Cape Byron Light, Maritime lighthouse at Cape Byron, Australia
Cape Byron Light is a white cylindrical structure marking Australia's easternmost point on the New South Wales coast. The building houses a maritime museum and can be reached by walking paths from Byron Bay.
The structure began operations in 1901 and marks an important turning point in Australian maritime history. It was designed by Charles Assinder Harding and has guided seafarers for generations.
The headland, known to the Bundjalung people as Cavanba, served as an elevated lookout and a men's site for ceremony, initiation and lore-making. The Bundjalung name was replaced when the township was gazetted as Byron Bay in 1896.
Morning or late afternoon offers the best light for photographs and fewer crowds during a visit. Comfortable shoes are necessary since the walking path from Byron Bay can be steep, and viewing platforms require climbing several steps.
The original light came from six kerosene wick lamps producing 145,000 candelas; a 1922 kerosene burner reached 500,000, and electrification in 1956 with a 1,000-watt halogen lamp raised output to 2,200,000 candelas. The first Henry-LePaute Fresnel lens, two metres across with 760 prismatic glasses, is still in use.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,645 contributors worldwide.
