Located within the Croajingolong National Park and on the edge of the Point Hicks Marine National Park, approximately 500 kilometres (310 mi) east of Melbourne, the lighthouse serves as a warning beacon for vessels in the southern reaches of the Tasman Sea, and the northeastern reaches of the Bass Strait.

It was connected to mains electricity in 1965, and then to solar power recently.

[4] At 37 metres (121 ft), it is the tallest lighthouse on Australia's mainland.

[5] Its light characteristic is a double white flash every ten seconds, emitted from a focal plane height of 56 metres (184 ft) above sea level.

On 4 February 1971, the lighthouse and the headkeepers' and assistant keepers' quarters were listed as a place of regional significance on the precursor to the Victorian Heritage Register.