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Low Head Lighthouse, overlooking ocean with cloudy skies
Low Head Lighthouse

Low Head Historic Site

Find out more

FeaturesExpand/Collapse

  • Boat ramp
  • Cafe
  • Huts
  • Parking
  • Short walk
  • Toilets

About

​A village of distinctive red and white convict built cottages nestles at the striking kanamaluka/River Tamar estuary, north of George Town, Tasmania. Stroll the lawns and admire the Low Head Pilot Station. Continue on to the Low Head Light Station, majestically perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking Bass Strait.

This maritime precinct has been fundamental to Australia’s history; Batman and Faulkner sailed past Low Head, Tasmania, on their way to found Melbourne in 1835. The port dates back to 1805 with the Pilot Station running since then.  The Light Station has been running continuously since 1833.

The museum has a collection of artefacts that reflect the era of sail and steam vessels. The accompanying tales of pilots, shipwrecks, explorers, lighthouse keepers and captains that forged their names into Australia’s maritime history will give you a sense of the characters that shaped Tasmania. If you visit the Light Station at noon on a Sunday you will be treated to the sound of the only operating foghorn in the Southern Hemisphere.

​​Low Head Pilot Station Maritime Museum

Located in the historic Pilot's Row,  the museum is managed by a local volunteer group, the Low Head Pilot Station Support Group Inc. Encompassing Pilot's Row, the Storage Sheds, Boat Shed and associated artefacts, the museum is open daily and operates tours for visitors.  For more information, see the Museum website​. 

Accommodation and cafe

Those wishing to stay in the area can take advantage of the Low Head Historic Precinct's newly renovated self-contained cottages.  These historic buildings are situated around the Village Green at the Pilot Station and include the keeper's cottage, schoolhouse and pilot's cottage. There is also accommodation at the Light Station.​

​Overlooking the beach, the River Tamar ​and the Low Head Precincts, the Coxswain's Cottage Café is open daily and is a wonderful setting for a relaxing meal and glass of wine.

Further information can be found on the Low Head Precinct​'s website​.  

The Low Head Light Station was the third to be established in Australia and has operated continuously for over 170 years. It was Australia's oldest manned light station​ until recently, when automation was introduced. The Low Head Light and Pilot stations played an invaluable role in ensuring the safe passage of vessels from Bass Strait into the mouth of kanamaluka/River Tamar.

The Low Head precinct includes a great diversity of 19th century maritime buildings, comprising the light house, various residential quarters, a fog horn building, former stables, workshops, a meteorological recording station and garages. There are also a number of period buildings and associated navigation aids at Low Head that lie outside of the boundaries of the historic site.

The Low Head Pilot Station was transferred to the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service in 1998 and includes the earliest surviving pilot buildings in Australia.  The Tasmanian Ports Corporation still operates a pilot service out of Low Head but no staff reside at the Pilot Station.

The lighthouse is owned and operated by the Australian Marine Safety Authority, while the remainder of the Light Station is managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service. In 2000, the Low Head Light Station reserve was gazetted as an Historic Site under the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Act, 1975. The whole of the site is listed on the Register of the National Estate and on the Tasmanian Heritage Register.

Buy a map from TasMap

The Low Head Light Station and Pilot Station are located on the north coast at the eastern head at the mouth of kanamaluka/River Tamar. Access is via the East Tamar Highway (A8) from Launceston north to Georgetown, a distance of 51 kilometres. Low Head is about 6km further north of Georgetown along the Low Head Road. Travelling time is about 45 minutes from Launceston.

The entry to the Light Station is off Low Head Road through a formed gateway. It leads to a small public car park, with a gravel drive continuing to the top of the headland.

Where possible, please avoid driving in our reserves at night. You are sharing the roads with our native wildlife, so take it slow and watch out for animals on the road.

​Find out other essential information for visiting Tasmania's parks and reserves on our know before you go section.