We reached Robe town at about 12 noon. We decided to explore a bit before looking for a place for lunch. Robe Obelisk is an iconic landmark in Robe town.
The Obelisk was erected on Cape Dombey in 1855 as a 'day guide' for ships entering Guichen Bay. It was also used to store rocket equipment for the local lifeboat crew.
Since it was built, the soft sandstone cliffs on which the obelisk stands have eroded significantly, meaning it will eventually fall into the sea.
This pyramid-like structure standing 12.2 metres tall, it was constructed by local builder George Shivas at a cost of £230. The obelisk was originally a single colour, but it proved difficult to sight against the pale backdrop of Guichen Bay's sandhills, so in 1862 the government decided to have it painted with three white stripes and two red, each about 2.4 metres high, creating Robe's most famous landmark.
On the way to the Obelisk, we passed by The Encounter Signal (below), a modern sculpture constructed for Robe's Encounter in 2002 celebrations to pay tribute to Robe's ongoing maritime tradition and the exploration of Robe's coast by English Captain Matthew Flinders and French explorer Nicolas Baudin.
On our way back to the car park, we saw the Doorway Rock at a distant. It has been carved and eroded through the limestone by seas and winds over a millenia.
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