Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse

The Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse, also known as Old Wollongong Lighthouse, is a historic lighthouse situated on the southern breakwater of Wollongong Harbour in New South Wales, Australia.

It was constructed in 1871 to assist mariners navigating the port during the early coal industry days in the Illawarra region. Wollongong is the only place in East Australia where two lighthouses are located near each other, with the other being Wollongong Head Lighthouse, which is within walking distance.

Designed by Edward Orpen Moriarty, the Engineer-in-Chief of the Harbours and Rivers Department, the lighthouse is made of wrought iron on a ferro-concrete base, providing resilience against the region's strong gale force weather. Despite construction delays caused by heavy seas, the tower withstood the conditions. The lantern was installed in July 1871, and the lighthouse began regularly displaying its light in January 1872.

Although it is no longer operational, the lighthouse underwent restoration in 2002 and was officially listed as a local government heritage building on 7 January 2000. Wollongong Harbour is home to private vessels and the local fishing fleet in the inner Belmore Basin, while Port Kembla, a harbor for steelmaking, minerals, grain, and vehicle handling, is located south of the city. The area also includes The Five Islands, a collection of islands that pose a potential risk to shipping. Visitors can explore the history and design of the Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse, which serves as a testament to early advancements in prefabrication and the application of new technology in construction.