Established in 1852, the Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, originally known as the Sturt Light after Captain Charles Sturt, is the oldest in South Australia. It is set on the eastern extremity of Kangaroo Island.
The light provides assistance to shipping passing through the Backstairs Passage – the 11 km wide strip of water between Kangaroo Island and the mainland of South Australia that has a number of sand bars and rip tides.
The original apparatus was a Deville lantern comprising revolving parabolic reflectors powered by a clock work mechanism with illumination provided by multiple wick burners. In 1912 the wick burners were replaced by incandescent vapourised kerosene burners.
The whole lantern apparatus was replaced in 1923 by a large Chance Bros. dioptric revolving lens which floated in a bath of mercury on a pedestal. This lantern had previously been in use at the Tipara Reef Lighthouse. Illumination was provided by a pressurised kerosene mantle burner. This lantern weighs 4 tons and is now displayed in a small museum next to the Keepers' Cottages - which incidentally are available for rent.
The light was converted to electricity in 1959 when two diesel 110 Volt DC generators were installed.
In 1974 major alterations were made to the lighthouse. Up till then the intention had been to replace the lighthouse, the thinking at the time being that this was not an important light and not worthy of the cost of preservation because it was not aesthetically appealing.
The original elegant timber stair was removed, due to rotting, and replaced by steel stairs with three landings. The lantern room and apparatus were removed and replace by an aluminium and fibreglass lantern room and an apparatus comprising of banks of sealed beam lamps. 240 Volt main electricity was connected, with a diesel standby generator.
For more about this lighthouse see:
The lighthouse is now operated remotely and uses modern LED lamps. It has become a tourist attraction and made for an interesting hour's guided tour with one of the Willoughby Conservation Park Rangers.
The third photo is of Pink Bay below the Sea Dragon Lodge which is tucked away in the inlet featured in the photo.
Once back at the Sea Dragon Lodge it was all too quickly time to say Goodbye to Kangaroo Island and begin my Tamanian Wonders tour with AAT Kings.
As I write this post I am in Bicheno at the end of Day 8 of this tour! A bit behind I'm afraid but I will continue to post over the next couple of evenings. I begin my return home on Friday 28th March but remember I am 11 hours ahead of you at the moment.
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