Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse, one of Australia's magnificent heritage light stations still in operation, turns 160 years old today.
Built from locally sourced granite, the 19m tower sits on the southern-most settlement of mainland Australia in Wilsons Promontory National Park, Victoria.
The isolated outpost was first illuminated on 15 July 1859 and has continued to watch sentinel over the busy international shipping passage of Bass Strait.
Host to thousands of visitors each year who make the 40km round trip hike to take in breathtaking scenery, the light station hosts overnight guests who enjoy the warm hospitality of four light keeper's cottages.
The lighthouse is perched on 100m granite cliffs where visibility can extend to more than 85km.
The light was automated in 1993 and is now solar powered, only requiring an annual service.
Wombats, wallabies and birdlife inhabit the area and visitors can witness the annual migration of whales on their journey to northern breeding grounds, and their return with playful offspring.
This year's landmark anniversary celebrates Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse as an important historic navigational aid and a remote, yet popular visitor destination.
