Robe Obelisk

The Robe Obelisk is a navigational structure that just cannot be saved from the will of Mother Nature. It has stood as an intended “day guide” at the entrance of Guichen Bay in one of South Australia’s oldest towns. It is an especially cherished landmark
today—as it will almost certainly soon succumb to the crumbling cliffs and waters below.

The 40-foot-tall stone pillar, reminiscent of Waldo’s attire, was erected in 1855 by a local builder, during Robe’s heyday as an international port. Its purpose is a noble one: to help ships safely navigate the entrance to the bay despite often-treacherous waters. Life-saving supplies were once stored inside, along with lifelines that propelled out to ships in distress.

But the waves have reminded us of nature’s omnipotence by steadily eroding the headland, delivering a harsh but inevitable sentence. The district has attempted to innovate any means of returning the lifesaving capacity to the obelisk. Potential solutions have included employing large boulders to at least slow erosion or spraying enough concrete around it to stabilize the ground.

At this point, however, all such options have been deemed too costly for what is now a very small council. Consensus is that the fate of the iconic red-and-white landmark belongs to the rushing whims of nature.