Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse was constructed in 1895 and was officially opened on December 10, 1896, by the Premier of Western Australia, Sir John Forrest.

In his dedication, Forrest praised the colony’s commitment to maritime safety, noting the lighthouse served not only its own people but mariners across the globe. Strategically located at the meeting point of the Indian and Southern Oceans, the lighthouse has long been a vital beacon for vessels navigating one of Australia’s busiest coastal shipping routes. Today, it continues to operate as an essential aid to navigation under the management of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).

Cape Leeuwin was named by the explorer Matthew Flinders on December 7, 1801, during the early stages of his circumnavigation of Terra Australis. The name “Leeuwin,” meaning “The Lioness,” was originally given by Dutch navigators in 1622 after the Dutch ship Leeuwin rounded the cape. The adjacent coastline was first charted in 1627 by Hessel Gerritsz in Holland, marking the area’s early place in global maritime exploration.