Cliffy Island Lighthouse facts for kids
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| Cliffy Island Lighthouse, 1917 | |
 Cliffy Island Lighthouse
Location in Victoria
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| Location | Bass Strait 17 nmi S of Port Albert, Victoria Australia |
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| Coordinates | 38°57′02.6″S 146°42′20.5″E / 38.950722°S 146.705694°E |
| Year first constructed | 1884 |
| Automated | 1971 |
| Foundation | granite basement |
| Construction | granite tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | unpainted tower, white lantern and gallery |
| Height | 12 metres (39 ft) |
| Focal height | 52 metres (171 ft) |
| Original lens | Fresnel lens |
| Intensity | 15,300 cd |
| Range | 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 5s. |
| Admiralty number | K2500 |
| NGA number | 7204 |
| ARLHS number | A US-059 |
The Cliffy Island Lighthouse stands tall on Cliffy Island. This island is actually the top of a huge underwater granite mountain in the Bass Strait. Cliffy Island is about 32 kilometers south of Port Albert in Victoria, Australia. It's also about 38 kilometers northeast of the Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse.
The lighthouse helps ships stay safe by warning them about rocks in the Bass Strait. It sends out a bright flash of white light every five seconds. The light itself, powered by a special Fresnel lens, shines from 52 meters above the sea. The land around the lighthouse is looked after by the Victoria Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The lighthouse itself is run by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). You can only reach the island by helicopter, and the whole area is closed to visitors.
History of the Lighthouse
The Cliffy Island Lighthouse was built in 1884. The builders used strong granite stones that were dug right from the island itself. When it was first built, the lighthouse area also had homes for the lighthouse keepers and their families.
There was a stone house for the main lighthouse keeper and his family. This house was very similar to one built at Cape Nelson State Park around the same time. There was also a wooden duplex building. This was where the two assistant keepers and their families lived. These homes were taken down in 1971 when the lighthouse became automated. However, some of the stone walls that surrounded the houses are still there today.
Nearby Lighthouses
- South West - Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse
- North East - Lighthouse at Cape Conran Coastal Park
- North East - Point Hicks Lighthouse
