It sits just below an isolated valley with the most amazing beach and about 5 beach houses. Australia has some really beautiful beaches that have not been destroyed by commercialisation. Remote and yet close to towns and sleepy little hamlets where you can rent a shack and get away from city living. Fitzgerald Bay is one of those places. Accessed via a 20 klm dirt road when you arrive, you just want to be part of a place where time stands still.
The lighthouse and two lighthouse keepers' cottages are the oldest buildings in the Whyalla area. Completed in 1883, the lighthouse eased the way for maritime traffic around Point Lowly. The original 15 metres tall tower was extended by eight metres in 1909. Manned for 90 years, the Point Lowly beacon became automated and was eventually delisted from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority register. Since 1995, the lighthouse has been owned by the City of Whyalla, while the cottages are available for holiday accommodation through the Whyalla Uniting Church.
So many lighthouses re linked to tragedy. This lighthouse is not isolated from sorrow and death. As at Corny Point, men who gave up a normal job to make safe the passage for ships, saw tragedy in their own family.
On Tuesday 4th October, 1989 this article was printed in the local newspaper The Barrier Miner the following article was written....With reference to the drowning case at Point Lowly Lighthouse, it appears that Thomas Alfred Wells, aged 27, a son of the headkeeper, and a lad named Charles Duthie were out in a boat in the Rip. The boat capsized and both occupants were drowned The accident was witnessed by the fathers of both the young men. Duthie, senior, put out in a dingy to try to save them, but was met by Wells' floating corpse. Young Duthie was never seen after the boat capsized. A strong current was running, and as numerous sharks are known to be in the locality it is feared that the body will not be found. Wells was a brother of Mr. R. H. Wells fitter at the Proprietary works at Port Pirie, and Duthie a son of the second keeper of the Point Lowly Lighthouse
This is my standard shot I hope to take of most lighthouses. Dan in the corner with his cheeky face. I love this man.
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