Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons contributors. Used under Creative Commons licence.
About Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
Cape Naturaliste, in the south west of Western Australia, is the site of a lighthouse which was activated in 1904. It was automated in 1978, but remained staffed with a lighthouse keeper until 1996.
It is a 20-metre-high (66 ft) cylindrical tower built of limestone that still uses its original first order Fresnel lens made by Chance Brothers. The light characteristic is "Fl. (2) 10 s", i.e. a group of two flashes every ten seconds, the focal plane is at 123 metres (404 ft) above sea level. Another precious lens optic is displayed there, the second order Fresnel lens of the Jarman Island Light, as well as the original Great Sandy Islands beacon. Both items were originally used on the Pilbara coast further north.
The lighthouse is constructed of limestone quarried from nearby Bunker Bay, which was also known as the Quarries.
Location
Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse is located in Western Australia at approximately -33.53733333°, 115.01869444°. A map pin at these coordinates will take you to the approximate lighthouse site — note that some historic lights are on active marine reserves, islands or private land, and visiting may require a boat or permit.
Visiting Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
Access to Australian lighthouses varies widely. Some are on publicly accessible headlands with car parks and interpretive signage; others are on remote islands that require chartered boats. Most operational lights managed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) are not open to the public interior, but the grounds and keepers' cottages at heritage-listed stations are often open during daylight hours.
If you're planning a visit, check with the relevant state parks service or heritage body for current conditions, access restrictions and opening times. Many of Australia's finest lighthouses are within national parks, and fees may apply.
Further reading
Read more on Wikipedia → — used under CC BY-SA 4.0. This article includes contributions from the Wikipedia community.