South Solitary Island Light, Maritime navigation lighthouse on South Solitary Island, New South Wales, Australia
South Solitary Island Light is a cylindrical concrete tower rising 12 meters above the rocky island with a white exterior and lantern room at its peak. The structure serves maritime navigation for vessels traveling along this coastal stretch of New South Wales.
The lighthouse began operations in 1880 and was the first kerosene-powered beacon in New South Wales, marking a major advance in coastal navigation safety. Its construction established a critical aid for ships navigating this treacherous stretch of water.
Lighthouse keepers and their families once made their home on this island, maintaining maritime watch in complete isolation from the mainland. Their presence shaped the cultural identity of this remote outpost for nearly a century.
The lighthouse is reachable only by helicopter due to the island's complete isolation and lack of conventional access routes. Visits are highly restricted and require special arrangements and official permissions from the relevant maritime authorities.
The island ranks among Australia's most remote inhabited locations and remained continuously staffed until 1975, when full automation took over. Despite modern technology, this station remains one of the continent's most isolated lighthouses.
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