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Lighthouses of Victoria

State Indexes > VIC > Split Point Lighthouse

The Split Point Lighthouse

The 'White Queen' as she is affectionately known is a welcome sight for ships that have rounded Cape Otway.

Overlooking Eagle Rock the lighthouse is not only a beacon to seafarers but also to travellers on the Great Ocean Road.



The Split Point Lighthouse and Headkeeper's Cottage
Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas

Operation

LOCATION: Latitude <<>> S, Longitude <<>> E (Map)
OPERATOR: Australian Maritime Safety Authority
CHARACTER: Group flash 4 every 20 seconds
LIGHT SOURCE: 120v 1000w tungsten halogen lamp
POWER SOURCE: Mains with diesel standby
INTENSITY: White 116,000 CD, Red 23,000 CD
ELEVATION: 66 metres
RANGE: White 20 nautical miles, Red 16 nautical miles
HEIGHT: 34 metres

The Split Point Lighthouse [Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas]
The Split Point Lighthouse
Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas

History

Originally called Eagles Nest Point, the lighthouse was built in 1891.

The cement rendered concrete tower has a Chance Brothers first order lantern and a 920mm focal radius lens.

The original light source was vapourised kerosene. When it was taken over by the Commonwealth Government in 1919 the light was converted to acetylene and automated. Conversion to mains electricity took place in 1972.

The nights tending lights were long and Gordon Reid tells of one keeper's solution to the problem in his book, From Dusk Till Dawn.

"The keeper at Split Point at Airey's Inlet in Victoria did not exactly sleep on the job but he did not see why he should be deprived of his social life at night. He scratched a small hole in the black paint on the back of the lantern, which prevents the light shining inland and annoying residents. This keeper, Richard Joy Baker, scratched the hole to line up with the Airey's Inlet Hotel. Each time the lenses rotated, the light winked through the hole, assuring the keeper (who had retired to the hotel) that all was well."

The Split Point Lighthouse and Eagle Rock [Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas]
The Split Point Lighthouse and Eagle Rock
Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas

In March 2004, the two assistant keeper's cottages were put up for auction. Much speculation and publicity surrounded the event, and there were hundreds of people at the auction on 6 March. The auction result was reported in local newspapers, The Geelong Advertiser and The Echo - the cottages were sold for an undisclosed figure over AU$1.5 million.


Auction day at the Airey's Inlet lightkeepers cottages
Photograph: Kristie Eggleston

Access

Split Point Lighthouse Tours

Split Point Lighthouse is managed by Eco Logic Education & Environmental Services.

Guided tours are available every weekend and during school holidays:

Tours can also be booked on weekdays with a minimum group size of 4.

Note: Children must be 5 years or over. Private access for weddings and functions is also available. Family and group discounts apply.

Tour bookings – Free call 1800 174 045

For more information, tour prices and on-line booking facilities visit: www.ecologic.net.au


The Airey's Inlet keeper's cottages and lighthouse
Photograph: Kristie Eggleston

Preservation Issues

Changes at the White Lady January 2005
Airey's Inlet Lighthouse Keepers cottages for sale February 2004
Airey's Inlet visitors reach a moment of enlightenment 10 January 1998
Throwing light on a gem 31 December 1997
Airey's Inlet Lighthouse to be opened to public? 21 October 1997
A proposal to use the Split Point for mounting mobile phone antennas was defeated after intensive public protest in 1997.


Split Point Lighthouse at Airey's Inlet from the air
Photograph: Winsome Bonham

News & Notices

Changes at the White Lady Bulletin Jan 05
Auction results - Split Point Lightkeepers' cottages and Swan Island Bulletin Apr 04
Airey's Inlet Lighthouse keepers' cottages for sale Bulletin Feb 04

The Surrounding Area

Special Thanks to:

  • Ed Kavaliunas for photographs
  • Kristie Eggleston for photographs
  • Winsome Bonham for photograph
  • Eco Logic Education & Environmental Services

Sources:

  • From Dusk Till Dawn by Gordon Reid
  • The Lighthouses of Victoria by Dacre Smyth
  • Lighthouses of Australia: Images from the End of an Era by John Ibbotson
The Split Point Lighthouse page is sponsored by:
Lasslett Rubber and Plastics
7-11 Moore Road, Airport West VIC 3042 (PO Box 293, Niddrie VIC 3042)
Ph: 03 9338 4466  Fax: 03 9338 7939
http://www.lasslett.com/
Page last updated:
Page created:		 20/03/06
3/12/97

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)