Description

The Obelisk was built in 1855 by local builder George Shivas at a cost of 230 pounds, the limestone, was carted to it's site by a 32 bullock wagon team, Originally mariners were unhappy with the white painted obelisk as it was still difficult to differentiate the marker from the sand hills on Long Beach and the limestone cliffs along the coast. In 1862 the Obelisk was repainted in alternate red and white horizontal bands and it can now be seen from a distance of 20 kilometers on a clear day. Given the South East coasts notoriety for ship wrecks, with 30 wrecks occurring in Guichen Bay in 1853 alone. The Obelisk was used to store rockets which were fired to distressed ships which carried life lines and baskets for bringing passengers ashore thus saving many lives. The Obelisk is 40 feet tall and stands 100 feet above sea level, defying rough weather and decaying limestone cliffs of Cape Domby.