AUSTRALIA: Cape Leeuwin - Where Two Oceans Collide

Cape Leeuwin is the most south western (but not the most southern) mainland point of the Australian continent, located in Western Australia.

From the tip of Cape Leeuwin you can watch the waters of the Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean meet. 

The Cape Leeuwin lighthouse is situated at the tip of a peninsula where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet. 

Built in 1895 the lighthouse was funded by Western Australia's gold rush. 

The Cape Leeuwin lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia. 

There were 3 lightkeepers and their role was to keep the light lit 24 hours a day, everyday. 

They had to carry fuel up to the top every 2 hours. 

The lightkeepers were required to keep detailed journals. 

They recorded passing ships, weather, sea animals, etc. 

Those records now give historians, biologists, meteorologists, etc. great insight into weather patterns, animal migration patterns, ship traffic, etc. and how climate change is affecting them now.

The lightkeepers and their families lived in cottages in this windy and desolate outpost. 

Each of the 3 families had their own cottage. There were 3 bedrooms, a living room, store, kitchen and bathroom. All 3 cottages were continuously occupied until 1988. 

The last keeper to live in a cottage was 1998.

We found this sign close by. I am not sure if its true,

but conditions are definitely not as bleak in 2023 as they were in the late 1800's.