Three Historic Lighthouses to Visit in Jervis Bay

No coastline is complete without lighthouses, especially the historic kind, and Jervis Bay is home to a couple of beauties. Even if you aren’t a pharophile (aka lighthouse enthusiast), these iconic structures usually come with some spectacular views, which makes sense given their purpose.

Replica Preserves Historic Lantern at Jervis Bay Maritime Museum

This is the newest lighthouse on the list, but in fact might be the oldest.

Originally part of the ruined lighthouse (read on for that chapter of the story), the lantern from Cape St George has a new home at Jervis Bay Maritime Museum.

The lanterns sits in a replica of the lighthouse at Crookhaven Heads, now also decommissioned, which is where it landed after its original home was deemed ineffective.

Thanks to a grant from Create NSW, the structure at the JBMM came to life in early 2022. It sits on a concrete pad with a map of the region showing the original positions of the lighthouses over time.

The replica lighthouse with parts from the decommissioned lighthouses at Cape St George and Crookhaven Heads, overlooks the pond in the grounds of Jervis Bay Maritime Museum.

Point Perpendicular – a better beacon

This guy was a replacement for the one on the south head of Jervis Bay, built on the southernmost tip of the Beecroft Peninsular in 1898 and lit up for the first time on 1 May 1899.

An oil burner provided the light atop the 21-metre tower, which was replaced with a steel lattice tower and automated light in January 1994.

It’s an easy walk from the carpark around the grounds of the lighthouse though there’s no access inside any of the buildings. The views are breathtaking from the 90-metre-high cliffs, and there’s plenty of wildlife – even whales in the right season – to spot.

Need to know: The lighthouse is located in a military training area which is closed off during active exercises. It’s usually open weekends and school holidays but it’s best to check before you make the drive down.

The historic lighthouse at Point Perpendicular on the Beecroft Peninsular at the northern entrance to Jervis Bay. Photo: Kamalesh – stock.adobe.com

Cape St George ruined lighthouse

Inside the Booderee National Park lies a unique ruin – a lighthouse that was built in the wrong place and consequently did not do what a lighthouse is supposed to do, that is, prevent shipwrecks.

There are tragic tales galore connected to this pile of stones, which you can read as you wander around the grounds of the ruins atop Cape St George. Along with many unprevented shipwrecks, there are tales of misadventure for the residents who made this remote outpost their home as lighthouse keepers.

This national park – which is run by the traditional custodians – is technically Jervis Bay Territory not NSW, so even if you have a NSW pass you will need to purchase a 48-hour park pass to enter (1-year and 2-year passes also available). There’s so much to explore inside the park – including the Botanic Gardens and the surfing spot Caves Beach – that you will feel like you got your money’s worth.

It’s good to have a bit of a read and research on the park’s website before you visit, to get a feel for how this place is looked after with traditional ways and modern science combined. You can also stop into the Visitor’s Centre.

The remains of the tower of the historic lighthouse at Cape St George in the Booderee National Park. Photo: Samantha Tannous

Warden Head lighthouse at Ulladulla

A little further south of Jervis Bay is the petite harbour of Ulladulla and another lighthouse, which has sat atop Warden Head since 1879 despite being first built on the Ulladulla Breakwater in 1873.

The light was automated in 1920 and the keeper’s house was relocated to Milton in 1922, and in 1964 the light was converted to electric operation.

The paved road, Deering Street, is well maintained out to the lighthouse and the views are suitably rewarding, though there is no entrance to the tower itself. The lighthouse had a makeover, including the installation of LED lights, in 2018.

Can’t get enough of all things lighthouse?

International Lighthouse Day is generally held in August each year. Events around the world include heritage efforts, amateur radio competitions, tours and talks to the public.

Aussie events and information around this special day can be found at