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Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve

Project statusWorks ongoing
Last updatedNovember 2023

Point Lonsdale Lighthouse and surrounding dunes

The Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve contains some of Victoria's most important Aboriginal, military and natural maritime heritage areas. Through careful restoration and improved accessibility, we can protect the important history of this site for future generations.

What we're doing currently

At the Special Meeting of Council on 7 September 2022, Council awarded Q Constructions the contract to complete a full external restoration of all four P1 huts at the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve.

This decision has been made after months of planning and assessment conducted in collaboration with Heritage Victoria, DELWP, and the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners. The main aim of the restoration works is to make the area safe by removing asbestos in and around the buildings, enabling Council to remove the fences which restrict access to the site.

Stage One:

Works began in late October 2022 and includes the following:

Cladded external walls, replaced roof sheeting, and restored windows, doors and base boards
Manufactured and installed interpretive signage
Restored existing pathways and landscaping.

Stage one of the project is nearing completion, with fences expected to be removed in the coming months.

Council has received further funding from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) for Stage Two works at the PLLHR.

Stage Two:

Stage Two is now underway, this phase of the project includes restoration of defence structures, upgrade of the areas around the lighthouse, electrical upgrades, and the installation of accessible pathways.

Council held an Expression of Interest process calling for community members to be involved in the Project Control Group (PCG) that oversees Stage 2 works. The PCG comprises two Councillors, representatives from DEECA, local community members Andrew Sutherland and Max Lazarus. In addition, representatives from Wadawurrung Traditional Owners have been providing guidance throughout the process.

Accuraco has been appointed as the Project Manager and is leading the Project Control Group through the initial design and procurement processes.

The project is expected to be completed by the middle of 2024.

The landscape concept has been finalized and can be reviewed here. You are welcome to share your thoughts with Council.

About the project

Since being transferred ownership of the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve from the Victorian Government in 2012, Council has been working with various high-level stakeholders alongside the local community to restore and revitalise this cherished heritage space.

Council has since used ideas collected through community consultation to create an action plan for the reserve. The plan includes construction of paths, trails, interpretative signage and more, and has now been updated to include the preservation of the P1 huts (also known as the Toc H buildings).

Since this adoption, Council has worked closely with Regional Development Victoria, the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, and the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners to agree to a way forward on progressing the project, including making variations to the original grant.