Follow the narrow coastal walk to visit the Cape St. George Lighthouse. This crumbling ruin of a landmark complements the rugged coastline of a national park near Jervis Bay and has a fascinating history.
The Cape St. George Lighthouse was constructed in 1860 but functioned for less than three decades. Poor positioning meant that as many as 23 ships were wrecked in this part of the bay during its time. The Point Perpendicular Light was constructed in 1899 to replace it. The original lighthouse tower was later shot down during Navy exercises in the early 20th century, so no more ships could mistake it for an active landmark.
As you approach the lighthouse along the trail, you’ll see that the sandstone façade of the base of the building is still mostly intact. The doors and windows are now blocked off by metal bars, because it’s unsafe to venture inside due to the crumbling limestone tower. Instead, walk around the building and look for kangaroos, which can often be seen grazing on the green grass around the lighthouse.
Several lighthouse keepers with their families lived next to the tower, but their small wooden dwellings have long gone. Many of those early residents and some visitors of the 19th-century lightstation died an untimely death here. The nearby Greenpatch Camping Area contains graves of some of the former residents of this doomed light station.
Gaze down into the turbulent waters of Wreck Bay, where so many sailors lost their lives. Stay on the marked trail, because the cliffs are known to be unstable and could suddenly collapse.
The ruined Cape St. George Lighthouse in Booderee National Park is a little over 10 minutes to the southeast of Jervis Bay Village by car. The unpaved road is usually fine for regular cars and there is plenty of parking on site.
The heritage site is managed by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community and the New South Wales government. Purchase the NSW National Park pass before you go or pay a one-off fee when you enter. It’s just a short walk to the ruins of the lighthouse and there are composting toilets by the car park.
