Point Lowly Lighthouse: Ron visits this monument to nineteenth century engineering on the Eyre Peninsula in the West Coast region of South Australia

It's a man made landmark that competes with the many spectacular natural features dominating this lesser known part of Spencer Gulf, a good half-hour drive from Whyalla. The Point Lowly Lighthouse sits on its very own remote and somewhat precarious peninsula... which is not all that easy to spot from the water, especially for any sailor mesmerised by the sheer beauty of this stunning location where the Flinders Ranges meet the sea.

The English navigator Matthew Flinders sailed past here in 1802 and on March 8 he named this point lowly - for very obvious reasons. And this low lying hazard part way up Spencer Gulf would cause all kinds of problems for shipping especially at night.

Today those in search of whiting and snapper, have this spot well and truly logged on their onboard GPS. But back in the days when towns like Port Augusta, Whyalla and Port Pirie were coming into their own, the sailing ketches and steamers were keen to give this place a wide berth.

So by 1883, the Point Lowly Lighthouse was in operation - and today it stands as a monument to nineteenth century engineering - even if everything didn't go as smoothly as first planned.

The Point Lowly Lighthouse certainly lived up to its name. For many years it was simply too low. And that was partly due to the constraints of building a lighthouse in such an isolated location. Much of the material had to be brought in from Port Pirie on the other side of the gulf. And all of this led to a series of compromises. So much so that the original lighthouse was only fifteen metres high. Following a number of maritime incidents the authorities were forced to act and the lighthouse was almost doubled in height.

Today you can still see the join where the tower was extended to provide a potentially life-saving light for mariners for ninety years.

Anne Armstrong: "The families that lived at the Lighthouse Cottages got their provisions every three months so they had to make them last. You really were on your own and the road from Whyalla was very rough. This place was very remote."

By the early 1970s the lighthouse and its cottages - set amid the salt bush - were no longer manned. Today it's that sense of isolation which draws holiday makers to the cottages which were restored and now run by the Uniting Church at Whyalla. The Freycinet Trail - which you can walk, drive or cycle, will take you to many vantage points where families try their luck in the search for salmon... or simply take in the views of Fitzgerald Bay where multi-million dollar aquaculture ventures have been up and running for years now.

But for many it's what hides below the water at Black Point and Point Lowly that remains the major attraction. Throughout the winter months, the Australian Giant Cuttlefish put on their amazing display. These "chameleons of the sea" are one of the largest species of cuttlefish found in the world. The annual migration of these majestic creatures is for the sole purpose of spawning and is surely one of the most spectacular natural events in the Australian marine environment.

Little wonder then that divers from around Australia and the world come to this amazing location at the tip of Point Lowly along with other arrivals that are here all year round.

Each cottage can house up to 28 guests in dormitory style accommodation. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Point Lowly Lighthouse
Point Lowly
Spencer Gulf
Half hour drive from Whyalla
Adults $22 Children $11 per night

Published 25th October 2009