Wadjemup Lighthouse
XGV3+3M Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Name and Location
Wadjemup Lighthouse, also known as Rottnest Island Lighthouse, stands at the summit of Rottnest Island in Western Australia. Its name originates from the Noongar word "Wadjemup," meaning "place of the little wallaby." The lighthouse is located on Wadjemup Hill, central Rottnest Island, approximately 18 km west of the Western Australian mainland.
2. Construction and History
The original beacon was erected in 1849 as a simple stone tower to replace a floating lightship. A new current tower was constructed by the WA Public Works Department in 1896 and first lit on July 1st, 1896. The lighthouse was automated in 1986, and keepers were permanently withdrawn.
3. Architecture and Materials
The Wadjemup Lighthouse is a late Victorian colonial lighthouse with a conical tower, gallery, and lantern. It was built using locally quarried limestone from Rottnest Island, dressed, and painted white. The tower stands at 38.7 meters above its base, with a focal plane of 52 meters above mean sea level.
4. Light and Navigation
The lighthouse emits a light characteristic of Fl (3) W 20 s, meaning three white flashes every 20 seconds. It originally featured a first-order Fresnel lens but has since been equipped with a solar-powered VRB-25 rotating beacon. The range is approximately 18 nautical miles or 33 kilometers.
5. Accessibility and Visiting
Visitors can access the lighthouse by ferry from Fremantle, Perth, or Hillarys Boat Harbour to Rottnest Island. From Thomson Bay settlement, guests may cycle or take the Island Explorer bus to Wadjemup Hill. Tower interior tours are available daily (except Christmas Day) at 10 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm, subject to weather conditions.
6. Notable Views and Landscape
From the lantern platform, visitors enjoy 360-degree vistas of the Indian Ocean to the west and north, Pinky Beach to the east, Thomson Bay settlement to the southeast, and Bathurst Lighthouse ruins to the northwest.
7. Anecdotes and Folklore
According to local legend, a faint lantern light has been seen in the old keeper's quarters after dark (unverified). The original lighthouse was built in response to a series of grounding incidents on nearby reefs.
8. Technical and Operational Details
The lighthouse is managed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), with on-site maintenance provided by the WA Department of Transport. It features solar photovoltaic panels and battery storage, with a backup diesel generator for standby power.
9. Further Information
For more information, please refer to the Wikipedia article on Wadjemup Lighthouse or the AMSA Light List – Volume 1.
Details
| Name | Wadjemup Lighthouse |
|---|---|
| City | |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | -32.0072742, 115.5041504 |
| Year of construction | 1896 |
| Events | |
| Historic significance | Exemplary late 19th-century navigation aid; prominent landmark; links to maritime and colonial history. |
| Stories | [object Object]; [object Object] |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian colonial lighthouse |
| Architect | WA Public Works Department (likely under engineer William Doyne) |
| Construction material | Locally quarried limestone from Rottnest Island, dressed and painted white. |
| Focal height | 52 |
| Tower height | 38.7 |
| Renovations | [object Object] |
| Access description | Rottnest Island is reached by ferry from Fremantle, Perth or Hillarys Boat Harbour. From Thomson Bay settlement guests may cycle or catch the Island Explorer bus to Wadjemup Hill. |
| Accessible | true |
| View description | From the lantern platform visitors enjoy 360° vistas of: Indian Ocean to the west and north (ships bound for Fremantle), Pinky Beach to the east, Thomson Bay settlement to the southeast, Bathurst Lighthouse ruins to the northwest. |
| Guided tours | true |
| Entrance fee | 7 |
| Nearby attractions | [object Object]; [object Object]; [object Object] |
| AIS Radar | false |
| Light characteristic | Fl (3) W 20 s |
| Light range | 18 |
| Automated | true |