A $5 million upgrade is planned for Kangaroo Island’s Cape Willoughby Conservation Park, home to South Australia’s oldest operational lighthouse. The redevelopment will target visitor experience at the island’s easternmost point.
The project will bring a new visitor information centre, cafe, park tours, walking trails, and interpretive signage. New carparks will also be built to accommodate tour buses and accessible parking spaces.
Jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments, the upgrade will improve facilities at the State Heritage-listed site. Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, said, “Kangaroo Island is one of our nation’s iconic destinations and a major tourism drawcard for South Australia. The Albanese Government is pleased to partner with the SA Government and local contractors to deliver this exciting project.”
Senator for South Australia, Charlotte Walker, said, “It’s great people will have the chance to learn more about the fascinating maritime history of Kangaroo Island. Cape Willoughby Conservation Park is a special place, rich in natural beauty, wildlife and maritime history that more people will now have the chance to experience and enjoy.”
The 174-year-old lighthouse once guided ships safely through Backstairs Passage during South Australia’s early coastal trade era. Several historical shipwrecks lie in the surrounding waters.
South Australian architects Cumulus Studio and Kangaroo Island builders Kauppila have been engaged to design and construct the new visitor centre. Works are expected to begin immediately, weather permitting, and be completed by June 2026. A new lookout at Devil’s Kitchen was completed in April.
The lighthouse remains operational today, having become automated in 1992.
South Australian Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, Lucy Hood, said, “Cape Willoughby is only half an hour’s drive from Penneshaw, making it one of the most accessible attractions on the island – so it will be fantastic to have these improved facilities available to cater for visitors from across the globe.”
“When we diversify our tourism offerings like this – we give visitors every reason to travel further, stay longer, spend more, and share their tales of South Australia with national and global communities.”
Member for Mawson, Leon Bignell, said, “This is a fantastic shot in the arm for Kangaroo Island and will give visitors another reason to come and visit this amazing part of the world. To stand at Cape Willoughby and take in the 360-degree seascape and landscape is an unforgettable experience. Mother Nature rarely looks this good. And now we have the infrastructure to ensure people can view everything in a safe, comfortable way.”
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