Name and Location

Cape Schanck Lighthouse is located at 420 Cape Schanck Road, Cape Schanck VIC 3939, Australia. It is situated in the Mornington Peninsula Shire, Victoria, with coordinates 38°29′34″ S, 144°53′11″ E.

2. Construction and History

Cape Schanck Lighthouse was erected in 1859 and is the oldest surviving lighthouse on Victoria's Bass Strait coast. It was one of the earliest permanent lights established in the colony of Victoria. The lighthouse was first illuminated on January 1, 1859.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse features a Mid-Victorian Classical architectural style with a cylindrical tower and simple entablature. The structure is made of locally quarried limestone (often referred to as "bluestone" in local usage), rendered internally, and features a cast-iron balcony and lantern room. The tower stands 21 meters high from base to top of lantern and has a focal height of 84 meters above mean sea level.

4. Light and Navigation

The original apparatus was a fixed kerosene mantle light, one of the first fully automated kerosene systems in Australia. The light characteristic is two white flashes every 15 seconds (Fl(2) W 15s), with a nominal range of 26 nautical miles (approximately 48 km). The lighthouse has been automated since 1915 and plays an active role in guiding vessels past the treacherous cliffs of the Mornington Peninsula.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds are open daily from 8:30 am to sunset, with tower tours typically running on Saturdays and Sundays. Visitors can walk the spiral staircase to the lantern for a guided-tower tour (limited group sizes). On-site facilities include a visitor kiosk with historical displays, public toilets, picnic/BBQ shelters, cliff-top viewing platform, and interpretive signage.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse commands panoramic views over the Bass Strait, including distant outcrops such as Seal Rocks and the Nobbies. The surrounding Mornington Peninsula National Park offers coastal heathland, wind-shaped tea-tree, and seasonal wildflowers. A network of walking trails links to nearby beaches.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

The lighthouse has a rich history, with stories of shipwrecks in the 19th century and tales of the "light-keeper's ghost" said to wander the upper gallery on stormy nights. The first keeper, Mr. Bernard Garrett, kept detailed daily journals of weather and maritime traffic.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse has been automated since 1915 and is managed by the Victorian Channels Authority (formerly Victorian Ports Corporation). It plays an active role in guiding vessels past the treacherous cliffs of the Mornington Peninsula.

9. Further Information