Cape Jaffa Lighthouse Kingston SE

23/09/2026

An important addition to the interpretation at the Cape Jaffa Lighthouse cottage ruins in the Bernouilli Conservation Park at Cape Jaffa was admired yesterday. The new sign displays extra information about life at the cottages when lightkeepers and their families lived there - 1872 - 1932.
NPWS, Friends of Butcher Gap and the Kingston SE National Trust worked together on this project, and FoBG Vicki Natt explained the many beautiful plants, now flowering brilliantly along the walking track to the ruins. Orchids, Old Man's Beard....
Well worth a visit now, while they're out.
Many thanks to all involved, including Janet Copping (FoBG), and it's great to see the floor plan of the cottages on the new sign.
In the photos are: Jeanette Emery (FoBG), Vicki Natt (FoBG), Michael Trebilcock (NPWS), Kathy Rowbotham, Jeff Bourne, Rangi Miller and Alison Stillwell (KSE NT).

22/09/2026

These school holidays, swap a little screen time for signal flags, shipwreck relics, giant lenses and some seriously impressive engineering.

From Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October, our guided Day Tours will be running every day.

Step inside the former living quarters of the lightkeepers and their families, discover artefacts from the lighthouse and the Margaret Brock shipwreck, read entries from century-old lightkeeper logbooks and see if you can decode the secret signal flag message of the day.

Then there’s the engineering…

See the incredible First Order Holophotal Dioptric Prismatic lens, discover the clockwork mechanism and descending weights that kept the 2-metre lens rotating and hear the remarkable story of how this lighthouse was dismantled offshore and rebuilt right here on the Kingston foreshore.

And yes — there are also 85 steps and a pretty spectacular view waiting at the top!

☀️ DAY TOURS
📅 26 September – 11 October
🕙 Leave on the hour from 10am–4pm

🌙 NIGHT TOURS | 4 OCTOBER
7:30pm | 8:00pm | 8:30pm

🎟️ Book your tour online and add a little lighthouse adventure to the school holidays.

27/08/2026

Another wonderful and dedicated Cape Jaffa Lighthouse Tour Guide, Steph Hunt, was presented with a NTSA Service Award for her 20 years of guiding visitors through this stunning and very popular National Trust of SA property. Fellow guides and NTSA members joined Steph in celebrating this fabulous achievement.

21/08/2026

How fortunate were we to hear Port MacDonnell local, Sharon Bruhn, speak about Port MacDonnell-born artist, poet and lightkeeper Charles Elliott Perryman last Saturday morning!

Perryman was a lightkeeper at the Cape Jaffa Light Station in 1926, 1935 and 1945, and the Kingston SE National Trust has 3 of his paintings on display in the Museum.
He lived in Kingston with his wife, Ivy, for a time.

Sharon is an excellent presenter, and to say we were all riveted to her every word is not an exaggeration! Sharon's research in preparation for the 2026 History Festival exhibition in May uncovered a 200-page unpublished manuscript of Perryman's and a diary he kept from WW1.

There is a permanent display at the Port MacDonnell Maritime Museum now - well worth having a look at.

Two more of Perryman's artworks, including Winter's crayfish processing shed at the jetty here in Kingston, were surprising and amazing additions to the morning.

11/08/2026

🔦 Discover the story of a lightkeeper almost forgotten to history…

Charles Percival Elliott Perryman was more than a lightkeeper. He was an accomplished artist, poet and WWI serviceman, whose life became closely connected with Cape Jaffa Lighthouse and Kingston.

Born in Port MacDonnell, Charles was posted to the Cape Jaffa Light Station in 1926, 1935 and 1945. He married Kingston woman Ivy Karran, built a home here and continued to paint and write — with three of his paintings now held in our museum collection.

For many years, much of Charles’ story had faded from memory.

That changed when Sharon Bruhn of Port MacDonnell began researching his life and work, culminating in an exhibition for the 2026 History Festival at the Port MacDonnell Maritime Museum.

Interest in Perryman’s remarkable story is growing, with journalist Matt Clayfield also exploring the rediscovery of his life and work in a recent article about his 1932 poem titled, "To A.L. Gordon, Dingley Dell."

This Saturday 15 August at 10am, Sharon will join us at the Museum to share what she uncovered about this fascinating lightkeeper, artist and poet — and the story behind bringing his work back into the light.

It’s a casual morning, so come along, listen, ask questions and enjoy a cuppa with us.

📅 Saturday 15 August
🕙 10am
📍 Kingston SE National Trust Museum

Everyone is welcome — and if you know someone with an interest in local, maritime or family history, bring them along too.

21/07/2026

The Northern Lighthouse Board’s newest recruit is one of just two women in the job, but lighthouses run in her family.

🔗 Tap the link in our comments to read more

15/07/2026

NTSA Service Award presentation.
CONGRATULATIONS to Rosemary Gale for 20 years' service!!
Rosemary began as a tour guide at the Cape Jaffa Lighthouse in 2007 and is an enthusiastic guide with a unique way of presenting the story of the lighthouse to visitors. She brings the story to life, as if visitors were actually there in the lighthouse on the reef!
We hope her life as a tour guide continues for many more years.
Rosemary was presented with a NTSA Service Award certificate at an event in the grounds of the Cape Jaffa Lighthouse on July 8th, with the signal flags displaying "20 years' service".
Thank you so much, Rosemary. We're very proud of you.
Once again, congratulations!

11/07/2026

This is fantastic value! 41 FABULOUS PRIZES INCLUDING THREE CARS. The early bird draw for a Toyota Carolla Hybrid will be held on the 6th of August. (Close off date 31st of July).
ONLY $2 a ticket.

The Kingston SE Branch of the National Trust is participating in the wonderful People First Community Lottery again this year.
Proceeds will support the reorganisation of our Museum and ongoing maintenance of the Cape Jaffa Lighthouse.
If you like what we are doing to preserve and tell "The Kingston Story", you can support us by buying tickets in the Lottery.
There are over $300,OOO worth of prizes, including three cars and tickets are only $2.00.
Just click on the link below to buy tickets.
https://www.communitylottery.com.au/products/the-national-trust-of-south-australia-kingston-se-branch

Tickets purchased before the 30th ofJuly, go in the Early Bird draw for a Toyota Corolla Hybrid.

Be aware that due to Government legislation only a debit card can be used.

10/07/2026

Interested in the Lighthouse?
Enjoyed the Kingston history events like the stagecoach rides, the High Tea, and activities highlighting Kingston's story?
The Kingston SE National Trust is active and energetic, and engages our community.
Come along and find out what we've been up to recently, and what we have in the pipeline!
We're a friendly and welcoming group, and there are so many interesting things to get involved in.

06/06/2026

🌙 Tonight at the Lighthouse 🌙

There’s something different about the Cape Jaffa Lighthouse after dark.

Tonight’s Night Tours invite you into the Lantern Room to stand beneath the incredible First Order lens and witness the mechanism that once kept the light turning across the Southern Ocean.

As the staircase creaks beneath your feet and the coastline disappears into darkness, the stories of the keepers, their families and life ruled by “the necessity of the Light” take on a whole new feeling.

✨ Night Tours tonight
🕕 Session times available
📍 Cape Jaffa Lighthouse, Kingston SE
🎟️ Bookings essential to secure your spot

Not just a climb — an atmosphere, a story and a rare chance to experience the lighthouse the way few ever have.