Bathurst Point Lighthouse

Western Australian authorities had been considering the need for a light on Bathurst Point, Rottnest Island, for some time, but the wreck of the barque City of York in 1899 spurred them into action. Eleven seamen, including the captain, drowned in the incident.
The lighthouse was lit only 13 months after the City of York disaster. This was achieved because the limestone for the tower and lightkeeper’s quarters was quarried on the island and the lantern and lens were already on hand. They had been ordered from Chance Bros as a subsidiary light for the Cape Leeuwin lighthouse, but the subsidiary light was never completed as it was considered more a risk to shipping than a help.
Bathurst Point was originally a fixed white light. The character was altered to flashing in October 1920.
Bathurst Point was a one-man station, and was manned from 1900 to October 1920. There were only three lightkeepers over this period. George W Waters was the first keeper and he held the post for 15 years until he retired.
The lighthouse was transferred to Commonwealth government management in 1915 but returned to state control at some stage.
In 1912 the lighthouse was operating on acetylene. It was converted to electric operation in 1986.
The tower was originally unpainted and remained so until at least 1912. By 2000 it was painted white with a gold dome. By 2022 the tower was cream-coloured and the lantern and dome were white.
In 2018 the Department of Transport instigated a public consultation about whether the lighthouse was still needed – the lighthouse would be retained as a heritage structure, but extinguished if it were found unnecessary for navigation. As at June 2022 the lighthouse is active.