LIGHT has been restored to Green Cape on the New South Wales south coast, with the historic lighthouse resuming operations in February after 34 years out of service.
Australia’s historic Chance Brothers lighthouse, built in 1883, was decommissioned back in the 1990s, with an adjacent steel lattice tower and solar light operating in its stead.
With the lattice tower reaching the end of its lifespan, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority opted to return aid to navigation (AtoN) operations to the original tower.
According to AMSA, the relighting was made possible by modern light emitting diode (LED) technology, significantly reducing power requirements and increasing reliability for off-grid solar operation.
The project was delivered via collaborative partnership with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), which owns and manages Green Cape Lightstation as part of Beowa National Park.
The works were contracted in 2025, with the relighting this month (Feb 2026).
Green Cape Lighthouse is Australia's first concrete lighthouse tower and the southernmost lighthouse in New South Wales.
The relighting utilises LED technology developed through the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) engineering committee In which AMSA is a participant.
“AMSA implemented a program to modernise traditional lenses with LED systems where possible,” the regulator stated, noting Cape Byron lighthouse in northern NSW was the first rotating optic conversion.
“This technology allows heritage lenses to house modern light sources while maintaining their historic character and maritime safety function.”
The need for a lighthouse on the NSW south coast is apparent with nearby Disaster Bay hinting at its troubled maritime history.
The South Coast History Society notes weather conditions in the area can be “very rough, even very dangerous”.
The SCHS also notes that up until the 1970s, many of the vessels that operated along the south coast were small, underpowered vessels with limited capacity to respond to “impending dangers”.