Point Malcolm Lighthouse

Point Malcolm lighthouse may be the smallest lighthouse in Australia, but it was an immensely important beacon lighting the way for cargo laden boats and paddle steamers sailing back and forth from the Murray River Ports across to Point Sturt and for travellers passing through the Narrows between lakes Alexandrina and Albert to reach Meningie from the late 18oo’s

The lighthouse, also known as Mundoo, or Mud light, is only seven metres in height and it was built mostly from concrete by Richard Trenouth of Strathalbyn. First lit on 1 February 1878, it faithfully served sailors, fisherman and passengers alike until it was turned off in September of 1931.

While sailing on the lakes is today, a pleasant recreation for those who know how to navigate the often choppy waters, in times past passengers and goods were transported across the lakes out of necessity. It seems that people travelling between Adelaide and Melbourne preferred to sail across the lakes rather than take the long road trip between Meningie and Adelaide and the Royal Mail service operated for many years between Milang, Narrung and Meningie. In fact, the passage became so popular that three paddle steamers, the Judith, the Murray and the Milang, would make the trip, often more than once a week.

Though the lakes are expansive, they are very shallow and where the two lakes meet is extremely narrow, which makes the passage fraught with danger. The large vessels were able to navigate through this narrow neck where the lakes intersect safely, aided by the little inland lighthouse built on the adjacent point.  Steamers coming down the Murray from Wellington were also guided by the light.

The lighthouse, being of sturdy construction, remains intact today.

Although the light is no longer needed, the lighthouse and the adjacent quarters have become significant markers of a bygone era.

In this era, the lighthouse and its’ keepers were synonymous and were quite possibly the quintessential ‘reliable pair’ ! 

Perhaps the whitewashed walls of this little lighthouse will offer up stories about its’ keepers, echo their mutterings, voiced as they clambered up and down dark stairwells at all hours of the night, night after night after night, or haunt us with visions of their hard-ships, pardon the pun! But probably only if we look and listen really, really carefully!

by Isa Brown Dec 2024