Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 23, 2026

Cape Wickham

Cape Wickham is the most northerly point of King Island, Tasmania, Australia. From here, it is 90 kilometres (56 mi) to Cape Otway on the Australian mainland. In the 19th century, ships coming from Europe would sometimes attempt to sail between Cape Wickham and Cape Otway to cut down on travelling time to Sydney, however the trip was dangerous and the price of failure high – usually shipwreck on the unforgiving King Island coast.

Last revised
Jul 23, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
225 w
Citations
4
Source
Cape Wickham
Cape Wickham
Location within Tasmania
Coordinates: 39°34′48″S 143°56′24″E / 39.580002°S 143.940002°E / -39.580002; 143.940002
LocationKing Island, Tasmania, Australia

Cape Wickham is the most northerly point of King Island, Tasmania, Australia. From here, it is 90 kilometres (56 mi) to Cape Otway on the Australian mainland. In the 19th century, ships coming from Europe would sometimes attempt to sail between Cape Wickham and Cape Otway to cut down on travelling time to Sydney, however the trip was dangerous and the price of failure high – usually shipwreck on the unforgiving King Island coast.

The Cape Wickham lighthouse situated on the cape had its 150th anniversary in 2011.12 The lighthouse was constructed in the 1860s when the island was still known as King's Island.3

On 30 October 2015, Cape Wickham Links, an 18-hole golf course, opened to the public.4

References

References

  1. King Island Tourism Inc; King Island (Tas.). Council (2011), Cape Wickham lighthouse 150th anniversary, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, retrieved 2 December 2013
  2. Edgecombe, Jean (December 1984), "Lights to guide through perilous seas: lighthouses of Bass Strait", Habitat Australia, 12 (6): 15–17, ISSN 0310-2939
  3. "Notice to Mariners". Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899). Tas.: National Library of Australia. 3 September 1861. p. 4 Edition: MORNING. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  4. Berg, Selwyn; Kennedy, Garry (2015). "Course Review: Cape Wickham Links". ausgolf: Australia's most informative golf website. Retrieved 3 October 2016.