Aug 24, 2025 | News
Cape Otway Lightstation Shines for International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend
August 16–17, 2025
After a five-year pause, Cape Otway Lightstation was proudly re-activated for this year’s International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW) – and it was one of our best yet!
The annual event brings together amateur radio operators and lighthouse enthusiasts across the globe, celebrating maritime history while showcasing the enduring power of communication. This year, Cape Otway once again joined more than 500 lighthouses worldwide in transmitting signals across the airwaves.
Operating from the Historic Telegraph Station (built in 1859), radio operators Glenn Alford and Darrin Pearce set up an impressive station that became a highlight of the visitor experience. Guests were fascinated to hear live contacts being made with operators as far away as Europe and North America, sparking many conversations about the art of radio and its historic role in maritime safety.
Adding to the atmosphere, our guides delivered special history talks throughout the weekend, bringing to life the stories of lighthouse keepers, shipwrecks, and communication across Bass Strait. Visitors were treated to costumed interpretations, making history feel vivid and immediate against the dramatic backdrop of the Southern Ocean.
Despite wild winter weather on Friday night, the weekend offered excellent operating conditions. The team noted the lighthouse’s open coastal setting and low background noise made for ideal radio transmissions — with plenty of space for antennas and a truly atmospheric backdrop.
A Global Connection
Along with the many other contacts made from Cape Otway, operators successfully reached lighthouses across Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Each call was a reminder that our Lightstation is part of a worldwide community preserving maritime history.
Australia
Point Malcolm (AU0029) – VK5ARC
Cape Leeuwin (AU0008) – VK6CLL
Clarence Head (AU0013) – VK2GF
Lady Bay (AU0049) – VK3DX
Flagstaff Hill (AU0096) – VK3DX
Point Lowly (AU0021) – VK5BWR
Sugarloaf (AU0033) – VK2UGB
Sea Hill (AU0060) – VK4CQR
Cleveland (AU0014) – VK4BAR
Cape Jervis (AU0094) – VK5CJL
New Zealand
Karori Rock (NZ0017) – ZL2LH
Bean Rock (NZ0011) – ZM2MF
Cape Reinga (NZ0020) – ZL1PND
Europe
Nordborg, Denmark (DK0006) – OZ1NBG
Hammeren, Denmark (DK0015) – OZ4HAM
Cromwell Point, Ireland (IE0001) – EI1K
Oostende, Belgium (BE0008) – ON4RCO
Spurn Point High, England (UK0080) – GB2SL
Beg Leger, France (FR0039) – TM2LW
A Weekend to Remember
Beyond the technical side, the event was a celebration of community and heritage. Families explored the lighthouse precinct, joined the history talks, and enjoyed our famous homemade scones with jam & cream in the Lightkeepers Cafe.
We’d like to extend our thanks to Glenn and Darrin for their enthusiasm and dedication, to our guides for their engaging history talks, and to all the visitors who joined us to make ILLW 2025 a memorable celebration of history, technology, and connection.
Dec 14, 2024 | News
The spectacular climb at the Cape Otway Lightstation is set to re-open on Monday 16th December 2024 whilst ongoing essential works continue across the site.
The lighthouse climb was closed after a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck the Otway Ranges on Sunday 22 October 2023, causing mercury to spill from the lighthouse lens.
Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks in collaboration with Parks Victoria and specialist contractors, have completed an extensive schedule of decontamination and testing works to ensure that the lighthouse can safely be accessed and enjoyed by visitors once again.
During this time there was no access to the inside of the Lighthouse, however the wider Lightstation precinct and other heritage buildings were unaffected and remained open following the earthquake with a discounted entry fee.
Essential conservation works to protect and conserve the significant heritage site will continue over the coming years and whilst ongoing access will be maintained to the site there may be some impacts on services.
In preparation for a busy summer season, works to improve the public toilets in our car park will take place this week, with temporary toilets provided for the duration of works. The café will also be closed at times over the coming fortnight.
As the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia and widely regarded as one of the nation’s most significant, the Cape Otway Lightstation—built in 1848 and famously known as the ‘Beacon of Hope’—remains a premier attraction along the Great Ocean Road.
May 28, 2024 | News
Have your say on future management and conservation at Cape Otway Lightstation |
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| Information is being sought on how the community value the Cape Otway Lightstation precinct. The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority wants to hear your ‘Tales of the Cape’, to help guide the future management of the iconic Lightstation Cape Otway is on the lands of the Gadubanud People, part of Eastern Maar Country, with rich cultural heritage and a wealth of environmental values. The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority currently leases this site from Parks Victoria and will take on land management responsibility by 1 November 2025. We are seeking community input to help guide the conservation and management of the site. Locals, visitors, and those who value the Lightstation precinct can share what they value about the site via an online survey and/or photo gallery which can be accessed here: https://haveyoursay.greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au/tales-cape Further information on how and why locals and visitors value the site will provide us with guidance on how to manage this special part of the coast into the future. The survey and online photo gallery submissions will be open until the 16th June 2024. 
Help us by sharing this opportunity We would appreciate you sharing this opportunity to contribute to the future management of this site with friends, family and community groups you are a part of. You can do this by sharing this email or the project webpage link https://haveyoursay.greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au/tales-cape Questions? For any questions on this project, please contact the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority on haveyoursay@greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au or phone 1300 736 533 With appreciation, The Team at the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority |
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Sep 6, 2022 | News
We are delighted to announce that we are reopening our gates and welcoming back visitors from Friday the 16th of September 2022!
From July 1st 2022, The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority finalised a lease agreement to operate the iconic Cape Otway Lightstation. We have been working hard behind the scenes and after a winter closure we are excited to reopen the Cape Otway Lightstation Heritage Precinct once again to the general public.
Tickets will be available to purchase on arrival with no pre-booking required.
Spring Operating Hours :
Friday- Tuesday 10am-5pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The Lightkeeper’s Cafe will be open and serving a selection of Tea & Coffee, sweet treats and of course, our famous Lightkeeper’s Homemade Scones with jam & cream! We will not be offering a lunch menu this season due staffing limitations.
Stay overnight in our beautifully renovated Heritage Accommodation in the centre of our Heritage Precinct. Bookings are available direct through our website.
Please check our website for further information on tickets, operating hours and to plan your visit!
The Lightstation, built in 1848 and situated on land currently managed by Parks Victoria as part of the Great Otway National Park, is Australia’s oldest working lighthouse and has long been a popular Great Ocean Road destination.
The new lease agreement, which will see the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority run the precinct from 1 July, will secure local jobs and ensure the Lightstation continues to operate as a significant natural, cultural and visitor destination.
Both organisations paid tribute to the hard work of past leaseholders Tourism Great Ocean Road, who held the lease since the 1990s and played a significant role in making the Lightstation a world-class tourist attraction.
With the new lease agreement now finalised, work continues on transferring the management of the Great Otway Lightstation Precinct from Parks Victoria to the Authority.
The precinct is one of 931 parcels of land to be transferred to the Authority over the next three years – a fundamental part of our role to protect and manage the Great Ocean Road coast and parks. Click here for full media release.
We look forward to welcoming you back to the Cape this Spring!
The Team at Cape Otway Lightstation
Jun 9, 2022 | News
On June 30th 2022 Tourism Great Ocean Road comes to the end of our lease and 25 years as custodians of Cape Otway Lightstation.
From July 1st 2022 the lease of Cape Otway Lightstation will be taken over by The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority.
Tourism Great Ocean Road and the Bowker family would like to thank everyone who has joined us on this journey and who has contributed over the past 25 years to help us rescue this derelict heritage site and transform it into the leading visitor attraction on the Great Ocean Road and the outstanding experience it is today. We look forward to watching this significant site grow and prosper as we hand over to the next custodians.
In preparation for the transition to the new leaseholders we will be closing the Lightstation to day visitors from the 15th – 30th of June with no walk up access available to the Lighthouse or heritage precinct. Our accommodation bookings for this period are unaffected with access provided to the Lighthouse for existing bookings. The Lightkeepers Café will also be closed from the 15th June. We are accepting accommodation bookings on behalf of the incoming leaseholders from August 2022 onward and these can be booked via our website. We thank everyone for their understanding and patience during this time.
Information on reopening and operations beyond June 30th 2022 will be announced by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority in the coming weeks.
Shannon McCartney
Manager
Cape Otway Lightstation
Jun 9, 2022 | News
This week at the Lighthouse we came together to celebrate 25 years of Tourism Great Ocean Road as custodians of Cape Otway Lightstation.
Along with the Bowker family, staff past and present were joined by some of the wonderful people who, over the years, have helped us make Cape Otway Lightstation the outstanding visitor attraction that it is today. We shared heartfelt gratitude and stories of our time at the Lighthouse and enjoyed a night filled with speeches and both tears and laughter!
The original lantern was lit for the evening for our last time by Alex Parry and former Cape Otway Lighthouse Keeper Ted Peers. The heritage lantern was decommissioned in 1994 and is only lit on special occasions with permission from AMSA.
Assembled guests enjoyed music and food as they reminisced around the fire.
The incredible fireworks display at the end of the evening was a fitting tribute to the hard work and success of the past 25 years.
Our current lease term will end in June 2022 and the lease will be taken over by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority on the 1st of July. We wish them all the best of luck in the future.
