McCrae’s Lighthouse Began in Birmingham (1883)
McCrae’s Lighthouse Began in Birmingham (1883)
McCrae’s iron lighthouse was made in Birmingham and assembled beside Port Phillip in 1883. It guided ships through the South Channel for more than a century.
The story behind the scene
Chance Brothers and Co. manufactured the structure in 1874. Its sections travelled to Australia before the tower was assembled at McCrae.
It replaced a timber lighthouse that was moved by bullock wagon to Arthurs Seat and used as a lookout.
The iron light remained in service until 1994. Its position beside the bay reflects the shipping route it served, even as houses and holiday traffic changed the foreshore.
What you’re seeing
The older Rose photograph shows the tower in a more open setting. Its exact date is unconfirmed. The later view places the same lighthouse among trees and roads.
Why this photo matters
The tower connects this stretch of beach with the navigation of Port Phillip. Its manufacture in Britain and assembly at McCrae also explain why its history began far from the bay.
Historical photograph: Rose Stereograph Co., mid twentieth century, exact date unconfirmed, State Library Victoria. Modern photograph: Julian Varricchio.
Sources: Mornington Peninsula Shire