The lighthouse and cottages at Corny Point were built in 1882. The lighthouse would guide the passage of ships approaching the grain ports of western Yorke Peninsula. Both the tower, store shed and two cottages were built of locally quarried limestone. The tower is about 14 metres high, (depending on the source consulted this can vary somewhat) and stands 30 metres above sea level. The cottages each contained four rooms and a kitchen, and had galvanised iron roofs. Large underground water tanks with domed roofs were constructed at the rear of the cottages to provide water for the households. The government lighthouse tender was called twice a year, and for many years the nearest large town was Yorketown. A school was opened at Corny Point in 1887, but for the children at the lighthouse this was still five miles away.

The Corny Point lighthouse was made automatic in June 1920. The lighthouse keepers left at the end of the month, and the cottages were sold and subsequently demolished.