Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse

Welcome to Cape Leeuwin, a geographic sentinel standing at the most southwesterly point of the Australian continent. As you stand here, you are witness to a rare maritime phenomenon where two of the world's great water bodies—the…

As we approach the base of the lighthouse, look closely at the masonry. The tower is constructed from local limestone, quarried from nearby Quarry Bay. …

In the center of the tower's spiral staircase, you will see a long, vertical tube. This is the weight tube, the core of the lighthouse's historical mechanical system. …

At the very top of the lighthouse, we enter the lantern room, the site of the magnificent Fresnel lenses. These are 'First Order' lenses—the largest and most powerful type ever manufactured. …

Just below the lantern room is the Watch Room. This was the nerve center for the on-duty keeper. …

Since the lighthouse was built, only one major shipwreck has occurred on this reef, but it was a dramatic one. In 1910, the SS Pericles, a sister ship to the Titanic but half its size, was navigating around the cape. …

Walking away from the tower, we explore the surrounding precinct, which includes the original keepers' homes. One of these has been converted into an information center where you can view an evocative video documenting the daily…

As our tour of the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse concludes, take a final moment to stand on the balcony or the surrounding grounds and look out at the horizon. You are at a true 'end of the earth' location, where the currents of two…