Cape Otway Lightstation to close June 2022

[Eremophila]

Apparently this was announced last year but has just been re-confirmed: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-10/ ... /100204328

No more hot coffee and snacky treats along the GOW!

It is an interesting site to visit, although the $19.50 entry fee is no doubt off-putting for some domestic tourists.

[CraigVIC]

It's a shame, or maybe it isn't? If Parks end up running it you may not even notice a difference. As usual with these things there is just enough info provided for it to be a total mystery. It seems odd for lease terms to come to such an impasse.

[CraigVIC]

There's stories on this issue dating back 4 years. It does seem to be an ideal asset to hand over to a TO group and perhaps that is part of the story

[Mcspud]

I used to look after the maintenance of many old lighthouses in another life. Otway was once a commonwealth site and was handed back to the state many years ago. I visited maybe 10 years ago and the condition of the tower was shocking. You need to do regular maintenance, not wait until it’s stuffed and complain. We used to budget approx. $20k pa on average to maintain an old lighthouse. Yes $20k. The condition at present could be $500k rectification

[CraigVIC]

From a grant of $16.5 million set aside to develop heritage assets to support Victorian tourism "the famous Wilsons Promontory, Cape Schanck, Cape Otway, and Point Hicks lighthouses will receive a share of $4.5 million towards a range of urgent maintenance and repair works."

So it seems the future of Cape Otway is assured.

https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/news/2022/ ... tage-sites

[Eremophila]

You can still do a guided tour of the lighthouse…. If you stay in the pricey accommodation.