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HISTORY & INFORMATION

The Cape Woolamai light is a small green GRP cabinet located on the eastern end of Phillip Island, on the highest point of the island. On 5 January 1878, George Bass named the south-west cape of Phillip Island "Cape Woolamai" after an Aboriginal word for snapper, as the Cape "had the appearance of the head of a snapper". 

The navigational bacon is an important landmark for passing boats and ships sailing up the eastern passage to San Remo & Newhaven. Established in 1928, the original beacon was a kerosene lantern, and it was the job of a local farmer to ride on horseback each night to light the lantern, and return to put it out in the morning.

The kerosene lantern was replaced in the late 1920's by cast-iron gas cylinders which powered the light.  The current light is automatic and solar-powered, and was possibly the last acetylene light in Australia.

Grossard Point Light / Point Grant Light

The Point Grant lighthouse at the western end of Phillip Island, as pictured on Grant Maizels' website, was built in 1947, and demolished in 1998 to make way for the visitor's centre at Seal Rocks Tourist Complex. The tower was 19 metres tall, with an elevation of 52 metres. The tower at Grossard Point appears to be very similar to the Point Grant light. The very small Round Island light was built in 1997 to replace the Point Grant light, and is barely visible from the Nobbies Lookout.

Sources:
* Interpretive sign at Cape Woolamai Beacon, Phillip Island Nature Park, Parks Victoria
* Ibbotson, J. (2001) "Lighthouses of Australia: Images from the End of an Era", Australian Lighthouse Traders

PHOTOGRAPHS

Photographed by K. Eggleston, 7 November 2000 © Kristie Eggleston

CAPE WOOLAMAI
Surf beach at Cape Woolamai	The Pinnacles	Cape Woolamai	The beacon at the top of the hill
Cape Woolamai Beacon	112 metres above sea level		Looking back towards Phillip Island
	Woolamai sign		Me beneath the beacon
Looking back towards the beacon	North beach, Cape Woolamai

GROSSARD POINT
Eastern view	Western view	Beacon

MAP & ACCESS DETAILS

Grossard Point Beacon is not marked on maps, but is found at the location shown as being the lone gravesite of Captain Grossard, on the north-western coast of Phillip Island. While the structure itself is fenced-off, there is no restriction of access.

Access The Cape Woolamai Beacon is located on the highest point of Phillip Island, at the south-eastern end of the island. The 7km return walk from the surf life saving club carpark to the Beacon is steep and exposed, and there are no facilities along the track - carry drinking water & wear sunscreen.  There is no restriction of access to the Beacon itself. The only toilet facilities are located at the surf life saving club.

LINKS

Grant Maizels - Cape Woolamai

Grant Maizels - Point Grant