Cape St George Lighthouse, Lighthouse ruins in Jervis Bay Territory, Australia
Cape St George Lighthouse is a ruin of sandstone and limestone set on a cliff at the southern entrance to Jervis Bay. The remains display the structure of a 19th-century tower with its characteristic stone construction.
The lighthouse was built in 1860 to guide ships passing the bay but was shut down by 1889 after proving ineffective for navigation. Its brief working life shows how quickly coastal lighting systems had to adapt when they failed to protect vessels.
The site marks a key point in Australian maritime history where sailors once oriented themselves and sought safe passage along the coast. Visitors today can see how people monitored this shoreline over a century ago.
Access to the ruins is through Booderee National Park with marked paths and information boards along the way. Wear sturdy shoes since the ground is rough and the clifftop views are rewarding.
Between 1864 and 1893, roughly two dozen ships wrecked on this coast, revealing how dangerous the route remained despite the lighthouse. Its poor positioning proved a key reason for early closure.
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