Name and Location

Cape Bruny Lighthouse, located at 1750 Lighthouse Road (C629), South Bruny TAS 7150, Australia, marks the southern tip of Bruny Island, Tasmania. The coordinates are 43°29′27.8″ S, 147°08′32.4″ E.

Construction and History

Construction began in 1836, and the lighthouse was first lit in 1838. James Blackburn, a convict-engineer, designed the structure under colonial supervision. It is one of the first lighthouses built by the colonial administration in Van Diemen's Land. The lighthouse operated until its decommissioning in 1996, when it was replaced by an automated light on the nearby horizon.

Architecture and Materials

The Cape Bruny Lighthouse features a simple classical detailing style with local sandstone masonry construction, dressed stone quoins, and a stuccoed finish. The tower is cylindrical with a balcony and lantern room, standing 20 meters tall. It sits atop a high bluff approximately 100 meters above sea level.

Light and Navigation

During its operational period, the lighthouse's light characteristic was originally fixed white, later modified to a flashing sequence. Its range was approximately 16 nautical miles. The optic used was a first-order Fresnel lens, now on display in the museum. The lighthouse was never fully automated and always had staffed keepers until its decommissioning.

Accessibility and Visiting

Visitors can access the site through guided tours that depart from Alonnah via 4-wheel-drive, crossing tidal sand at Cloudy Bay. Bookings are essential. Opening hours typically run from April to October, subject to weather. Facilities include guided walks, interpretive displays in former keeper's cottages, and a panoramic lookout platform.

Notable Views and Landscape

Perched atop sheer dolerite cliffs, the lighthouse offers 360-degree views of the Tasman Sea to the east and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel to the west. Marine wildlife such as seals, dolphins, and migrating whales can be spotted in the surf below. The station's cluster of stone cottages nestle among windswept eucalypts and native heathland.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Stories from early keepers describe the challenges of maintaining a constant light in gale-force southerlies. Local folklore also suggests that shipwreck survivors were once guided ashore by signals from the station's auxiliary beacon.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse was listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List and the Tasmanian Heritage Register. It is managed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) in partnership with Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service. The site operator is Cape Bruny Lighthouse Tours, which offers guided access to the site.

Further Information

For further reading, refer to "Lighthouses of Tasmania" by H. P. Wiltshire, published by the Tasmanian Maritime Museum in 2002, or consult the Australian Heritage Database (Place ID: 103167407) and Wikipedia for more information.