As you walk up the headland supporting the singular red and white tower, the shuddering crash of hundreds of gallons of sea water against boulders scattered across the projection fills the air. Set against the mouth of the Tamar is the Low Head Lighthouse, the 3rd of such structures in Australia. The site first housed a pilots and signal station in 1805, as authorities scrambled to action in response to a dozen shipwrecks by the shallow reef beds along the entrance to the harbor. The signal station evolved into the rubble and stucco structure of 1833 which eventually fell into disrepair and was replaced by the current double brick structure with a state of the art lighting system, at least by the standards of the 1880s. While you explore the headlands, take the chance to venture up towards the lamp cage at the tip of the lighthouse, ringed by reflectors and optical instruments from the 19th century. Slightly further off is a maritime museum detailing the key expeditions of the day, set up within the previous pilots station of Low Head. Before your heritage tour of the small extended arm jutting into the ocean draws to an end, be sure to catch the trailing sunset and the wondrous palette of colors against the stark red and white vintage tower. Eyes full with the sights of the ocean and the backbreaking legacy of the convicts, Low Head Lighthouse is a key part of understanding the complicated history of the island state.