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Augusta lighthouse in the limelight

Augusta Margaret River Times
The Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse team are up for a gong in this year's WA Heritage Awards.
Camera IconThe Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse team are up for a gong in this year's WA Heritage Awards. Credit: Supplied

Augusta was in the spotlight for this week’s WA Heritage Awards, with Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse scoring a major honour reflecting more than a year’s hard work.

The lighthouse was short-listed in three categories: best interpretation project, heritage tourism product, and conservation or adaptive re-use of a State-registered place.

It scored the heritage tourism product award on Monday night and was commended in the interpretation project category.

The Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association, which manages the site, also received a commendation for the public or private organisation award. Lighthouse site manager Rikki Andrew said the win reflected the high-quality experience for visitors to Augusta.

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“Visitor experience at Cape Leeuwin has been transformed from an already brilliant guided lighthouse tour with stunning views to an amazing interactive storytelling experience which gives a real insight into what life was like for our lighthouse keepers,” she said.

“It’s a massive credit to everyone involved and the team is very proud to be a part of it.”

MRBTA co-chief executive Steve Harrison said it was rewarding to have his team’s hard work recognised.

“Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is a key drawcard for visitors to the region and is MRBTA’s highest-visited attraction,” he said.

“MRBTA have an ongoing commitment to preserve the historical site and continue to keep up with demands of the modern traveller by improving the visitor experience.”

The awards follow development of the interpretive centre at Cape Leeuwin, which opened to the public last year, based in one of the original lighthouse-keeper cottages.

Heritage Minister David Templeman welcomed the recognition for historical locations adding to WA’s tourism offering.

“These award-winning projects demonstrate the important role cultural heritage tourism has to play in our State and will encourage West Australians to ‘wander out yonder’ and explore new regional destinations,” Mr Templeman said.

MRBTA asset and environment manager Mark Delane was also a finalist in the professional contribution category.

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