2.1 Location
Gabo Island Lighthouse is located off the north-east coast of Victoria on Gabo Island, a 154 hectare landmass separated from the mainland by a 500 metre-wide channel. Situated approximately 8 kilometres south of the New South Wales/Victorian border, Gabo Island is approximately 13.9 kilometres from the township of Mallacoota.
Coordinates: 37° 34.0350' S, 149° 55.0130' E
Figure 3. Location of Gabo Island within Australia (Imagery ©2021 NASA, TerraMetrics, Map Data ©2021 Google)
Figure 4. Location of Gabo Island Lighthouse south of Victorian-New South Wales border (Imagery ©2021 TerraMetrics, Map Data ©2021 Google)
Figure 5. Gabo Island and Lighthouse (Imagery ©2021 CNES/Airbus, Maxar Technologies, Map Data ©2021 Google)
2.2 Setting and landscape
Standing at 52 metres above sea level, Gabo Island is a 2.4 kilometre long and 0.8 kilometre wide island. Aside from the lighthouse tower and keeper cottages, the following structures and notable features are located on the island:
- airfield
- jetty
- various sheds
- store room
- garage
- pump shed
- quarries
- gardens and fowl shed
- monument
- cemetery
- radar station
- original 1853 lighthouse remnant
- footings of WWII buildings
Figure 6. View of keeper cottages and other buildings from Gabo Island lighthouse tower (© AMSA, 2019)
Fauna and flora
Gabo Island is known to hold the largest little penguin colony in the world. Short-tailed shear-waters are also prevalent on the island, and the island is recognised by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area.
Feral cats once presided over the island and impacted the bird colonies, however an eradication program from 1987-1991 successfully rid the island of feral cats.
2.3 Lease and ownership
AMSA leases Gabo Island Lighthouse from the Minister for Conservation and Environment (Victoria). The AMSA lease consists of two lots:
- Lot 2: 756.3m2
- Lot 3: 217m2
The current lease commenced on 1 December 1995 for a term of 21 years. Due to the popularity of the site, a tourist licence was established between AMSA and Parks Victoria commencing on 1 December 1995.
Figure 7. AMSA Map of Lease, 2017 (Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community)
2.4 Access
Due to the island’s isolated location, the lighthouse is only accessible by authorised charter boat operators and fixed wing aircraft licenced with Parks Victoria. Access inside the lighthouse is restricted to authorised personnel and official tour groups only.
Figure 8. View of Gabo Island Lighthouse and windbreak wall (© AMSA, 2019)
2.5 Listings
Gabo Island Lighthouse is included on the following heritage registers:
Register | ID |
Commonwealth Heritage List | 1053795 |
Register of the National Estate | 47396 |
Victorian Heritage Register | H18437 |
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