1. Home
  2. /
  3. Visit Experiences
  4. /
  5. Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
  6. /
  7. History of Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse

History of Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse From Barrel Landmarks to Beacons of the Sea

The 1890s gold rush in Western Australia sparked a flurry of construction projects, including the iconic Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, built to guide mariners safely along the rugged coastline.

Perched on a towering 100 metre bluff above Geographe Bay, this lighthouse was completed in 1903 after just 10 months of work, at a cost of £4,800. Before its construction, sailors had to rely on a more humble landmark: ‘The Tub,’ a barrel perched atop a 30 foot pole in Busselton, which marked the most reliable landing spot for supplies and passengers.

Historical photo of Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse

Standing 20 metres tall, the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse is a stout, grey stone tower with a simple yet commanding presence.

The 14 foot diameter lantern, crafted by the famous Chance Brothers of Birmingham, England, is part of the lighthouse’s original equipment, much of which was sourced from this renowned manufacturer, who supplied much of Australia’s early lighthouses.

The last manned lighthouse on mainland Australia

In July 1978, the lighthouse became fully automated, and by 1996, it had seen its last human keeper—Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse was the last manned lighthouse on mainland Australia.

Today, the station is powered by mains electricity, with a backup battery system in place, and all maintenance is handled by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

The challenging and isolated lives of the keepers and their families

The lives of the three original lighthouse keepers and their families were both challenging and isolated. The keepers worked in shifts to maintain the light: each man was responsible for winding the clockwork and pumping kerosene to fuel the flame during their watch.

With no paid leave or travel benefits, the keepers often spent years at the station, their only contact with the outside world the fortnightly supply deliveries from Busselton. The nearest school was a 20 kilometre (14 mile) trek away at Quindalup. The three original lighthouse keepers’ quarters are still standing.

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse with a view of the ocean

Lost mercury and a 12-ton marvel

The lighthouse’s light source is powered by its original Fresnel lens, a stunning piece of lead crystal that’s now rotated by an electric motor instead of the original clockwork mechanism. This lens, along with its turntable, weighs a hefty 12.5 tons, and it floats on 156.5 kg of mercury, kept in a hollow turntable.

Interestingly, the mercury shipment for Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse was lost when it fell overboard while being unloaded at Quindalup jetty—an unfortunate but almost poetic mishap in the lighthouse’s storied history.

The test of time

Inside the lighthouse tower, three stands originally used to store fresh water still stand as silent witnesses to the past. The steps leading up to the lantern are crafted from blocks of Burmese teak, skilfully dowelled together and set end-grain up for durability.

This clever method of construction has survived not just the elements, but also the thousands of footsteps that have climbed those stairs over the decades.

The lighthouse’s beacon continues to shine brightly across the ocean

Visible for up to 46 km (25 nautical miles), flashing every 2.5 then 7.5 seconds—a steady guide to ships navigating the coastline.

Top of Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, with people standing on the balcony