Kangaroo Island Lighthouses
The first lighthouse to be built in South Australia was in 1852 at Cape Willoughby, Kangaroo Island. The 27-metre high tower is open for tours daily and provides spectacular views.
Cape Borda Lighthouse opened on 5 July 1858. A small cannon that stands nearby was used to signal ships of danger before the days of radio. Cape Borda forms part of Flinders Chase National Park. Tours of the lighthouse and museum are conducted daily. Nearby is Harvey's Return, the old landing site for the lightstation and the historic lightkeeper's cemetery.
Cape du Couedic opened in 1909. The remains of a jetty, water tank and storeroom can be seen at Weir's Cove, a spectacular site, from where the building materials and other supplies were hauled by flying fox to the top of the cliffs.
Cape Borda Lightstation
Cape Borda, Playford Highway, Kangaroo Island
Opening Hours: 11am-2pm daily, check for tour times, extended in school holiday periods
Telephone: +61 8 8559 3257
Cape Borda Lighthouse stands testament to a long gone era. Perched high above the ocean, the lighthouse was built in 1858 to guide sailing ships arriving off the 'roaring forties' trade winds. In addition to guided tours of the lighthouse and museum (including the daily firing of the restored signal cannon on the 12.30 pm tour), you can also visit the lightkeepers' cemetery, which offers a fascinating insight into the isolation and hardships of the lighthouse keepers and their families.
Cape Willoughby Lightstation
Cape Willoughby Road, Kangaroo Island
Opening Hours: 11am-2pm daily, check for tour times, extended in school holiday periods
Telephone: +61 8 8553 1191
Visit South Australia's first lighthouse. Cape Willoughby Lightstation is located on a 17-hectare property comprising the Cape Willoughby Lighthouse (Sturt Light) and lighthouse keepers' cottages.
Cape Willoughby Lighthouse began operation in 1852 to assist the rapidly expanding coastal shipping trade between the eastern colonies and the colony of South Australia via Backstairs Passage. A guided tour is a must, visiting the museum as well as climbing to the top of the lighthouse where the views stretch as far as the eye can see.
South Australian lighthouses are many and varied with a marvellouse array of styles and eras of lighthouses to be found. The rugged islands and coastline with its natural beauty is a feature of the location of many lights.
