Lighthouses are unique, romantic, and an intimate part of Australia's maritime heritage. They have inspired and are admired by many.

Beacons by the Sea explores the role of lighthouses, from guiding ships to their part in the unification of Australia under Federation. Beacons also explores shipwrecks, war, and the lighthouse as a cultural icon.

Amid the history of lighthouses are the people who worked and lived in them – the keepers and their families. The exhibition highlights their personal stories – humorous, sad and tragic.

Beacons contains a range of interesting records:

• architectural drawings
• photographs of lighthouses and their keepers from the late 1800s to the 1970s
• logbooks
• a lighthouse messenger pigeon cylinder with its tiny message
• paintings and engravings
• a model ship and a weather vane

coupled with interactives, films and oral histories. 

You can browse our architectural drawings of lighthouses online. And don't miss our education resources for Beacons by the Sea.