Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste Lighthouses - Guiding Lights for West Coast and National Shipping

The Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste lighthouses, located within approximately 100 kilometres of each other on the south western coast of Western Australia, were important links in the development of coastal lights that eventually circled mainland Australia.

These are two of the remaining four intact and operating stone lighthouse structures on the west coast. The other two, Wadjemup (1894) and Bathurst (1900), are on Rottnest Island. All other operating lighthouses in Western Australia were fabricated from steel, concrete and brick. The main Rottnest lighthouse (Wadjemup) was awarded an Historic Engineering Marker by Engineers Australia in 1996.

The lighthouses were built to support coastal shipping in general, making it safer and more reliable, which encouraged the development of local industries and subsequent growth and prosperity of communities. The lighthouse system in the south west (dominated by the Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste lights) was instrumental in the growth of the timber industry in that region, which relied on ships to transport the heavy cargoes. It also guided ships travelling from Europe to the eastern colonies, warning them of the hazards for vessels passing by the treacherous south west corner of the continent. The Cape Leeuwin light in particular was essential for the safety of vessels travelling from Europe to the eastern colonies (or eastern 'States' after 1901).

Today, the lights continue to operate for the benefit of coastal shipping and leisure craft. The precincts are tourist attractions greatly valued by the local communities of the area.

Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
Source: Wikimedia Commons by BriMiDra

Cape Naturalist Lighthouse
Source: Wikimedia Commons

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Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse - IP located inside shop/cafe.

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Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse - IP located inside museum.

Engineering Heritage Recognition Program

Marker Type	Engineering Heritage National Marker (EHNM)
Award Date	7 December 2018
Heritage Significance	The Lighthouse precincts are significant for the following reasons: The lighthouses are fine examples of the type of stone towers erected during the nineteenth century to house lights. The Cape Leeuwin lighthouse tower is the tallest in mainland Australia, and third tallest in the country; At the time of its installation, the Cape Leeuwin light had the most powerful lamp in Australia, and the fastest flash frequency in the world; The mercury bath technology employed at both sites was new at the time, and in the case of Cape Leeuwin was the first implementation of the technology by Chance Brothers anywhere in the world, demonstrating a significant advance in flash frequency in large lens systems.
Nomination Document	Available here.
Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report	Not Available.
Plaque/Interpretation Panel	Cape Leeuwin IP available here Cape Naturaliste IP available here