TO celebrate its 140th birthday, student age children and teens are allowed to explore the Cape Nelson Lighthouse for free and hear of its history.

The contract to build the Cape Nelson Lighthouse was signed in 1882 by John Horne and Isaac Slingo, and the construction fee was 11,552 pounds.

Portland tour guide Gordon Stokes said the lighthouse was built from blue stone, of which South West Victoria was rich of.

“It's endured very adequately over the last 140 years, and it seems very good condition still,” he said.

“The Lighthouse was officially lit on July 7, 1884, by mayor at the time, councillor P W Shevill. He lit the white light, and Mr W T Pile illuminated the red light.

“The first head keeper was a fellow named William fish. The first two assistant keepers were Henry Murray and Thomas McBain.

“In those early days, the communications were a telegraph network, and also a telephone they had connected to the lighthouse in 1884.

“But over time, of course, technology advances and the light was upgraded.”

Cape Nelson Lighthouse was the first on the Victorian coast to adopt an electric light in 1934. It is also eighth tallest out of the 350 lighthouses around Australia.

Robert Hunt and Marg Garde are the current proprietors of the lighthouse and have agreed with Mr Stokes to let primary and secondary students explore the lighthouse for free, this week only.

Adults will get to enter for $10 which is half the usual price.

Mr Stokes can be contacted at 0438 012 352 to make these arrangements.