Split Point Lighthouse

Split Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse located in Aireys Inlet, a small town on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia.

History

Originally called Eagles Nest Point, the lighthouse was constructed in 1891. It was converted to automatic operation in 1919.

The original British-made first order Fresnel lens is still in use. However, the factory in Birmingham, where the lens was built, was bombed during war-time and the essential formula for making the unique lens crystal were lost, should a replacement ever be needed.

A Japanese firm, consulted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, estimated the cost of replacing the lens at more than A$1 million.

Under standard Australian lighthouse convention, red filters would usually be placed to the extreme left and right of the beam (indicating "danger zones" for a passing ship, in-line with the jagged coastline). For reasons unknown, the Split Point Lighthouse operated for many years under the opposite system; although this has now been corrected. Split point lighthouse has 132 stairs form bottom to top and is 34 metres tall.

Today

Since summer 2005, the Split Point Lighthouse has been offering regular 30 minute guided tours, during which visitors have the chance to climb the original staircase and experience the view from the balcony just below the lantern room. Tours had been available for much of the 1990s, but on only a few days per year.

The top of the lighthouse is also now used as a mobile phone base station, making it dangerous to enter the lantern room (or any area above) whilst it is in operation, due to possible exposure to RF radiation.

The original lighthouse keeper's quarters, a detached house adjacent to the site, is now a privately owned residence.

Popular culture

The popular children's television series Round the Twist used the area around the Split Point Lighthouse for many external scenes. The lighthouse features prominently as the scene of a murder in Arthur Upfield's detective novel, "The New Shoe" featuring his famous detective Napoleon Bonaparte. The lighthouse was featured in the filming of "Darkness Falls".

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Melanie K
30 December 2013
This lighthouse's claim to fame is being the home of the Twist family on the ABC's 'Round the Twist'!
Jessie S
31 March 2016
Loved the view! Make sure you go along the boardwalk paths further along
Alo T
14 June 2019
First stop on a bus tour to great ocean road. It looks small from the highway, but actually it’s huge and nice when walk close up there
Vy Tuong
30 June 2017
Expensive 20$ each for just climbing the light house. 20minutes drive from the Great Ocean Road. Being told that it's very likely to see whales but there was absolutely nothing but waves!!
Simple Discoveries
19 March 2016
A quick roadside stop for us to stretch the legs. You can drive close the lighthouse, but parking is further away requiring a hike up.
Daliso Ngoma
28 December 2013
$35 for a family tour, 2 kids and 2 adults. $12 for individuals.
Load more comments
foursquare.com
7.1/10
Anton Schukin, Christina Png and 4,068 more people have been here
Map
20-24 Federal Street, Aireys Inlet VIC 3231, Australia Get directions
Thu-Fri 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Sat-Sun 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Mon 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Tue 10:00 AM–4:00 PM

Split Point Lighthouse on Foursquare

Split Point Lighthouse on Facebook

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
La Baracca Holiday House

starting $278

Lightkeepers Inn Motel

starting $97

Split Point Cottages

starting $117

At The Beach Holiday House

starting $344

3-Bedroom House Twiggy @ Anglesea

starting $0

Wallys Beach House

starting $0

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Balyang Sanctuary

Balyang Sanctuary is a public park in the suburb of Newtown, Geelong.

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Geelong Racecourse

The Geelong Racecourse is a major regional horse racing venue in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
HM Prison Geelong

HM Prison Geelong was a maximum security Australia prison located on

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Geelong Performing Arts Centre

The Geelong Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) is a performing arts,

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Geelong Art Gallery

The Geelong Art Gallery is a major regional gallery in the city of

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Johnstone Park

Johnstone Park is a landscaped garden in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Geelong Waterfront

The Geelong Waterfront is a tourist and recreation area on the north

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Geelong Botanic Gardens

The Geelong Botanic Gardens is a botanical garden in the city of

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Faro de la Barra

Mnara wa taa wa Barra ni mnara wa taa wa pili kujengwa huko Barra. Wa

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
出雲日御碕燈塔

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Lighthouse (Φάρος)

Lighthouse (Φάρος) is a tourist attraction, one of the Ligh

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Tower of Hercules

The Tower of Hercules (Galician and Spanish: Torre de Hércules) is an

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Pigeon Point Light Station or Pigeon Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse

See all similar places