South Neptune Island Lighthouse facts for kids
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| South Neptune Island Lighthouse, 1902 | |
 South Neptune Island Lighthouse (current)
Location in South Australia
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| Location | Neptune Islands South Australia Australia |
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| Coordinates | 35°20′15.1″S 136°07′02.6″E / 35.337528°S 136.117389°E |
| Year first constructed | 1985 |
| Automated | 1990 |
| Construction | brick tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern removed in 1990 |
| Markings / pattern | unpainted tower, white lantern and balcony |
| Height | 8 metres (26 ft) |
| Focal height | 43 metres (141 ft) |
| Intensity | 24,000 cd |
| Range | 26 kilometres (16.2 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl( 3) W 20s. |
| Admiralty number | K1872 |
| NGA number | 8692 |
| ARLHS number | AUS-202 |
The South Neptune Island Lighthouse helps guide ships safely. It stands on South Neptune Island, which is part of the Neptune Islands. These islands are located near the entrance to Spencer Gulf in South Australia. Lighthouses are very important for sailors, especially at night or in bad weather. They show ships where the land is and help them avoid dangerous rocks.
History of the Lighthouse
The very first lighthouse on South Neptune Island began shining its light on November 1, 1901. It was a tall, important building that helped many ships find their way.
A New Tower and a New Home
In the 1980s, a brand new lighthouse tower was built on the island. This new tower took over the job of the old one. The original tower was then moved to Port Adelaide. Today, you can see it as part of the amazing collection at the South Australian Maritime Museum.
In the early 1990s, the lighthouse became "automatic." This means it no longer needed people living there to operate it. Machines and computers took over the job of keeping the light shining.
Protecting the Past
The old lighthouse site, even without its original tower, is still very special. The remains of the first lighthouse, including the homes where the lighthouse keepers lived, storage buildings, and even old stone fences, are protected. They were added to the South Australian Heritage Register on December 15, 1994.
This protection helps us remember the history of shipping in South Australia. It shows how important lighthouses were for moving goods by sea a long time ago. The old keepers' cottages are also unique. They were built in a row, which was not common for lighthouse homes in South Australia. These buildings help us understand how isolated and self-sufficient the lighthouse keepers had to be in such a remote place.
