A Warrnambool amateur radio group is set to re-connect with other lighthouses around the world following a year-long hiatus.
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VK3DX will host the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend at Portland's Whalers Bluff lighthouse on August 17 and 18.
Founding member Greg McNamara said the event was held on the third weekend of August every year, with members spending two days chatting to enthusiasts from more than 100 stations.
He said locals visitors, tourists and scout groups also attended the event.
The amateur radio station worked out of a room next to the lighthouse at Warrnambool's Flagstaff Hill for 14 years.
But a dispute with Warrnambool City Council about 12 months ago saw the group leave their beloved "hut" and withdraw from the 2018 International Lighthouse Weekend.
Mr McNamara said he was devastated.
"This was a very significant site to run the event from as Flagstaff Hill has two lighthouses. It made it unique," he said.
"We put a lot of work into the hut. It used to be a run-down, cold and derelict work shed but we fixed it up. We funded all the labour ourselves and we made it all secure.
"We were volunteers, we didn't get paid. We provided free advertising (for the maritime museum) worldwide."
Amateur Radio Station group member Peter Honey said the group was a bit like a Men's Shed.
"We'd get together, some people from far as Stawell, and we'd have a really good time," he said.
"It was almost like a school reunion."
A council spokesman said the amateur radio group could continue to run out of Flagstaff Hill, as long as all members of the group signed in and out of the maritime museum.
"Council had also requested that the group consult first with Flagstaff Hill management to ensure all the necessary permits and consents are in place prior to making modifications to Flagstaff Hill buildings," he said.
About 10 members of the amateur radio group are expected to attend the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend.
The group will stay over at the Portland Bay Holiday Park.
There are currently more than 100 lighthouses from around the world registered for this year's event. Australia is in second place behind Germany which has 23 lighthouses currently registered.
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