In addition to the radio-base, the site at Nelson Head contains the old 1835 octagonal light-room and keeper’s cottage, and a World-War-Two gun emplacement. The cottage is now maintained by The Light House Trust as a museum and gift shop manned by separate groups of volunteers, with leased tea rooms.

The museum comprises three sections; the old light-room displays the light system, marine artifacts and a list of the numerous shipwrecks in and around Port Stephens; in one cottage room the Port Stephens Historical Society has on display various period household articles, photos and plans of the early development of the bay, including photos of the lighthouse keepers; the third room is dedicated to ‘HMAS Assault’ the war-time naval base used for amphibious training for Pacific operations. It also houses a large model of the ‘Lady Nelson’, one of the first visiting sailing ships bringing Governor Macquarie and his wife into the bay.

One of the Museum rooms

The site is well worth a visit and our volunteers, both in the cottage and in the radio base, will be pleased to talk with you.  Entrance is free, although we do appreciate donations to support our work in maintaining the cottage and its grounds, the radio-base and the lifeboat operations. The grounds and the radio-base are open from dawn to dusk, and the cottage, gift shop and tea rooms from 10 am to 4 pm every day of the year; come and visit us.

The Lighthouse Cottage (Museum) and Radio Base

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