Kiama lighthouse is situated without delay on Blowhole Point.

It was established in 1887 and was staffed by a keeper who had living space close by. This important Keeper’s House was sadly destroyed by vandals in 1920, however the Helper Keeper’s House has been restored and is now used as a museum.

The Robertson Basin, a person made harbor which was built in 1877 and now known as Kiama Harbour, was employed to service the ships which transported large paving blocks and crushed blue metal up the coast to Sydney. The original ‘light ‘ in the lighthouse was powered by an oil burner and had a catadioptric fixed lens.

It shone a light which may be seen 9 miles away.

In 1908, the light was upgraded to run on local coal gas and produced a considerably stronger light which could throw a detectable light for fifteen miles.

Further advances saw acetylene gas used to form a flashing light in 1920 and at this time, the lighthouse was no longer manned. An everlasting change to electricity occurred in 1969 and is still operational today.

You can follow the history of the lighthouse in the museum next door, which was originally the Aid Keeper’s cottage. Lighthouses sometimes have an interesting history and this one, in close proximity to the blowhole on Blowholw Point, isn't different. There were and still are, dynamic forces of nature in play here, as is the case at many places on the Australian coastline.

This article was penned by Anton Maverick who has travelled Australia at length by campervan he reccomends when touring the southern states either campervan Hire Australia or campervan hire Melbourne good luck with your travels.