Name and Location

Cape du Couedic Lighthouse sits on the rugged western coastline of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, within Flinders Chase National Park. Its official name is Cape du Couedic Lighthouse.

Location

The lighthouse can be found at Lighthouse Heritage Walk, Flinders Chase SA 5223, Australia, with coordinates -36.0579706, 136.7051452. The setting is on a sheer, stone-strewn cliff above the Southern Ocean, surrounded by native scrub and coastal heath within Flinders Chase National Park.

Construction and History

The lighthouse was constructed in 1909 and first lit in 1910. It marks the western approaches to Investigator Strait and has guided vessels for over a century. The Engineers of the South Australian Harbors Board designed the structure during the Edwardian era, using locally quarried rough-hewn sandstone, concrete, and timber.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse features a cylindrical tower with an iron-framed lantern room, flanked by a pair of stone keepers' cottages connected by a low-lying engine room. The tower is approximately 18 meters above the base.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse's light range extends to 17 nautical miles. Its characteristic is flashing white with a group sequence of 1 + 2 + 1 + 6 every 10 seconds. Originally lit by kerosene mantle, it was converted to electric in the 1950s and automated in 1974.

Accessibility and Visiting

The site can be accessed via the Lighthouse Heritage Trail, a 4 km return walk that begins at the Hanson Bay Visitor Centre car park off Playford Highway. Visitors may walk around the base of the lighthouse but must stay outside due to safety concerns. The nearby Flinders Chase National Park offers stunning views and attractions.

Notable Views and Landscape

Visitors can enjoy panoramic vistas of undulating sea cliffs, the Southern Ocean, and, on calm days, glimpses of passing whales or pods of dolphins. Sunset views are particularly dramatic.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local legend speaks of a "phantom whistle" heard on moonless nights – possibly drifting ship steam from decades past. The Reeves family served as keepers from the 1920s to the 1950s, with letters and diaries recounting isolation, fierce storms, and visits by travelling ministers.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is automated and remotely monitored by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). The site is managed and maintained by South Australia's Department of Environment and Water, while National Parks and Wildlife Service, South Australia, manages day-to-day park access.

Further Information

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