Scot Achieves Dream Role as Lighthouse Keeper on Remote Australian Isle

Sandy Duthie, a 42-year-old from Aberdeenshire, has landed what he describes as his "dream job" as the lighthouse keeper on Gabo Island, located off the coast of Victoria, Australia. His journey began when the previous keeper retired after 25 years. Duthie had initially visited Australia five years back with his partner and fell in love with Gabo Island during a subsequent visit two years ago. The position allows him to spend six months of the year on the island, sharing his space with a colony of little penguins and an array of wildlife, including whales, sea eagles, and seals. Duthie emphasizes the unique challenges of lighthouse life, including ongoing maintenance, unpredictable weather, and the solitude that sometimes feels overwhelming. Yet, he also relishes the freedom that comes with the role while revealing fascinating historical connections between Gabo Island and Scotland, drawing from the region's past stonemasons who helped construct the iconic lighthouse.

Sandy Duthie, 42, has been named the lighthouse keeper on remote Gabo Island, Australia's new dream job. Trained in ecology and with a background in arboriculture, he jumped at the chance after the previous keeper retired, fulfilling a long-held dream. Now, he embraces life among the island’s wildlife, balancing his duties and solitude, while uncovering a historical Scottish connection to the island's lighthouse.