The Shire has been successful in receiving a $1 million grant from Heritage Victoria for the McCrae Lighthouse Restoration Project.
The lighthouse will be restored to its former glory and be given a full clean, paint and repair works to guarantee its ongoing historical importance to our community. After consultation with key stakeholders we’ve proposed the lighthouse be painted from its current colour of greyish silver to its original colour of bright white.
If the lighthouse is left unattended, existing rust will lead to potential structural issues in the future and an increase in the cost of long-term maintenance. Safety works will also potentially allow some limited supervised access to the lighthouse in the future.
The plans to restore McCrae Lighthouse will be completed at a very high standard. This will ensure the lighthouse will remain a shining beacon for residents and tourists for many more years to come.
The McCrae Lighthouse (Eastern Shore Light) has served as an integral part of the Port Phillip Bay navigation system. The current lighthouse was built in England in 1874, transported to Australia and assembled in McCrae in 1883. This new restoration will return it to its former glory, both inside and out.
Measuring at 33.5 metres high, it’s Port Philip’s tallest lighthouse and had been guiding mariners for over 100 years. It was officially retired in 1994 and now these restorations will repair structural and cosmetic issues allowing the McCrae lighthouse to shine long into the future.
After consultation with key stakeholders, we’ve proposed the lighthouse be painted from its current colour of greyish silver to its original colour of bright white.
This project will provide restoration and conservation works for the lighthouse structure.
Works will include:- removal of rust
- clean, paint and restore the entire lighthouse inside and out
- repair glazing bars and make watertight
- clean and repaint the lighthouse legs and stair tube
- replace broken window glass in the stair tube and clean, re-paint and caulk the metal architraves of all the windows
- minor painting of exterior timber in lower entry building
The restoration is due to start in August and is planned for completion in December 2021.
McCrae lighthouse is proposed to be painted bright white:
