# Cape Sorell

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Cape on coast of Western Tasmania, Australia

Cape Sorrell Cape False colour Landsat image showing Macquarie Harbour with Cape Sorell in the centre right area of the picture. Cape Sorrell Location in Tasmania Coordinates: 42°11′24″S 145°09′36″E / 42.19000°S 145.16000°E / -42.19000; 145.16000 Location West Coast, Tasmania, Australia

**Cape Sorell** is a [headland](/source/Headland) located in the [Southern Ocean](/source/Southern_Ocean) outside [Macquarie Harbour](/source/Macquarie_Harbour) on the [West Coast](/source/West_Coast%2C_Tasmania) of [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania), Australia. The cape and the [Cape Sorell Lighthouse](/source/Cape_Sorell_Lighthouse), located above the headland, are important orientation points for all vessels entering the Macquarie Heads and then through [Hells Gates](/source/Hell's_Gates_(Tasmania)) at the entrance to the harbour.

Cape Sorrell is named in honour of [William Sorell](/source/William_Sorell), [Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania](/source/Governor_of_Tasmania#Lieutenant-Governor_and_Commandants_in_the_south) from 1817 to 1824.

It is a regularly cited feature of the west coast of Tasmania - for many systems as an indicator the northernmost point of the region [South West Tasmania](/source/South_West_Tasmania).[1][2]

## Lighthouse

Constructed in 1899 during the rise of the West Coast mining boom, the [Cape Sorell Lighthouse](/source/Cape_Sorell_Lighthouse) is a heritage-listed lighthouse located on Cape Sorell. The lighthouse is located approximately 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) southwest of [Strahan](/source/Strahan%2C_Tasmania).

## Macquarie Heads breakwater railway

Between 1900 and 1946 a horse drawn wooden rail [tramline](/source/Macquarie_Heads_breakwater_railway) was used to provide access between the Cape Sorell headland and the Cape Sorell Lighthouse and the jetty and wharf locations. It was used to move rock from quarries for the construction and maintenance of the Macquarie Heads breakwater.

## Waverider Buoy

The [Cape Sorell Waverider Buoy](/source/Cape_Sorell_Waverider_Buoy), also known as *Captain Fathom* as named by the listeners of [ABC Radio, Tasmania](/source/ABC_Radio_(Australia)) during the May 2015 to mark the centenary of the [Bureau of Meteorology](/source/Bureau_of_Meteorology_(Australia)),[3] is a [swell](/source/Swell_(ocean))-measuring buoy located west of Cape Sorell some 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) west of [Ocean Beach](/source/Ocean_Beach%2C_Tasmania) ([42°12′S 145°03′E / 42.200°S 145.050°E / -42.200; 145.050](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Cape_Sorell&params=42_12_S_145_03_E_type:landmark_region:AU-TAS)).[3][4]

## Geography

### Climate

Cape Sorell experiences an [oceanic climate](/source/Oceanic_climate) ([Köppen:](/source/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification) *Cfb*) with mild, drier summers and cool, drizzly winters.[5] All months have recorded a maximum [wind gust](/source/Wind_gust) exceeding 100 km/h (62 mph). On average, Larapuna only has 36.4 clear days whilst having 198.0 cloudy days per annum. The wettest recorded day was 24 June 1996 with 78.0 mm (3.07 in) of rainfall. Extreme temperatures ranged from 33.5 °C (92.3 °F) on 3 February 2025 to 1.4 °C (34.5 °F) on 15 July 1966.[6]

Climate data for Cape Sorell (42°12′S 145°10′E / 42.20°S 145.17°E / -42.20; 145.17) (19 m (62 ft) AMSL) (1899-2025) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 32.5 (90.5) 33.5 (92.3) 32.5 (90.5) 23.5 (74.3) 20.4 (68.7) 18.1 (64.6) 17.7 (63.9) 18.6 (65.5) 21.2 (70.2) 26.1 (79.0) 29.4 (84.9) 30.3 (86.5) 33.5 (92.3) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 18.5 (65.3) 18.8 (65.8) 17.8 (64.0) 15.7 (60.3) 13.8 (56.8) 12.4 (54.3) 11.9 (53.4) 12.3 (54.1) 13.3 (55.9) 14.6 (58.3) 15.7 (60.3) 17.2 (63.0) 15.2 (59.3) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 12.0 (53.6) 12.3 (54.1) 11.7 (53.1) 10.4 (50.7) 9.2 (48.6) 7.7 (45.9) 7.2 (45.0) 7.4 (45.3) 8.0 (46.4) 8.7 (47.7) 9.7 (49.5) 11.0 (51.8) 9.6 (49.3) Record low °C (°F) 6.1 (43.0) 5.1 (41.2) 6.1 (43.0) 3.9 (39.0) 1.7 (35.1) 1.7 (35.1) 1.4 (34.5) 1.6 (34.9) 2.3 (36.1) 2.2 (36.0) 4.5 (40.1) 5.2 (41.4) 1.4 (34.5) Average precipitation mm (inches) 66.4 (2.61) 64.9 (2.56) 81.7 (3.22) 105.0 (4.13) 128.9 (5.07) 138.8 (5.46) 152.7 (6.01) 147.9 (5.82) 118.0 (4.65) 105.4 (4.15) 86.5 (3.41) 79.4 (3.13) 1,274.1 (50.16) Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 14.8 13.4 17.0 19.6 22.4 21.6 23.4 23.9 22.0 21.3 18.5 17.4 235.3 Average afternoon relative humidity (%) 76 78 78 81 83 82 82 80 79 78 78 77 79 Average dew point °C (°F) 13.4 (56.1) 13.6 (56.5) 12.7 (54.9) 11.6 (52.9) 10.0 (50.0) 9.2 (48.6) 8.5 (47.3) 8.7 (47.7) 9.1 (48.4) 10.0 (50.0) 11.0 (51.8) 12.6 (54.7) 10.9 (51.6) Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1899-2025)[7]

## See also

- [Australia portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Australia)
- [Environment portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Environment)

- [Geography of Tasmania](/source/Geography_of_Tasmania)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Hills, Loftus; Tasmania. Department of Mines (1914), [*Geological reconnaissance of the country between Cape Sorell and Point Hibbs*](https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/18006104), Dept. of Mines, retrieved 13 February 2018

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Prince, Brian; Tasmania. Dept. of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage; Australian Heritage Commission (1992), [*Aboriginal archaeological sites on the West Coast of Tasmania : port Davey to Cape Sorell : a report to the Tasmanian Department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage*](https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/6390535), Dept. of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage, retrieved 13 February 2018

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bom_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bom_3-1) ["Cape Sorell Waverider Buoy Observations"](http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDT65015.shtml). *[Bureau of Meteorology](/source/Bureau_of_Meteorology_(Australia))*. Australian Government. Retrieved 28 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Cape Sorell Waverider Buoy Observations"](http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDT65014.shtml) (Chart). *[Bureau of Meteorology](/source/Bureau_of_Meteorology_(Australia))*. Australian Government. Retrieved 28 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Climate classification maps: Köppen - all classes"](http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/maps/averages/climate-classification/?maptype=kpn). [Bureau of Meteorology](/source/Bureau_of_Meteorology). Retrieved 24 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Cape Sorell Climate (1899-2025)"](https://www.farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=97000). *FarmOnline Weather*. [Australian Community Media](/source/Australian_Community_Media). Retrieved 25 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Cape Sorell Climate Statistics (1899-2025)"](http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_097000_All.shtml). [Bureau of Meteorology](/source/Bureau_of_Meteorology). Retrieved 25 January 2026.

## External links

- [Cape Sorell climate history](http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_097000.shtml)

v t e Western region of Tasmania, Australia Cities and other settlements Queenstown Crotty Darwin Dundas Gormanston Guildford Linda Pillinger Regatta Point Rosebery Strahan Tullah Waratah Williamsford Zeehan Governance Braddon (federal) Braddon (state) Franklin Land District Montgomery Land District Montagu Land District West Coast Council Lyell Murchison Zeehan Mountains West Coast Range Black Darwin Dundas Heemskirk Huxley Jukes Lyell Murchison Owen Read Read Volcanics Sedgwick Sorell Strahan Zeehan Tyndall Geikie Tyndall Eldon Eldon Peak Engineer unnamed peak Raglan unnamed peak Sticht unnamed peak National parks Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Rivers Anne Anthony Franklin Gordon Henty King Lea Mackintosh Murchison Pieman Queen Sophia Lakes Beatrice Burbury Dora Gordon Mackintosh Murchison Pieman Rosebery Westwood Dams Anthony Crotty Darwin Gordon Henty Mackintosh Tullabardine Lake Margaret Murchison Reece Power stations Anthony Power Development Bastyan Gordon John Butters Lake Margaret Mackintosh Reece Tribute Transport Anthony Road Hercules Haulage Lyell Highway Murchison Highway Queenstown Airport Strahan Airport Railways Emu Bay Macquarie Heads breakwater Melba Mount Dundas-Zeehan North East Dundas North Mount Lyell Wee Georgie Wood West Coast Wilderness Zeehan-Strahan Railway stations and former railway stations Queenstown Zeehan Landmarks Natural Birchs Inlet Cape Sorell Darwin Crater Granville Harbour Hells Gates Iron Blow Kelly Basin Linda Valley Macquarie Harbour Montezuma Falls Nelson Falls Ocean Beach Trial Harbour Man-made Cape Sorell Lighthouse Gaiety Theatre Galley Museum Paragon Theatre Queenstown Oval People of note Convicts on the West Coast Crotty Davey Gould Joyce Long Moore Pearce Piguenit Piners Sticht Whitham Mining Comstock Mine Copper Mines Henty Gold Mine Mount Jukes Mine sites Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Company Mount Lyell Remediation and Research and Demonstration Program North Mount Lyell North Mount Lyell Disaster (1912) Renison Bell Stichtite West Coast Tasmania Mines Books and newspapers For the Term of His Natural Life Gould's Book of Fish The Peaks of Lyell West Coast Miner Zeehan & Dundas Herald Other Darwin glass The Unconformity Round Earth Theatre Company Tasmanian West bioregion Western Tasmanian Football Association Western Tasmanian languages

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cape Sorell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Sorell) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Sorell?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.