About Currie Lighthouse
Currie Lighthouse is a historic coastal lighthouse located at Currie Harbour on the west coast of King Island, Tasmania, in Bass Strait. Built in 1879 and first lit in 1880, the 21-metre white iron tower was prefabricated and erected to guide vessels navigating the treacherous strait. Still active and managed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, it is heritage-listed and remains a prominent landmark overlooking the harbour and township of Currie.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a white 21-metre iron lighthouse situated on a grassed foreshore at Currie Harbour overlooking Bass Strait. The exterior can be viewed up close from the harbour area with views of the coastline, harbour walls and township. The tower interior is not open to the public. The site is an open, exposed coastal setting suitable for sightseeing, photography and short walks around the harbour precinct.
Key highlights
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Active 21-metre white iron tower first lit in 1880
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Prominent location at Currie Harbour overlooking Bass Strait
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Heritage-listed aid to navigation for Bass Strait shipping route
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Photogenic coastal setting with harbour and ocean views
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Easily accessible landmark in the main township of Currie
History of Currie Lighthouse
Constructed in 1879 and first exhibited in 1880 to mark the western entrance to Bass Strait and the approach to Currie Harbour. The prefabricated wrought-iron tower was built to improve safety for vessels navigating the strait, which had a history of shipwrecks around King Island. It remains an active aid to navigation operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and is listed on heritage registers.
Culture & Context
Represents the maritime heritage of King Island and Bass Strait navigation, serving as a landmark for the island community of Currie and an example of late 19th-century lighthouse engineering in Tasmania.
Route
| By air |
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