The occulting red light, emitted from a fixed lightsource at a focal plane height of 15 metres (49 ft) above sea level, is visible for 18 kilometres (11 mi) and indicates the westernmost point of the harbour and its entrance.

The lighthouse established permanent service from 1906; after the mole's foundations had settled a temporary lighting arrangement there was discharged.

The light originally planned for the house was found to be too powerful and was sent to Broome for the steel lighthouse at Gantheume Point.

The lighthouse and its technically identical yet green coloured partner on the south mole are the last remaining of their type.

It was designed by C. Y. O'Connor, an engineer responsible for the construction of Fremantle Harbour and who advanced the proposal of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme.