Albany’s Breaksea Island lighthouse marks 120th anniversary

A recently restored lighthouse off the coast of Albany has marked 120 years of operation.

Breaksea Island lighthouse, about 12 km offshore in King George Sound, celebrated its 120th “birthday” on February 15.

The heritage-listed lighthouse is 16m high and first lit up the area in 1902.

It is on the same site as the original lighthouse, which was built by convicts and first shone in 1858.

In 2020, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority — the organisation that manages the lighthouse — undertook a major restoration.

The lighthouse was repainted and repairs were made to steel and concrete structures. Work was completed in 2020.

An AMSA spokeswoman said the lighthouse had “significant cultural and historic value”.

“During the First World War, the lighthouse was one of the last glimpses of Australia for many Anzac soldiers sailing from WA,” the spokeswoman said.

“As a send-off, the teenage daughter of the lighthouse keeper on Breaksea signalled in Morse code from the lighthouse to the soldiers as they departed.”

This story provided inspiration for Albany author Dianne Wolfer in her popular 2010 children’s book Lighthouse Girl.