The lighthouse is painted with red and white vertical stripes to ensure it is visible as a daymark against the dark cliff background.
It replaced a wooden beacon that was deemed insufficient after the tragic 1857 Dunbar shipwreck.
The lighthouse was the final piece of the colonial signal system designed to guide ships safely past the treacherous entrance to Sydney Harbour.
The base of the lighthouse features a small collection of original sandstone dwellings once used by lighthouse keepers.
The site sits atop the South Head cliffs, which are composed of Hawkesbury sandstone dating back to the Triassic period.
Hornby Lighthouse is a distinctively red-and-white vertically striped lighthouse located at the tip of South Head in Sydney Harbour. Designed by colonial architect Alexander Dawson and completed in 1858, it serves as the third oldest lighthouse in New South Wales. The structure was built to improve safety at the harbour entrance following two major shipwrecks, the Dunbar and the Catherine Adamson, in 1857. It stands 9 meters tall and is constructed from sandstone. The site offers a vantage point overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the entrance to Port Jackson. It is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service as part of the Sydney Harbour National Park. The lighthouse operates on a solar-powered LED system.
The elevated vantage point on the trail just south of the lighthouse, capturing the tower against the ocean horizon.
Bring binoculars for optimal whale watching during migration season.
Wear sturdy footwear suitable for walking on uneven coastal cliff-top paths.
Bring sun protection and water, as there are no facilities or shops on the headland itself.
Attempting to climb the fenced-off lighthouse tower, which is closed to the public.
Stay on marked trails to protect native vegetation and avoid unstable cliff edges.
