Cape Liptrap Lighthouse (Tarwin Lower)

Situated at Cape Liptrap is the historic lighthouse and scenic lookout.

Cape Liptrap stands upon a rocky cliff top, on a solitary part of the South Gippsland coastline, warning ships of the rocks in treacherous Bass Strait. The first Cape Liptrap lighthouse was established in 1913. It was a 2.1 metre steel tower with an acetylene light. As a keeper was never stationed at Cape Liptrap, it is really the first automatic Commonwealth funded light to be put into service.

The current lighthouse was built in 1951 in cast concrete, and is octagonal in shape. It was converted to mains power in 1970.

The lighthouse is on an isolated point in the Cape Liptrap Coastal Reserve and can be reached easily from Walkerville. Turn into South Walkerville Road then right into the Cape Liptrap Road. There is no restriction of access to the reserve.

There is no access inside the lighthouse and the road to the lighthouse is unsealed.

The easy walk between the car park and Cape Liptrap Lighthouse is wheelchair accessible.

Access for Dogs:

Dogs and cats are not permitted.

Information Panels

Life Around the Coast

Under the waves below are tall forests of brown kelp along with an abundance of marine life such as abalone, seastars, Southern Rock Lobster, leatherjackets, zoanthids (a type of sea anemone) and nudibranchs (or sea slugs).

The underwater scenery here at Cape Liptrap consists of a series of parallel rocky 'ridges' running out from the headland into deeper water.

The ridges generally have a long sloping surface exposed to the ocean swells which is dominated by seaweeds, and a protected side consisting of overhangs and crevices.

Living in these sheltered crevices and overhangs are a variety of sessile (non-moving) marine invertebrates such as sponges and sea anemones.

The space betw3een the ridges form deep gutters which are visible on a low tide and provide good habitat for an array of reef dwelling fish.

Cape Liptrap Lighthouse

First lit on the night of 17th November 1913 the lighthouse has flashed its signal across Bass Strait ever since.

This was the first unattended automatic light financed by the Commonwealth at a cost of 3095 pounds. The original structure consisted of a steel tower standing 8.3 metres tall. This was replaced with the current concrete structure in 1951. The lantern from the original lighthouse was reused.

In 2006 the original lens was removed during an upgrade of the site and is now on display at the Port Albert Maritime Museum.

The lantern room also houses an Automatic Identification System (AIS) base station. AIS is a ship and shore based broadcast system. It is capable of sending and receiving ship information to and from other ships or suitably equipped aircraft and shore stations. The signals are monitored by AMSA in Canberra. Cape Liptrap is now an integral part of Australia's navigational network which completely circles our coastline and provides safe passage for all vessels.

CHARACTER: Flashing once each 12 seconds
COLOUR OF LIGHT: White
DAYMARK: White concrete tower and lantern
LANTERN: AGA of Sweden
POWER SOURCE: 240V AC mains with battery back up
ELEVATION: 93 metres
INTENSITY: White 64,545 candelas
RANGE: Nominal 16 nmiles

Everything They Needed

Look at the land and the sea around you. Australia's first people lived with this country for thousands of years.

They left evidence of their past practices by their stone tools, middens and burials along this complex coast.

Today Aboriginal descendants recognise this heritage and work to protect it along with their spiritual connection to the land.

The Gunai / Kurnai (Gippsland) people and the Boonerwrung (Westernport) people bordered each other in this part of South Gippsland. Both had their own names for the area we now call Wilsons Promontory.

Throughout the countless generations that lived here, the coast provided an abundance of fish and shellfish.

The many swamps around Bald Hills to the north brimmed with waterfowl, fish and eels, while freshwater was never far away.

The Aboriginals led self sufficient lives in tune with the seasons and this country provided them with everything they needed both culturally and spiritually.

The hard flint-like stone found on the nearby beaches, high quality quartz and lovely red jasper from the Cape was their basic toolkit. It provided excellent material for making flaked stone tools for cutting, scraping and piercing.

Cape Liptrap was close to all this, It also provided a high vantage point to survey their country.

People moving along the beach could easily be observed while smoke from their fires could be seen at a great distance.

An Unforgiving Coastline

Since the days when settlement was sparse, ships have been navigating this coast knowing little help could be expected if they became shipwrecked. Dangers included striking a hidden rock, or being swung broadside onto the shore by the powerful Bass Strait swell.

Numerous shipwrecks have ocurred along this coast, several being within Cape Liptrap Coastal Park. Those claimed by these rough and treacherous seas include Duke of Wellington (1853), Cremona (1853), Bertha (1870), Magnat (1900), Ada Burgess (1934).

In 1870, the Launceston registered schooner Bertha was struck by a heavy gale and forced to shorten sail off Cape Liptrap. The captain and one member of the crew were on deck when the vessel struck a reef and capsized, trapping seven below. Only one man reached the shore alive.

To improve the safety of shipping along this stretch of coast, automated lighthouses were constructed on Citadel Island and at Cape Liptrap, commencing operation in 1913. This complemented the existing Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse which had been in operation since 1859.

These new lighthouses were constructed by the Commonwealth Government, as responsibility for the safety of coastal shipping was transferred from the States to the Commonwealth after Federation in 1901.

Although Citadel Island lighthouse was the first automatic light installed for the Commonwealth, due to its remote location a keeper was stationed here for about six months to satisfy uncertain mariners.

Four days after the Citadel Island lighthouse was lit, the first unattended automatic light built for the Commonwealth was established here at Cape Liptrap.

The original steel tower was replaced by the present day concrete lighthouse in 1951.

Although this lightstation is still in operation, there are two shipping channeis now used by ships which can often be seen passing by this section of coast. The current concrete tower incorporates components of the original steel lighthouse which had served mariners for nearly 40 years.

Review:

A little bit isolated, as you would expect for a lighthouse, with the last 8km of Cape Liptrap Road being gravel which is in good condition.

The walk to the lighthouse from the carpark is about 300m one-way and there are some information panels and viewpoints along the way. There are a couple of unshaded tables but no toilets.

Photos:

Location

655 Cape Liptrap Road, Tarwin Lower 3956 Map

Web Links

→ Cape Liptrap Lighthouse (Parks Victoria)

→ Cape Liptrap Coastal Park Visitor Guide (PDF)