Arrivals & Departures Become part of the South West Capes lighthouses' story

The Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association is calling on people to contribute historical materials for display at two new interpretive centres in the refurbished keepers’ cottages at Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin lighthouses

The displays will cover the lighthouses and the region's shipping, timber, whaling and farming industries.

"With the region's fascinating and varied history, there is a good chance that there is a whole host of treasures hidden away and forgotten about in storage boxes," MRBTA chief executive Pip Close said. 

"Now is the time to dig them out and take a trip down memory lane.

"Anything which tells the story of the people involved in the lighthouses would be really popular with visitors, so we are keen to also talk to anyone who lived at the lighthouses or spent any significant time at either site."

For Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, organisers are on the hunt for stories from the families who settled and lived on the Cape, information about the Castle Bay/Castle Rock whaling station, photographs of light keepers and the lighthouse construction team, photographs of a 1904 cricket game celebrating the completion of the lighthouse and an image of loading a horse-drawn wagon at Bunker Bay.

For Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, alongside photographs and home movies relating to the lighthouse itself, the team are looking for materials showing working life around the cottages.

Materials illustrating the lighthouse's connection with Augusta, as well as photographs of ships and boats in the bay and materials relating to the lighthouse at Hamelin Bay or Foul Bay are also of interest. 

(Image at top: Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. Picture: Elements Margaret River)

Fact File

• Contributions can be permanent, loan or copy basis. Contact Mark Delane at mark.delane@margaretriver.com.
• For more information on the Margaret River Region visit margaretriver.com.