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Lighthouses of Victoria

State Indexes > VIC > Cape Schanck Lighthouse

The Cape Schanck Lighthouse

Cape Schanck is on the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula. It is part of a triangle of Bass Strait lights, the other two being Cape Otway and Cape Wickham Lighthouses, of radio controlled lights and signals.


The Cape Schanck Lighthouse at dusk
Photograph: Kristie Eggleston

Operation

LOCATION: Latitude <<>> S, Longitude <<>> E [map]
OPERATOR: Australian Maritime Safety Authority
EXHIBITED: 1859
CONSTRUCTION: Limestone
CHARACTER: Fixed White Sector with Flashing Red Sector
LIGHT SOURCE: 1000 Watt Tungsten Halogen Lamp
POWER SOURCE: Mains With Diesel Standby
INTENSITY: 1,000,000 CD
ELEVATION: 100 metres
RANGE: 26 nautical miles
HEIGHT: 21 metres
AUTOMATED: <<>>
DEMANNED: <<>>
DEACTIVATED: No
CUSTODIAN: Parks Victoria

The Lighthouse, Cape Schanck, Victoria [Pub. Rose Streograph Co.]
Early postcard (1920s?) of the Cape Schanck Lighthouse
Published by the Rose Stereograph Co.

The Original Clockwork Mechanism [Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas]
The original clockwork mechanism
Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas

History

The tower was built in 1859 from limestone and painted white. It is the second coastal light established in Victoria.

It is considered by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to be the most original lighthouse under its jurisdiction.

An unusual feature of this lighthouse is its stone stairway rather than the usual wrought iron.

The present apparatus, installed in 1915 is a first order Chance Brothers lens. Upgrades of this lantern were carried out in 1907, 1917 and 1940.

The original clockwork mechanism is still in place, though the light is now turned by an electric motor.

The lighthouse was renovated from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Work included the refurbishment of the lantern.

There is an excellent Museum in the old Assistant Lightkeepers Quarters.

Access

NEAREST TOWN: <<>>
DISTANCE: <<>> (Rosebud)
: <<>> (Melbourne)
ACCESS: The lighthouse is located on the southern most point of the Mornington Peninsula and is easily accessible by road.
TOURS: Tours are conducted every day between 10am-5pm
ACCOMMODATION: Accommodation is available in a keepers cottage.
The Cape Schanck Lighthouse [Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas]
The Cape Schanck Lighthouse
Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas 		\The Cape Schanck Lighthouse [Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas]
The Cape Schanck Lighthouse
Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas

The Surrounding Area

Cape Schanck Emblem

The Cape Schanck Lighthouse Looks Out to Sea [Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas]
The Cape Schanck Lighthouse looks out to sea
 Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas

Features

Victorian LoA Members Meeting at Cape Schanck Bulletin Jun 03


Part of the Victorian LoA group at Cape Schanck lighthouse
Clockwise from top left: Malcolm Macdonald, Linda Merson, Jen Eggleston, Paul Shultz, Leonie Adams, 
Doug Huxley, John Ibbotson, Max Huxley, Jack Hanath, Denise Shultz, Steve Merson and Kristie Eggleston
Photograph: Steve Merson

Other Cape Schanck Sites

The Cape Schanck Lighthouse Museum is in the same reserve LoA
The Cape Schanck Lighthouse Grant Maizels
The Cape Schanck Lighthouse Reserve Parks Victoria


The Cape Schanck Lighthouse from the air
Photograph: Winsome Bonham

Special Thanks to:

  • Ed Kavaliunas for Photographs
  • Mrs Laurie Sharp for Postcard
  • Steve Merson for Photograph
  • Winsome Bonham for Photograph

Sources:

  • From Dusk Till Dawn by Gordon Reid
  • Rose Stereograph Co.
  • The Lighthouses of Victoria by Dacre Smyth
Page last updated:
Page created:		 17/03/05
30/12/97

Site constructed by: 
Malcolm S Macdonald t/as Lighthouse Computer Training & Development (1997-2001)
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1997-2001 Malcolm S Macdonald and individual contributors as acknowledged.
2002-2007 Lighthouses of Australia Inc (LoA Inc) and individual contributors as acknowledged. & Lighthouses of Australia Inc (2002-2007)