Lighthouses of Western Australia

At the place where 40 guilder coins were found from a ship that was wrecked in 1656, stands the red brick lighthouse that was established in 1983.

It is the only major navigation light between Fremantle and Jurien Bay, and is also the last to be built in Western Australia.

• Operation
• History
• Access
• Surrounding Area
• Features

The Guilderton Lighthouse is constructed from tapered red clay bricks
Photograph: Steven Kolikow

History

In 1931, forty 17th Century silver guilder were coins found in the sand hills near the entrance to the Moore River.

They were believed to be from the wreck of the Dutch ship, the Vergulde Draeck ("Guilded Dragon") that had foundered on a reef just north of Moore River near Ledge Point in 1656

The wreck of the ship, which had been carrying a valuable cargo which included silver coins worth 185,000 guilders, was not discovered until 1963.

The township at the mouth of the Moore River had grown enough to be gazetted and named Guilderton in 1951

In 1983, the Federal Department of Transport established a lighthouse at Wreck Point, Guilderton near the river mouth at a cost of $240,000.

It was built as an automatic marine beacon and commenced operation in December of that year.

It was the only major navigation aid between Fremantle and Jurien Bay, and is also the last to be built in Western Australia.

The new tower, constructed in specially tapered red clay bricks, was 32 metres high and the base was 7.5 metres in diameter.

Placed on top was the white metal lantern house containing a triple bulls-eye lens that displayed a light that had a range of 22 nautical miles. The light is 76.75 metres above sea level.

The lighthouse has a slightly larger twin at Troubridge Hill in South Australia and both have won an architectural awards.

 
Guilderton crosscut plan
Photograph: Dept of Transport Brochure

Guilderton Lantern Room Plan
Photograph: Dept of Transport Brochure

Guilderton Base Plan
Photograph: Dept of Transport Brochure

Special Thanks to:

• Dept of Transport Brochure for plans

• Steven Kolikow for Photograph

• Vic McCartin for Photographs

• Winsome Bonham for Photograph

Sources:

• Dept of Transport Brochure

• Gin Gin Shire

• Vic McCartin

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