights of King Island are on the Bass Strait page. Many of the photos for Tasmania are by Jim Smith, Rainer Arndt or Erich Hartmann.
Leuchttürme Australiens und Ozeaniens auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.
GPSNauticalCharts
Navigation chart for Tasmania.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for Tasmania.


Mersey Bluff Light, Devonport, November 2023
Instagram photo by Aleesha Kristen


Cape Wickham Light, King Island, February 2022
Instagram photo by Bill Heimana Low

Bass Strait Lighthouses

King Island Council Area Lighthouses
King Island is in the Bass Strait off the northwestern corner of Tasmania. The island is roughly 50 km (30 mi) long and has a permanent population of about 1600. Currie, on the west coast, is the principal settlement. Commercial air transportation is available from Devonport and from Melbourne. There is no car ferry service but cars can be rented on the island.
** Currie Harbour
1879. Reactivated (inactive 1989-1995, now maintained by the King Island Council); focal plane 46 m (151 ft); white flash every 6 s. 21 m (70 ft) square wrought iron skeletal tower with central cylinder, lantern, and gallery. The original 1st order Fresnel lens was replaced by a 4th order clamshell style lens in 1940. Prefabricated in England by Chance Brothers, the entire lighthouse is painted white. A photo is at right, Steve Barrow has a 2021 photo, John Tierney has a 2007 photo, Thomas Kearney has a view from the sea, Wikimedia has a view across the harbor, and Google has a satellite view. The 1-story keeper's quarters has housed the King Island Historical Museum since 1980; the 4th order lens of this lighthouse and the 1st order lens from Cape Wickham are displayed. The lighthouse was built to help steer ships away from King Island, which blocks the central part of the eastern entrance to Bass Strait. The light was moved to a steel pole in 1989, then returned to the tower following public protests. The lighthouse was repaired and repainted in 2022-23. Located at the foot of Lighthouse Street in Currie, on the western side of King Island. Accessible by road; parking provided. Site open; museum open every afternoon mid-September through June; guided tours of the tower are sometimes available: inquire locally. Owner/operator: King Island Council. Site manager: King Island Historical Society (Currie Lighthouse ). ARLHS AUS-063; Admiralty K2189; NGA 6928.
* Cape Wickham
1861. Active; focal plane 85 m (280 ft); two white flashes, separated by 3 s, every 10 s. 48 m (157 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The keeper's houses were demolished in the 1920s. The original lantern and 1st order Fresnel lens were transferred to Point Quobba Light, Western Australia, in 1946. Bill Heimana Low's photo is at the top of this page, Karina Taylor has a fine page for the lighthouse, Michael Harrold has a 2020 photo, Greg Noakes has a photo, a 2023 photo ia available, Wikimedia has historic photos, Nathan England has a closeup street view, and Google has a fine satellite view. This is Australia's tallest lighthouse. In fact, this was the tallest lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere when it was built and it is still the tallest stone lighthouse in the Hemisphere. It is one the world's great landfall lights; navigators rounding the Cape of Good Hope steer all the way across the Indian Ocean aiming for Cape Wickham. The lighthouse marks the southern side of the main entrance to Bass Strait, standing opposite Cape Otway, Victoria. In 1988 the 1st order lens was removed from Point Quobba and placed in storage. In November 2011 there were celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the lighthouse and the lens was restored and reassembled for display at the King Island Historical Museum. In 2019 AMSA announced a $2.47 million restoration to include removal of lead paint and asbestos, restoration of the stairway, and repainting inside and out. Located on the northern point of King Island. Accessible by paved road; parking provided. Site open, tower closed. Operator/site manager: AMSA. . ARLHS AUS-050; Admiralty K2186; NGA 6936.

Currie Harbour Light, Currie, March 2021
Instagram photo by Daniel T
#[Cumberland]
Date unknown. Inactive since 2015 and since removed. This was a 4.3 m (14 ft) round cylindrical white fiberglass tower. It is missing from Google's satellite view. Located in a pasture atop a steep bluff on the central east coast of King Island. Site and tower closed (private property). ex-Admiralty K2191.8; ex-NGA 6944.
Stokes Point
1952. Active; focal plane 44 m (143 ft); four white flashes every 16 s. 9 m (30 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower without lantern, painted white. A closeup is available, Keith Graham has a 2019 photo, Thomas Kearney has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the southernmost point of King Island, marking the southern entrance to Bass Strait. Accessible by a gravel road from Currie (some local guidance is recommended). Site open, tower closed. Operator/site manager: AMSA. ARLHS AUS-239; Admiralty K2190; NGA 6924.

Circular Head Council Area Lighthouses
The Circular Head Council governs the northwestern corner of Tasmania; much of its territory is wild, remote, and sparsely populated. The total population is about 8000. The area also includes the Hunter Islands, a small group of islands off the northwestern tip of Tasmania.

Sandy Cape
1953. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); white flash every 5 s. 6 m (21 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower without lantern, painted white. Peter Wylie has a 2022 closeup photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rocky (not sandy!) point about 50 km (30 mi) south of Bluff Hill Point. Road access to this remote location is very difficult and not recommended. Site manager: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area). ARLHS AUS-206; Admiralty K3676; NGA List 6916.
Bluff Hill Point
1982. Active; focal plane 52 m (171 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, attached to a 1-story circular service building. Sibling of Cape Tourville. Marshall Cao's 2020 photo is at right,Roetis Rossiter has a 2018 closeup photo, Christopher Griggs has a 2022 street view, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse replaced the West Point Light. Located at the end of Bluff Hill Road near the westernmost point of Tasmania about 11 km (7 mi) northwest of Arthur River. The road is not paved, so 4WD is recommended. Site open, tower closed. Operator/site manager: unknown. . ARLHS AUS-008; Admiralty K3677; NGA 6920.
[West Point]
1916. Inactive since 1982. The lighthouse, a square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, was demolished after it was replaced by the Bluff Hill Point Lighthouse. The robust concrete foundation survives. Stephen Edmonds has a photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on a sharp headland about 15 km (9 mi) north of Bluff Hill Point. Accessible by 4WD. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS AUS-271.
 
[Hunter Island (2)]
1983 (station established 1924). Active; focal plane 56 m (184 ft); two white flashes every 8 s.4 m (13 ft) square white fiberglass tower. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. No information is available concerning the original lighthouse. Located atop a headland on the central west coast of Hunter Island, one of the Hunter Islands just off the northwestern tip of Tasmania. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty K3518; NGA 6960.

Bluff Hill Point Light, Circular Head, December 2020
Google Maps photo by Marshall Cao
[Cape Rochon (3)]
Date unknown (station established 1924). Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 5 s. 4 m (13 ft) square white fiberglass tower. The original lighthouse was a square tower with lantern and gallery identical to the original Highfield Point lighthouse. It was destroyed by a bushfire in January 1963 but its foundation pad remains. The Friends of Three Hummock Island have a photo (third photo on the page) andt Google has a satellite view. Located at the northeastern corner of Three Hummock Island, one of the Hunter Islands just off the northwestern tip of Tasmania. Accessible only by boat. Site open but difficult to reach, tower closed. Admiralty K3520; NGA 6964.
Highfield Point (Highfield Bluff) (2)
Date unknown (station established 1924). Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); three flashes every 15 s, white or red depending on direction. Approx. 16 m (52 ft) round white fiberglass tower. Google has a satellite view and a very distant street view. Located in a farm field off Green Hills Road about 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Stanley. Site and tower closed (private property) but the lighthouse can be viewed at a great distance. Admiralty K3524; NGA 6968.
* Highfield Point (Highfield Bluff) (1) (relocated to Stanley)
1924. An unofficial continuous white light is displayed. 6 m (20 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, painted white. Sibling of Round Hill Point. Marshall Cao has a 2020 photo, Julie Burgher has a 2012 closeup photo, Steve Bittinger has a closeup 2018 street view, and Google has a 2010 street view and a satellite view. This small lighthouse was originally located on Highfield Point, a rocky cape north of Stanley. Replaced by a fiberglass light (previous entry), it was relocated to the Stanley waterfront as a memorial to local sailors. Located on the waterfront at Wharf Road. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: unknown. ARLHS AUS-092.
* Rocky Cape
1971. Active; focal plane 64 m (210 ft); white flash every 10 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal cylindrical metal tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. 4th order Fresnel lens in use. Trabas has Smith's closeup photo (also seen at right), a 2011 closeup photo and a 2009 photo are available, Marshall Cao has a 2020 photo, Brett Williams has a closeup 2017 street view, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. The lighthouse commands a sweeping view of Bass Strait. Located at the end of Rocky Cape Road about 7 km (4 mi) north of the town of Rocky Cape. Accessible by a short walk from the parking area at the end of the unsealed park road. Site open, tower closed. Operator: AMSA. Site manager: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (Rocky Cape National Park). . ARLHS AUS-144; Admiralty K3531; NGA 6980.

Rocky Cape Light, Stanley
photo copyright Jim Smith; used by permission

Waratah–Wynyard Council Area Lighthouse
* Table Cape
1888. Active; focal plane 180 m (590 ft); two white flashes every 10 s; red flashes are shown east and west indicating shallow water close to shore. 25 m (82 ft) round brick tower, painted white. An unusual "flyover" gangway provides access to the tower. The keeper's houses were demolished in 1926. A photo by Tracey Trevaskis is at right, Trabas has Smith's closeup photo, Deanne Geary has a 2023 photo, David Boon has a good photo, Barry Polden has a fine 2011 photo, an April 2007 photo is available, Wikimedia has a 1948 historic photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Christopher Griggs has a 2022 street view, and Google has a satellite view. The tower was renovated and the lantern rebuilt by AMSA in 1979. This historic lighthouse is a well known landmark on Tasmania's north coast. It is so high its light is sometimes obscured by low clouds. In May 2008 the Waratah-Wynyard Council appropriated $185,000 for improvements to allow public access to the lighthouse, and tours began in 2010 with support from Van Diemen Quality Bulbs, a nearby tulip farm. Tours were suspended in April 2013 when the guide retired but they resumed in the summer of 2014-15 with a new guide, Paul Wheeler. Located on the cape about 8 km (5 mi) north of Wynyard. Accessible by a gravel road; parking available. Site open, tower previously open to guided tours mid September through May, but tours were suspended in June 2023 and had not resumed as of February 2024. Operator: AMSA. Tour operator: Table Cape Lighthouse Tours . ARLHS AUS-157; Admiralty K3532; NGA 6984.

Burnie City Lighthouses
* Port of Burnie Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); continuous blue light. Red and white triangular daymark mounted atop the 3-story Tasmanian Family Medical building. Trabas has Hartmann's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The rear light is on a post beside Brooklyn Road 360 m (394 yd) south of the front light. Located on Marine Terrace and Reeves Street in downtown Burnie. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty K3545.5; NGA 7010.5.
* Round Hill Point
1923. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 5 s; red flashes are shown over rocks to the west northwest. 7 m (22 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, painted white. Original 6th order Chance Brothers Fresnel lens in use. Lightphotos.net has a photo, Lighthouses of Australia has one of Garry Searle's photos, Trabas has Smith's closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the headland east of Emu Bay, just off the Bass Highway about 5 km (3 mi) east of Burnie. Caution: the entrance is not marked and no parking is provided. Site open, tower closed. Operator: AMSA. Site manager: unknown. . ARLHS AUS-147; Admiralty K3535; NGA 7020.

Table Cape Light, Wynyard, September 2022
Instagram photo by Tracey Trevaskis

Central Coast Council Area Lighthouse
Ulverstone Range Front (1) (relocated) (?)
Date unknown. Inactive. Approx. 6 m (20 ft) square pyramidal wooden tower with lantern, painted white. The lighthouse, which formerly stood at the entrance to the Leven River, was relocated to the Ulverstone Local History Museum. David Plumpton has a 2017 photo and Google has a 2016 street view. However in 2020 the museum was closed while its location was reconstructed as the Ulverstone Cultural Centre. The Centre was completed and the Museum reopened in 2022. The lighthouse is not seeen and we don't know its current location. The range was replaced by a modern leading light. ARLHS AUS-270.

Devonport City Lighthouses
Devonport is a city of about 30,000 residents at the mouth of the River Mersey in the center of Tasmania's north coast. It is an important port and the terminal for the ferry steamer Spirit of Tasmania, which makes regular sailings from Geelong, near Melbourne.

* Mersey Bluff
1889. Active; focal plane 37 m (122 ft); four white flashes, separated by 3 s, every 20 s. 16 m (51 ft) tapered round brick tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with vertical red stripes on the seaward side of the tower. The original 4th order Fresnel lens was replaced by a 2nd order lens in 1952. The keeper's houses were demolished in 1966. Aleesha Kristen's photo is at the top of this page, Wikimedia has several photos, Jason Carter has a 2022 photo, Trabas has a commercial photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Matt Rockliff has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. This elegant lighthouse and its unusual daymark is a familiar sight for passengers on the ferry Spirit of Tasmania arriving from Melbourne. The distinctive red stripes were added in 1929. Located on a headland at the end of Bluff Road, northwest of the entrance to the Mersey River in Devonport. Accessible by paved road; parking provided. Operator: AMSA. Site manager: Devonport City Council (Bluff Road Coastal Reserve). . ARLHS AUS-108; Admiralty K3550; NGA 7032.
* Devonport North Inner Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 8 m (26 ft); continuous green light. 5 m (17 ft) square white concrete tower with a red vertical stripe. Trabas has Smith's closeup photo and Google has a street view but shadow hides the light in Google's satellite view. This range guides outbound vessels northward in the Mersey River in Devonport. Locared on the west bank of the Mersey off Victoria Parade a short distance north of Lower Madden Street. Site open, tower closed. Operator: TasPorts Devonport. Admiralty K3558; NGA 7064.
* Devonport North Inner Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 16 m (52 ft); continuous green light. 5 m (17 ft) square white concrete tower with a red vertical stripe. Trabas has Smith's closeup photo and Google has a street view and a distant satellite view. Located 35 m (115 ft) north of the front light. Site open, tower closed. Operator: TasPorts Devonport. Admiralty K3558.1; NGA 7068.
* Devonport Entrance Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); continuous red light. 7.5 m (25 ft) square corrugated metal tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with a red vertical stripe on the range line. A photo by Prathipraj Devaraj is at right, Trabas has Smith's closeup photo, Andrew Hetherington has a closeup photo, Lighthouses of Australia has a page with a photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of a short pier on the west side of the Mersey River in Devonport, near Formby Road and Victoria Parade. Accessible from the Devonport Shared Foreshore Pathway. Site open, tower closed. Operator: TasPorts Devonport. Admiralty K3553; NGA 7056.
* [Devonport Entrance Range Rear (2)]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); continuous red light. 15 m (49 ft) square pyramidal metal tower slanting backward and supported by a steel mast; the light is displayed from a bracket about 2/3 of the way up. Lighthouse painted white with a red vertical stripe on the range line. Trabas has Smith's closeup photo, Andrew Hetherington has a closeup photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The original lighthouse was similar to the front lighthouse but about 15 m (49 ft) tall. Located beside Formby Road 145 m (475 ft) south of the front light. Site open, tower closed. Operator: TasPorts Devonport. Admiralty K3553.1; NGA 7060.

Entrance Range Front Light, Devonport, December 2022
Google Maps photo by Prathipraj Devaraj

George Town City (Tamar River) Lighthouses
The Tamar River is a long tidal estuary emptying into Bass Strait at Low Head. George Town is the largest town on the lower Tamar and the seat of the local government area.

Hebe Reef
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); white flash every 4 s. 7 m (23 ft) round strongly tapered stone tower. According to NGA the tower is painted in a red and white checkerboard pattern, but it is unpainted in a January 2015 photo (2/3 the way down the page). Trabas has Arndt's distant view, another distant view (4/5 the way down the page) is available, and Bing has a satellite view. Hebe Reef is a dangerous rocky reef, concealed at high tide, about 5 km (3 mi) off the entrance to the Tamar River. The reef is named for the full-rigged ship Hebe, which wrecked on the reef in June 1808. The reef has continued to be a serious hazard; the modern bulk carrier Iron Baron wrecked on it in July 1995. The Low Head Pilot Station Maritime Museum has a page on the ships that have come to grief on the rocks. Located on the reef. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Operator: AMSA. Admiralty K3571; NGA 7076.
* Tamar River Leading Light South (Middle Channel Range Rear)
1882. Active; focal plane 17 m (54 ft); continuous red light. 7 m (22 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern roof is red. Two original 1-story keeper's houses, known collectively as Belfont Cottage, are available for overnight rental. P.J. Mak has the 2021 photo seen at right, Dirk Veltkamp has a good photo, Trabas has Arndt's photo, Lighthouses of Australia has a page for the range lights, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The Tamar River lighthouses replaced a pair of range daybeacons built in 1848. Located beside Low Head Road about 400 m (1/4 mi) southeast of the She-Oak Point Light. Site open, tower closed. Operator/site manager: Marine and Safety Tasmania. . ARLHS AUS-224; Admiralty K3569.9; NGA 7108.
 
 

Middle Channel Light, George Town, August 2021
Google Maps photo by P.J. Mak
 
* Tamar River Leading Light North (She-Oak Point)
1882. Active; focal plane 11 m (35 ft); continuous light, white or red depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Lighthouses of Australia has a page for the range lights, Trabas has Arndt's photo, Colin Aumann has a 2010 closeup photo, a 2011 closeup is available, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This lighthouse displays its red light as a leading light for ships entering the Tamar River and as the front light for the upstream Middle Channel Range. The white light serves as the leading light for the downstream Sea Reach Range. Located on a point just off Low Head Road about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southeast of Low Head Light. Site open, tower closed. Operator/site manager: Marine and Safety Tasmania. . ARLHS AUS-159; Admiralty K3570; NGA 7104.
* Dotterel Point Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 5 m (16 ft); continuous green light. 6 m (19 ft) round concrete (?) tower, painted white. Trabas has Smith's photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This lighthouse lines up with Low Head Light as a range for ships bound downstream. Located on the shore of the Tamar River 660 m (0.4 mile) south of Low Head Light. Site open, tower closed. Operator/site manager: Marine and Safety Tasmania. ARLHS AUS-287; Admiralty K3566.1; NGA 7092.
*** Low Head (2)
1888 (station established 1833). Active; focal plane 43 m (141 ft); three white flashes, separated by 5 s, every 30 s; a continuous red light (focal plane 37 m (121 ft)) is shown to the west over Hebe Reef. 20 m (66 ft) tapered round, stucco-clad brick tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a red horizontal band. Four keeper's houses are available for overnight accommodation . A 1-story fog signal building housed Tasmania's only fog horn from 1929 to 1973; the diaphone horn is still in place and is sounded on Sundays throughout the year. A 2023 photo is at right, Wikipedia's article has a 2010 photo, Trabas has Arndt's photo, Janelle Schafer has a fine April 2007 photo, Wikimedia has several photos, a 2021 photo is available, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This is Australia's third oldest light station. Also at Low Head is Australia's oldest surviving pilot station, established in 1805. The buildings of the light and pilot stations are protected as the Low Head Historic Precinct; one of the buildings houses a maritime museum and another has a restaurant and gift shop. Located on the tip of a very sharp promontory on the east side of the Tamar River entrance about 6 km (4 mi) north of George Town. Accessible by road; parking provided. Site open, tower closed. Operator: AMSA. Site manager: Low Head Pilot Station. . ARLHS AUS-101; Admiralty K3566; NGA 7088.

Low Head Light, George Town, November 2023
Instagram photo by smkrem

Flinders Council Area (Eastern Bass Strait Islands) Lighthouses
A ragged chain of islands extends across the eastern entrance to Bass Strait, from Wilson's Promontory in Victoria to the northeastern corner of Tasmania. All of the islands are within the borders of Tasmania. The Hogan Group includes several small islands in the northwest, off Wilson's Promontory; the Kent Group includes half a dozen closely spaced islands in the center of the entrance; and the Furneaux Group includes numerous islands, among them the large Flinders Island, Cape Barren Island, and Clarke Island, off northeastern Tasmania.

[Hogan Island]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 136 m (446 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 4 m (13 ft) white fiberglass cabinet. Kayaker Laurie Ford has a closeup photo (16th photo on a very long page), the light is seen at about 1:50 into a YouTube video, and Google has a satellite view. Hogan Island is the largest island of the Hogan Group. Located at the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator/site manager: AMSA. Admiralty K2493; NGA 7308.
Deal Island
1848. Inactive since 1992. 22 m (72 ft) round granite tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A 1st order Fresnel lens installed in 1937 remains in place. The keeper's houses were demolished, but a 1-story superintendent's house survives. Shirley Lyn Baker's photo is at right, Jeff Jennings has a 2009 closeup photo, Wikimedia has a 1917 historic photo, and Google has a satellite view. This historic light station was built by the joint efforts of New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania to help ships through the dangerous Kent Group. With a focal plane of 305 m (1000 ft) it was the highest light in Australia. (However, it is not the highest light in the Southern Hemisphere, as is sometimes claimed. The Gran Almirante Grau Light at Callao, Peru, has a focal plane of 309 m or 1014 ft.) The tower began to show signs of serious deterioration within a few years of deactivation in 1992. In 1998 the state of Tasmania demanded and got possession of the light station from AMSA. The Australian Bush Heritage Fund and Friends of the Kent Group National Park worked for restoration and preservation of the lighthouse, and the Tasmanian Conservation Trust has helped restore and maintain the superintendent's house. This work is carried on by the Friends of Deal Island . September 2003 report found the restored station to be in relatively good condition, but more recently there have been concerns that the abandoned lighthouse is endangered. Volunteer caretakers have kept the Fresnel lens and rotating mechanism in working order. Located on a headland at the southern end of Deal Island in Bass Strait. The island is accessible only by boat; the light station can be reached by a hiking trail. Site open, tower open occasionally when volunteers are on site. Site manager: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (Kent Group National Park). . ARLHS AUS-064.

Deal Island Light, Kent Group, January 2022
Instagram photo by Andrew Boon
[North East Island]
1992. Active; focal plane 107 m (351 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 4 m (13 ft) white fiberglass cabinet. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. This light replaced the light of the historic Deal Island lighthouse. Located atop a small island off the northeast side of Deal Island. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator/site manager: AMSA. Admiralty K2542.4; NGA 6618.
[Outer Sister Island]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 173 m (567 ft); two white flashes every 8 s. 4 m (13 ft) white fiberglass cabinet. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located atop Outer Sister Island, a small island marking the northern end of the Furneaux Group. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator/site manager: AMSA. Admiralty K3600.5; NGA 6630.
[Holloway Point]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (31 ft); white flash every 5 s. 4 m (13 ft) round white fiberglass cabinet. A 2021 street view is available, Ted Björling has a distant street view from the beach and Google has a satellite view. Located at the northeastern tip of Flinders Island, the largest island of the Furneaux Group. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator/site manager: AMSA. Admiralty K3600.6; NGA 6632.
[Cat Island]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); white flash every 2.5 s. 4 m (13 ft) round white fiberglass cabinet. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located atop a small island off the central east coast of Flinders Island. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator/site manager: AMSA. Admiralty K3600.8; NGA 6636.
Goose Island
1846. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) round rubblestone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; solar-powered lens. The original Fresnel lens is on display at the Maritime Museum of Tasmania in Hobart. Garry Searle's photo is at right, Jeff Jennings has a 2009 photo and Google has a satellite view. All the other station buildings were demolished in the 1930s. The station was powered by a wind generator from 1985 to 1990. Located on a small, rocky island off the west coast of Flinders Island. Accessible only by boat or helicopter. Site and tower closed. Operator/site manager: AMSA. . ARLHS AUS-081; Admiralty K3600; NGA 6644.

Goose Island Light, Furneaux Group
photo copyright Garry Searle; used by permission
[Cape Barren]
1967. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); three white flashes every 12 s. 4 m (13 ft) round white fiberglass cabinet. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. This light marks the easternmost point of the Furneaux Group islands. Located at the eastern tip of Cape Barren Island. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator/site manager: AMSA. Admiralty K3601.6; NGA 6648.

Dorset Council Area (Cape Portland Area) Lighthouses
Cape Portland, the northeastern tip of Tasmania, is separated from the Furneaux Group by the narrow Banks Strait.

[Waterhouse Island]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); three white flashes every 12 s. 4 m (13 ft) white fiberglass tower standing on a square concrete pad. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. A lens from this light is on display at the Maritime Museum of Tasmania in Hobart. Waterhouse Island is a small island just off the northeastern coast of Tasmania. Most of the island is privately owned. Located at the northern tip of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty K3599; NGA 7164.
Swan Island
1845. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 7.5 s. 27 m (89 ft) round rubblestone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; solar-powered lens. Principal keeper's house and assistant keeper's house, the latter known as Eliza's Cottage after the wife of an early keeper. Trabas has Smith's view from the sea (a portion appears at right), Jeff Jennings has a photo and Google has a satellite view. This is the oldest Bass Strait lighthouse. Except for a small area around the lighthouse, the island is privately owned; it was recently sold. Located on Swan Island about 5 km (3 mi) from Lyme Regis, just off Cape Portland, the northeastern tip of Tasmania. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator/site manager: AMSA. . ARLHS AUS-156; Admiralty K3602; NGA 6652.
 

Swan Island Light, Cape Portland
photo copyright Jim Smith; used by permission

Southern Ocean Lighthouses

Break O'Day Council Area (Northeast Coast) Lighthouses
Eddystone Point
1889. Active; focal plane 42 m (139 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 35 m (116 ft) tapered round granite tower with lantern and gallery. Tower unpainted, lantern and gallery painted white. Several keeper's houses, now unoccupied. Ariana Oliveira has a 2021 photo, Abdulrahman al-Daithan has a 2011 photo, Joanne Fagan has a closeup photo, Damien Calvert has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. There has been concern about the future preservation of this light station, although it appears to be in good condition. In March 2011 preservationists were outraged to learn that the powerful light had been replaced by a small solar-powered plastic lens without any warning to the public. This was done because the lighthouse was judged to be critical hazard to migrating muttonbirds (short-tailed shearwaters). The Friends of Eddystone Point work for preservation of the light station. Located on the cape, a sharp promontory near the northeastern corner of Tasmania, about 35 km (22 mi) east of Gladstone over rough roads (4WD recommended). Site open, tower closed. Operator: AMSA. Site manager: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (Mount William National Park). . ARLHS AUS-069; Admiralty K3606; NGA 6656.
Eddystone Point Auxiliary
1889. Inactive. 4 m (13 ft) round lantern, painted white. Damien Calvert has a closeup street view. This auxiliary light was used "until the time of electrification," according to Lighthouses of Australia. Endangered: the lantern is in very poor condition. Located about 30 m (100 ft) southeast of the main lighthouse. Site open, tower closed.

Glamorgan–Spring Bay Council Area (Central East Coast) Lighthouses
* Cape Tourville
1971. Active; focal plane 126 m (413 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, attached to a 1-story circular service building. Bryn Pinzgauer's photo is at right, Wikipedia's article has a photo, Trabas has Thomas Philipp's photo, Holly Xu has a 2021 photo, Gerhard Sieber has a street view, and Google has a = satellite view. This modern tower replaced the Cape Forestier Light. Located on a headland on the east side of the Freycinet Peninsula about 9 km (6 mi) east of Coles Bay. Accessible by road. Parking provided. Site open, tower closed. Operator: AMSA. Site manager: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (Freycinet National Park). . ARLHS AUS-049; Admiralty K3608; NGA 6664.
[Chicken Point]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 44 m (144 ft); two white flashes every 8 s. 4 m (13 ft) round white fiberglass cabinet. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. This light guides vessels around the end of the Freycinet Peninsula. Located on the south side of Schouten Island off the end of the peninsula. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator/site manager: AMSA. Site manager: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (Freycinet National Park). Admiralty K3609.4; NGA 6668.

Cape Tourville Light, Coles Bay, December 2014
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Bryn Pinzgauer
Point Home Lookout
1971. Active; focal plane 57 m (187 ft); white light occulting every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Fresnel lens. Small stone equipment building. Alex Crawley has a photo and Google has a satellite view. The tower is a twin of the Cape Tourville lighthouse seen above. Located on a headland east of Triabunna. Site and tower closed (surrounded by private land); the lighthouse should be distantly visible from ferries between Louisville and Maria Island. Operator/site manager: AMSA. ARLHS AUS-134; Admiralty K3609.8; NGA 6672.

Tasman Council Area (Southeast Coast) Lighthouses
Tasman Island
1906. Active; focal plane 276 m (906 ft); white flash every 7.5 s. 29 m (95 ft) round cast iron tower with lantern and double gallery, painted white. The current lantern and lens were installed in 1976. The original 1st order Chance Brothers lens is on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney; the original lantern is in storage for display at the Maritime Museum of Tasmania in Hobart. At least three 1-story brick keeper's houses, now abandoned. Damien Naidoo's photo is at right, Trabas has Smith's closeup photo, Wikimedia has two aerial photos, Mirsad Halebic has a distant but spectacular aerial view, and Google has a satellite view. This historic and isolated light station is endangered; severe weather has caused rapid deterioration of the keeper's houses. The centenary of the station was celebrated in March 2006. Located on a rocky island off Cape Pillar, about 25 km (15 mi) southeast of Port Arthur, marking the southeastern corner of Tasmania. Accessible only by helicopter; backpackers can get a distant view of the lighthouse from the end of the Cape Pillar Track in Tasman National Park. Site and tower closed. Operator: AMSA. Site manager: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (Tasman National Park). . ARLHS AUS-160; Admiralty K3614; NGA List 6716.
Dart Island
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); flash every 5 s, white or red depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) square white concrete tower. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located at the west end of the island, in the entrance to Norfolk Bay on the northwest side of the Tasman Peninsula. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed (bird sanctuary). Admiralty K3621.5; NGA List 6723.

Tasman Island Light, Tasman National Park
photo copyright Jim Smith; used by permission

Hobart Area: Clarence City Lighthouses
Hobart, Tasmania's capital, is a seaport city with a population of around 250,000. The city is on the west side of the estuary of the River Derwent. The city of Clarence is on the east bank of the estuary and the Kingborough Council Area is south of Hobart on the west side.
Black Jack Rocks (Blackjack Reef)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); white flash every 3 s. 6 m (20 ft) round strongly conical white concrete tower. Craig Harris has a 2017 view and Google has an indistinct satellite view. This light guides vessels through a narrow pass north of Betsey Island southeast of Hobart. Accessible only by boat, and landing would be difficult. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty K3620; NGA 6724.
Iron Pot Island (Derwent)
1832. Active; focal plane 20 m (65 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 12 m (40 ft) square rubblestone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a single broad red horizontal band at the top of the tower. The keeper's houses have been demolished; foundation ruins survive. Jess Jackson's photo is at right, Trabas has Smith's closeup photo, a 2021 photo and another good photo are available, Wikipedia has a photo by Peter Shanks, Lightphotos.net has a distant view, the National Library has a historic photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view and a very distant street view from Cape Direction. This is Australia's oldest surviving lighthouse and second oldest light station (after Macquarie Light, Sydney). Located on a small rocky island on the east side of the entrance to the Derwent Estuary about 25 km (15 mi) south of Hobart. Accessible only by boat; visible distantly from the northern end of Bruny Island. Site and tower closed. Operator/site manager: TasPorts. . ARLHS AUS-095; Admiralty K3622; NGA 6728.

Hobart Area: Hobart City Lighthouse
* Sandy Bay Point (Blinking Billy)
1900. Inactive since 1955. Approx. 6 m (20 ft) octagonal metal (?) tower, painted white; lantern roof painted red. Trabas has Arndt's photo of the active light (focal plane 7 m (23 ft); continuous blue light) on a post nearby. Marshall Cao has a 2020 closeup photo, Brett Eichmann has a 2021 photo, Waymarking.com has several photos, and Google has satellite view. Ownership was transferred to the city in 1975 for leasing to the Maritime Museum of Tasmania. Located on Sandy Bay Point, also called Blinking Billy Point, off Sandy Bay Road about 6 km (4 mi) southeast of downtown Hobart. The Sandy Bay Foreshore Track passes Blinking Billy Point below the lighthouse; parking is available about 800 m (1/2 mi) north at the end of Beach Road off Long Point Road in Sandy Bay. Site status unknown, but the lighthouse can be seen from the walkway below. Owner: Hobart City Council. Site manager: Maritime Museum of Tasmania. ARLHS AUS-269. Active light: Admiralty K3627.6; NGA 6740.

Iron Pot Island Light, Hobart, October 2020
Instagram photo by Jess Jackson

Hobart Area: Kingborough Council Area Lighthouses
* Piersons Point
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 87 m (285 ft); white or red light depending on direction, occulting once every 8 s. 5 m (17 ft) partially enclosed square pyramidal metal tower, painted white. Ziwei Gao has a 2019 photo, Ollie Miller has a 2013 closeup, Trabas has Smith's photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This light and the Iron Pot Island Light frame the entrance to the Derwent Estuary. Located on a high bluff off Tinderbox Road about 10 km (6 mi) south of Kingston. Accessible by road with parking provided. Site manager: Kingborough Municipality (Piersons Park). Admiralty K3623; NGA 6730.
*** Cape Bruny (1)
1838 (John Lee Archer). Inactive since 1996. 13 m (42 ft) round rubblestone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The keeper's houses have been demolished. Trabas has Smith's photo of the active light (focal plane 93 m (305 ft); white flash every 10 s) nearby on a 4 m (13 ft) white fiberglass tower. A 2024 photo is at right, Peter Vogelsanger has a 2021 photo, a 2007 closeup and a closeup 2016 street view are available, and Google has a satellite view. This is Australia's fourth oldest light station and second oldest lighthouse. The designer, John Lee Archer (1791-1852) was the colonial architect in Tasmania from 1827 to 1852. The lighthouse was built to mark the entrance to the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, the protected passage between Bruny Island and the Tasmanian mainland. (Island and channel are named for the French explorer Bruni d'Entrecasteaux, who discovered the Derwent Estuary in 1793.) The station was transferred to Tasmania Parks and Wildlife in 1998. In 2023 expanded parking facilities improved public access to the lighthouse. Day Tours Tasmania is licensed to provide tours of the lighthouse. Located at the end of Lighthouse Road at the southwestern point of Bruny Island. The island is accessible by ferry from Kettering to Barnes Bay. Site open; tower open daily to guided tours (reservations required). Owner: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (South Bruny National Park). Site manager: Cape Bruny Lighthouse. . ARLHS AUS-024; Admiralty K3654; NGA 6868.

Huon Valley Council Area (Southwest Coast) Lighthouses
[Whale Head]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 57 m (187 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 4 m (13 ft) round cylindrical white fiberglass tower. A view from the sea (first photo on the page) is available and Google has a satellite view. Located on a steep promontory near the southernmost point of the Tasmanian mainland. Site status unknown. Site manager: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (Southwest National Park). Admiralty K3655.3; NGA 6878.

Cape Bruny Light, Bruny Island, January 2024
Googlke Maps photo by akvilehi
Maatsuyker Island (1)
1891. Inactive since 1996. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete-clad brick tower, painted white. The original 1st order Chance Brothers lens is in place and operational. The keeper's house is occupied by a resident caretaker. There is an active light (focal plane 140 m (459 ft); white flash every 7.5 s, except every fourth flash omitted) on a small fiberglass tower nearby. The photo at right shows one of the volunteer keepers working on repairs to the lighthouse, Jennings has a closeup photo and a second photo and Bing has a satellite view. This is Australia's southernmost lighthouse, standing in latitude 43° 40' S. Deep within the Roaring Forties, the light station suffers almost constant gales and some 250 days of rain every year. The station is endangered. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife has supported volunteer caretakers at the station since AMSA withdrew paid keepers in 1998; generally couples are recruited to serve assignments of six months. Jesse Siebler, a keeper in 2017, has written about how he and his partner prepared for their assignment. There is still great concern over conservation of the historic station. Volunteers repaired the keeper's houses in 2011. In 2016 Parks and Wildlife appropriated $90,000 to support volunteers who spent a month repairing and painting the lighthouse. Located on a rugged island about 15 km (10 mi) off the southwestern tip of Tasmania. Access is generally by helicopter, although sea kayakers also visit the station. Site open if you can get to it; the caretaker may provide tower tours. Site manager: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (Southwest National Park). . ARLHS AUS-104. Active light: Admiralty K3656; NGA 6880.
[Whalers Point]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); white flash every 5 s. 4 m (13 ft) square metal skeletal tower. No photo available and Google has only an indistinct satellite view. Located on a headland on the north side of the enrance to Port Davey, a harbor of refuge on the remote southwest coast of Tasmania. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (Southwest National Park). Admiralty K3658.; NGA 6884.

West Coast Council Area Lighthouses
Low Rocky Point
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 5 s. 6 m (20 ft) rectangular white fiberglass tower. No photo available and Google has only an indistinct satellite view. Located on a sharp promontory on the remote southwest coast of Tasmania. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (Southwest National Park). Admiralty K3659; NGA 6888.

Maatsuyker Island Light, Southern Ocean, March 2018
Instagram photo by Taylor & Jesse
Cape Sorell
1899. Active; focal plane 51 m (167 ft); two white flashes, separated by 5 s, every 15 s. 37 m (121 ft) tapered round tower, painted white. The keeper's houses were demolished in 1988. Giles Thomas has posted a photo, a 2021 view from the sea is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a prominent cape about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of the entrance to Macquarie Harbour, on the central west coast of Tasmania. Site open but quite difficult to visit; it is accessible by a hike of 8 km (5 mi) round trip from the south side of the harbor entrance, which can be reached by charter boat from Strahan. Tower closed. Operator: AMSA. Site manager: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (Southwest Conservation Area). . ARLHS AUS-046; Admiralty K3660; NGA 6892.
Entrance Island
1892. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); flash every 2 s, white or red depending on direction. 8 m (26 ft) hexagonal wood tower on a square stone base. Entire lighthouse painted white. A 2023 photo by Eric Graves is at right, Trabas has Thomas Philipp's photo, Robert Watkins has a closeup, Andrew Hetherington has a good photo, and Bing has a satellite view. This lighthouse and its twin at Bonnet Island guide ships through Hell's Gate, the exceptionally narrow entrance to Macquarie Harbour. Wikimedia has a photo of the entrance showing both lighthouses. Located on a small island on the west side of Hell's Gate. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator/site manager: TasPorts. . ARLHS AUS-205; Admiralty K3664; NGA 6896.
Bonnet Island
1892. Active; focal plane 14 m (45 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red, or green depending on direction. 8 m (26 ft) hexagonal wood tower on a square stone base. Entire lighthouse painted white. Christopher Griggs has a 2022 photo Trabas has Thomas Philipp's photo, Mark Ward has a 2017 photo, Christine Puckeridge has a photo, Russell Madre Deus has a closeup, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse and its twin at Entrance Island guide ships through Hell's Gate, the exceptionally narrow entrance to Macquarie Harbour. Located on a small island about 3 km (2 mi) south of Hell's Gate in Macquarie Harbour. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator/site manager: TasPorts. . ARLHS AUS-091; Admiralty K3668; NGA 6900.

Entrance Island Light, Macquarie Harbour, November 2023
Google Maps photo by Eric Graves

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Victoria

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Posted new April 26, 2004. Checked and revised February 18, 2024. Lighthouses: 41. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.