Name and Location

The Marino Rocks Lighthouse is located at 40 Bundarra Road, Marino SA 5049, Australia, within the City of Marion in South Australia. The exact coordinates are -35°03′13″S, 138°30′42″E.

Construction and History

The Marino Rocks Lighthouse appears on Australian maritime charts and in the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's list (NGA Pub. 111, 2010-09-02). However, the exact era of construction is not documented in publicly available sources, although it may date from the late 20th century. The lighthouse does not have a State or National heritage listing.

Architecture and Materials

The Marino Rocks Lighthouse is a fixed coastal lighthouse with an estimated height of 6-8 meters. It is likely constructed from reinforced-concrete or concrete-rendered steel mounted on a concrete base. The tower is painted white, and there are no keeper's quarters or ancillary buildings present.

Light and Navigation

The Marino Rocks Lighthouse serves as a minor navigation mark for local fishing boats and leisure craft approaching the rocky shoreline south of Adelaide. However, details of lamp type, optical apparatus, and focal height are not available. No published light characteristic (e.g., flash pattern or range) has been located in common public sources.

Accessibility and Visiting

The site is accessible on foot via the Marino Rocks coastal walking trail or by car to Bundarra Road, then a short walk across the reserve to the cliff edge. The tower is not open to the public; access is limited to its immediate external base. There are no on-site restrooms or visitor centers, but nearby parking and picnic facilities are available.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers panoramic views across Gulf St Vincent toward the Adelaide city skyline (north-east) and the Fleurieu Peninsula coastline to the south. The rocky foreshore below is a popular snorkelling and scuba-diving site known for its endemic temperate marine life.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Although not documented in formal histories, local walking-trail guides sometimes mention a "mysterious beacon" said to have guided small fishing boats unofficially long before its formal charting. This anecdote remains unverified.

Technical and Operational Details

The Marino Rocks Lighthouse is an unmanned, automatic lighthouse serving as a minor navigation mark for local vessels. It is likely operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) or a subsidiary state marine safety agency.