Lighthouse at Tiparra (or Tipara) in the Spencer Gulf off Moonta Bay, South Australia. The screw pile lighthouse over the Tipara (this is the more usual spelling) Reef in Moonta Bay was the first lighthouse in Spencer Gulf and was operational from August 1877. Prior to this a lightship was stationed over the reef. The pyramidal skeletal tower is very like the Cape Jaffa Lighthouse on Margaret Brock reef in the state's south-east.

This was the schooner Alexander, and it operated from February 1865. However following a number of wrecks and near misses it was decided a lighthouse should be built there.

Tipara Reef lighthouse was the first lighthouse in Spencer Gulf. It used a Chance Brothers first order apparatus for its light. The light's platform was well frequented by birds and a major task of visiting service crews was the removal of nests.

Tipara Reef Lighthouse was replaced by a light tower at Warburto Point on the adjacent mainland in 1995. The tower of the old Tipara Reef light now stands in Wallaroo at the Maritime Museum. There is a small beacon on the remnants of the platform.

Lighthouses of Australia Inc. Lighthouses of South Australia. Click on map for location of Tipara Lighthouse

South Australia lighthouses: scroll down to Tipara Reef (platform) and Tipara Reef (light tower 2)