New Caloundra Light, Inactive lighthouse in Caloundra, Queensland, Australia
New Caloundra Light is a 14-metre concrete tower on Canberra Terrace, built in 1967 as a combined lighthouse, signal station and radar station. Its square base carries a semicircular D-shaped observation room facing east, with a lantern room on its flat roof. Cantilevered beams support the observation floor, reached by a spiral concrete staircase.
The lighthouse started operations in 1968 as a modernization project to support growing shipping traffic through North West Channel into Moreton Bay. It represented a shift in Queensland's maritime navigation technology at that time.
The tower's name distinguishes it from the Old Caloundra Light, built in 1896 on the same terrace and moved in 1970 to save it from demolition; the two stand as a pair of Caloundra's lighthouse heritage. The site is cared for by the Friends of the Caloundra Lighthouses, who since 2011 have arranged visits to the 1968 signal station and tower.
The tower was long closed to the public; in 2011 the Friends of the Caloundra Lighthouses obtained a council licence for visits to the 1968 signal station and lighthouse, and since July 2012 the tower can be visited by contacting the group. The orange brick generator shed of 1967–1968 stands just south of the tower.
This is the only lighthouse in Australia designed to resemble an airport control tower, combining navigation and signal station capabilities in a single structure. The unusual design blends modern appearance with practical maritime safety functions.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,487 contributors worldwide.