The State Library has confirmed that before the lighthouse and jetty existed, cargo was ferried to and from ships anchored offshore by using a small landing stage.

The jetty was opened in 1881 and later lengthened into the deeper water to a whopping 1664 metres in length, while Port Germein itself was declared an official port in 1884.

Considered for the decades that followed to be the longest jetty in Australia, the title diminished with storms that broke away some of the structure some time after.

The port was served by a lightship that would help sailing ships from all over the world to navigate their way safely to load grain. The lightship was replaced with a lighthouse in 1894.

The old lighthouse was manned until it was replaced with an automated flashing light in 1917 and then moved to its existing site in 1975.

A clock-face tide gauge that was originally located near the entrance to the Port Pirie shipping channel, and indicated the depth of water, was restored and relocated to the lighthouse in 1989.

The last big ship used the port for loading in 1939.

While smaller vessels used the facility for the decades to follow, the construction of ports at both Port Pirie and Wallaroo led to Port Germein being closed as a loading port in 1959.

The lighthouse remains as historical reminder of the port’s rich maritime history.

- Kellie Higginbottom