Cape Nelson Lighthouse

Cape Nelson Lighthouse is a historic coastal lighthouse located within Cape Nelson State Park near Portland in southwestern Victoria, Australia. Built in 1884 from local limestone, it stands on rugged cliffs overlooking the Southern Ocean. Still an active aid to navigation, it is heritage-listed and notable for its intact keeper's quarters and lantern room. The site offers panoramic ocean views and is a key feature of the Great South West Walk.

Visitors can expect a heritage limestone lighthouse complex set on high coastal cliffs within Cape Nelson State Park. The exterior, keeper's cottages, and surrounding grounds are accessible for sightseeing and photography, with expansive views of the Southern Ocean and rugged coastline. The lantern room and interior are accessible only on guided tours when available. The area includes walking tracks, coastal heathland, and lookouts, with opportunities for whale watching in season.

Constructed in 1884 to guide vessels along the treacherous southwest Victorian coast, Cape Nelson Lighthouse was built from local limestone with keepers' quarters and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. It replaced earlier temporary navigation aids and remains an active light, representing late 19th-century lighthouse engineering and the maritime history of Portland, Victoria's first permanent European settlement.

The lighthouse is a significant maritime heritage site for Victoria, illustrating coastal navigation history and the life of lighthouse keepers. It is valued as a landmark within Cape Nelson State Park and along the Great South West Walk, contributing to regional identity and heritage tourism.