Lighthouses of South Australia

The South Neptune Island Lighthouse

The rugged barren island was the second life for a lighthouse that had already given good service at Port Adelaide. 

Now replaced by a newer, less-elegant light, the old tower has moved on once more to have a new life back at Port Adelaide.

• Operation
• Old Tower
• Current Tower
• History
  • Port River
  • South Neptune
  • Port Adelaide
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The current South Neptune Lighthouse
Photograph: Brian Lord

DEMANNED:

Port River

The South Neptune Island Tower originally stood at the mouth to the Port River in Port Adelaide from 1869 until 1901.

In 1901, it was replaced by the new Wonga Shoal Lighthouse in built on the other side of the entrance to the Port River.

The tower was dismantled, moved and re-erected at for a new life at South Neptune Island in 1901.

The re-erected Port Adelaide River tower
at South Neptune Island
Photograph: Chris Browne

The new Neptune Island tower being
built in front of the old tower
Photograph: AMSA

South Neptune

The tower was originally constructed by Moreland and Sons, London for the entrance to the Port River in Port Adelaide where it stood from 1869 to 1901.

The wrought and cast iron tower was then re-erected on South Neptune Island, at the bottom of Cape Spencer, with a new lantern room.

The three keepers' cottages are made of cement and rubble and unlike other South Australian stations are joined.

The island lacked vegetation and was without a natural water supply. Water was brought in with supplies and its use was severely restricted. 

The island was too barren for vegetable gardens and except for fish and a few wild goats all supplies had to be brought in from Adelaide.

In 1977, a report was commissioned to determine whether the old tower could be reconditioned or should be replaced.

There has been much conjecture as to the motives of this Commission as many feel that it was to be a vehicle for the Department of Transport to replace the old light.

The light did continue until 1985 when a new round brick tower, 5.2 metres tall, 8 metres including the lantern room, was built.

The intensity of this new light was 274,000 cd and it was powered by twin 10kva diesel alternators.

In the mid 1990s, the keepers were withdrawn, and this new light was converted to solar power and the intensity was reduced to 24,000 cd.

Port Adelaide

After the original South Neptune Island Tower was dismantled in 1985, it was put into storage at the lighthouse depot at Largs Bay.

The people of Port Adelaide felt they had an affinity with the old lighthouse tower and felt that it should be returned to Port Adelaide.

After a great deal of lobbying, the lighthouse was restored and re-assembled on this site by the South Australian Maritime Museum in 1986.

The restored and reassembled tower at the South Australian Maritime Museum
Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas

Special Thanks to:

• AMSA for Photographs
• Brian Lord for Photographs
• Chris Browne for Historic Photograph
• Ed Kavaliunas for Photograph
• Greg Beck for Historic Engraving
• Margaret Hill for Historic Photograph
• South Australian Maritime Museum for Historic Photographs
• Winsome Bonham for Photograph

Sources:

• Brian Lord
• Department of Construction
• Department of Transport
• Margaret Hill
• South Australian Maritime Museum

Site constructed by: 
Malcolm S Macdonald t/as Lighthouse Computer Training & Development (1997-2001)
Copyright © All rights reserved.
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)