Moreton Island lighthouses
Encyclopedia
Moreton Island
is a large sand island
on the eastern side of Moreton Bay
, on the coast of South East Queensland
, Australia
. Due to the island's importance in navigating the northern passage into Moreton Bay and Brisbane
, at least five lighthouses were constructed on the island, starting with Cape Moreton Light
in 1857, the first lighthouse in Queensland, and followed by at least four more lighthouses established from the 1860s, at Comboyuro Point, North Point, Cowan Cowan Point and Yellow Patch. Comboyuro Point Light, Cowan Cowan Point Light and Yellow Patch Light all had to be moved from their original location due to coastal erosion
. Of the five lighthouses, only Cape Moreton Light survived and is still active today.
, mainly due to shorter shipping route
and better shipping conditions. The southern entrance was therefore marked in 1825 and a pilot station was established at Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island in 1827. Although the northern entrance was considered in the 1830s, it was only with the increased shipping activity due to proclamation of Moreton Bay as a free settlement in 1842 that vessels began to use the northern entrance. Buoy
s marking the entrance were laid in 1846–1847, and in 1848 the Pilot Station was moved to Cowan Cowan on Moreton island and then to Bulwer
. By then the northern entry was regarded the main entry.
, a rocky headland
at the north eastern tip of Moreton Island, and was the first lighthouse to be constructed to mark the northern entrance. The lighthouse was constructed by the New South Wales Government, which controlled the Queensland area until Queensland's separation in 1859, following Brisbane residents petitions in 1850, and was first displayed in February 1857. From the five lighthouses it is the only one still extant. Since its conversion to solar power
ed VRB-25
in 1993, it shows light characteristic of four white flashes, separated by 3.3 seconds, every 20 seconds (Fl.(4)W. 20s), visible for 15 nautical miles (27.8 km).
burners. In 1867 the lightroom was replaced with a wooden tower. A taller wooden tower was erected in 1874 or in 1877, and a condensing apparatus was installed. The old tower was moved to Burnett Heads together with the old apparatus from Cowan Cowan Point Light, and is now known as the Old Burnett Heads Light
, while the old apparatus was refurbished and installed at Cleveland Point Light
. A 1909 listing describes the tower as a wooden tower, carrying a fixed fourth order dioptric apparatus. The light was showing red and white sectors, and visible for 9 nautical miles (16.7 km).
Due to coastal erosion
the tower had to be moved inland twice, in 200 feet (61 m) in 1890 and again 366 feet (111.6 m) in 1905. In 1906 the lighthouse keeper
's cottage, a four bedroom weatherboard house with galvanised iron roof, had to be moved as well. In 1954 the light was converted to acetylene gas, automated, and demanned. In October 1960 the lighthouse was discontinued due to erosion, and later that year collapsed into the sea. The keeper's cottage was demolished in the 1960s. The 2010 List of Lights does not list a light at the location.
North Point Light was constructed in the early 1860s, carrying a large kerosene burner with a reflector.
In 1899 the lighthouse was replaced with a hardwood
framed
structure, clad
with corrugated iron. It was the sixth of a group of eight lighthouses in Queensland constructed this way, including, by order of establishment, Little Sea Hill Light, Grassy Hill Light
, Goods Island Light
, Bay Rock Light
, Old Caloundra Light
, itself, Gatcombe Head Light and Bulwer Island Light
.
Oddly, A 1909 listing still describes the light as a square wooden lightroom, carrying a fixed sixth order dioptric apparatus. The light shown is described as a white sector, visible for 7 nautical miles (13 km).
In 1912 the lighthouse was transferred to the hands of the commonwealth. It was later demolished. The 2010 List of Lights does not list a light at the location.
In 1873 it was decided that the tower should be upgraded again. The new lighthouse was constructed in 1874 by the brothers John and Jacob Rooney of Maryborough
, who already constructed Sandy Cape Light
in 1870. The Rooney brother also constructed Lady Elliot Island Light
around the same time, and the same lantern plan was used for both lighthouses. They later constructed Cape Bowling Green Light
in 1874, Cape Capricorn Light
in 1875, and finally Booby Island Light
in 1890. The apparatus was also upgraded and the old apparatus was installed on the old Comboyuro Point tower which was moved to Burnett Heads and is now known as the Old Burnett Heads Light
. The light was intensified in 1883 by installed condensing prisms. Further construction is reported in 1899, though no details exist.
Coastal erosion problems were reported as early as 1898. In 1901 the tower and the cottage were moved 635 feet (193.5 m) inland to protect them from the aforementioned erosion. A 1909 listing describes the tower as a wooden tower, carrying a fixed fourth order dioptric apparatus. The light was showing red and white sectors, and was visible for 12 nautical miles (22.2 km).
In 1909 the pilot station at Bulwer was closed except for a remaining signal station. In 1912 this signal station was moved to Cowan Cowan. For part of its lifetime, the signal station was operated by the Cowan Cowan light keeper. In 1950 the light was converted to acetylene gas, automated, and demanned.
The List of Lights lists an active light at the site, a square metal tower, which also serves as a daymark
, with orange yellow squares on the northwest and southwest faces. The light, displayed at a focal height of 30 feet (9.1 m), is a flash every two seconds, white, red or green, depending on the direction (Fl.W.R.G. 2s), visible for 10 nautical miles (18.5 km). Green is shown on 345°−016°30′, red is shown on 016°30′−048°30′, 055°−132° and 141°−188° while white is displayed on 048°30′−055° and 132°−141°. The light is partially obscured by trees on 165°−188°.
Yellow Patch Light also suffered from coastal erosion. In 1882 it had to be shifted 300 feet (91.4 m) to the northeast, and by 1891 it was moved four times.
A 1909 listing describes it as a square wooden lightroom, carrying a fixed fourth order dioptric apparatus. The light shown was red and white sectors, visible for 11 nautical miles (20.4 km).
The 2010 List of Lights does not list a light at the location.
Moreton Island
Moreton Island is a large sand island on the eastern side of Moreton Bay, on the coast of south-east Queensland, Australia. Moreton Island lies 58 kilometres northeast of the Queensland capital, Brisbane. The island is 95% National Park and a popular destination for four wheel driving, camping,...
is a large sand island
Sand island
A sand island is an island that is largely or completely made of sand. The largest sand island in the world is Fraser Island. Other examples of large sand islands are Moreton and North Stradbroke Islands which lie south of Fraser Island off the east coast of Australia....
on the eastern side of Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...
, on the coast of South East Queensland
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Due to the island's importance in navigating the northern passage into Moreton Bay and Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, at least five lighthouses were constructed on the island, starting with Cape Moreton Light
Cape Moreton Light
Cape Moreton Light, also listed as North Point Range Rear Light, is an active lighthouse located on Cape Moreton, a rocky headland located at the north eastern tip of Moreton Island, a large sand island on the eastern side of Moreton Bay, on the coast of South East Queensland, Australia...
in 1857, the first lighthouse in Queensland, and followed by at least four more lighthouses established from the 1860s, at Comboyuro Point, North Point, Cowan Cowan Point and Yellow Patch. Comboyuro Point Light, Cowan Cowan Point Light and Yellow Patch Light all had to be moved from their original location due to coastal erosion
Coastal erosion
Coastal erosion is the wearing away of land and the removal of beach or dune sediments by wave action, tidal currents, wave currents, or drainage...
. Of the five lighthouses, only Cape Moreton Light survived and is still active today.
Background
In 1825, Brisbane was established as a penal settlement. In spite of the hazards, the preferred access to Moreton Bay and Brisbane was through the southern entrance, between Moreton Island and North Stradbroke IslandNorth Stradbroke Island
North Stradbroke Island is an Australian island in the state of Queensland, 30 km southeast of the capital Brisbane. Before 1896 the island was part of the Stradbroke Island. In that year a storm separated it from South Stradbroke Island, forming the Jumpinpin Channel. It is known...
, mainly due to shorter shipping route
Shipping route
A shipping route is a trade route used by merchant ships.Early routes usually were coastal in nature as navigators had to rely on the coastal landmarks...
and better shipping conditions. The southern entrance was therefore marked in 1825 and a pilot station was established at Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island in 1827. Although the northern entrance was considered in the 1830s, it was only with the increased shipping activity due to proclamation of Moreton Bay as a free settlement in 1842 that vessels began to use the northern entrance. Buoy
Buoy
A buoy is a floating device that can have many different purposes. It can be anchored or allowed to drift. The word, of Old French or Middle Dutch origin, is now most commonly in UK English, although some orthoepists have traditionally prescribed the pronunciation...
s marking the entrance were laid in 1846–1847, and in 1848 the Pilot Station was moved to Cowan Cowan on Moreton island and then to Bulwer
Bulwer, Queensland
Bulwer is a small township at the north-western end of Moreton Island, on the eastern side of Moreton Bay opposite, and 40 km from, the city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Bulwer had a population of 70....
. By then the northern entry was regarded the main entry.
Cape Moreton Light
Cape Moreton Light is located on Cape MoretonCape Moreton
Cape Moreton is a rocky headland located at the north eastern tip of Moreton Island in South East Queensland, Australia. The surrounding area is part of the Moreton Island National Park. 5 km north-west of Cape Moreton is Flinders Reef....
, a rocky headland
Headlands and bays
Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment.- Geology and geography :Headlands and bays are often found on the same coastline. A bay is surrounded by land on three sides, whereas a headland is surrounded by water on three sides. Headlands are characterized by high,...
at the north eastern tip of Moreton Island, and was the first lighthouse to be constructed to mark the northern entrance. The lighthouse was constructed by the New South Wales Government, which controlled the Queensland area until Queensland's separation in 1859, following Brisbane residents petitions in 1850, and was first displayed in February 1857. From the five lighthouses it is the only one still extant. Since its conversion to solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
ed VRB-25
VRB-25
The VRB-25 is a lighthouse optical system designed and built by Vega Industries Ltd. in Porirua, New Zealand. It was originally designed in 1993-95 with the assistance of the United States Coast Guard to meet USCG requirements for a robust mechanism requiring minimum maintenance. It has become the...
in 1993, it shows light characteristic of four white flashes, separated by 3.3 seconds, every 20 seconds (Fl.(4)W. 20s), visible for 15 nautical miles (27.8 km).
Comboyuro Point Light
Comboyuro Point Light, which was also known later as Comboyuro Light, was located Comboyuro Point, 27.06164°N 153.36263°W, at the north western tip of Moreton Island. The first navigational aid at the point was a lightroom erected in 1863 with keroseneKerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
burners. In 1867 the lightroom was replaced with a wooden tower. A taller wooden tower was erected in 1874 or in 1877, and a condensing apparatus was installed. The old tower was moved to Burnett Heads together with the old apparatus from Cowan Cowan Point Light, and is now known as the Old Burnett Heads Light
Old Burnett Heads Light
The Old Burnett Heads Light is an inactive lighthouse which used to be located on the south side of the Burnett River entrance, in Burnett Heads, Queensland, Australia. It was relocated to the Burnett Heads Lighthouse Holiday Park...
, while the old apparatus was refurbished and installed at Cleveland Point Light
Cleveland Point Light
Cleveland Point Light, also known as Point Cleveland Light, is a lighthouse located on the north-eastern tip of Cleveland Point, overlooking Moreton Bay, at Cleveland, a suburb approximately east-south-east of Brisbane, Australia. The original lighthouse was established in 1864-1865 as a wooden...
. A 1909 listing describes the tower as a wooden tower, carrying a fixed fourth order dioptric apparatus. The light was showing red and white sectors, and visible for 9 nautical miles (16.7 km).
Due to coastal erosion
Coastal erosion
Coastal erosion is the wearing away of land and the removal of beach or dune sediments by wave action, tidal currents, wave currents, or drainage...
the tower had to be moved inland twice, in 200 feet (61 m) in 1890 and again 366 feet (111.6 m) in 1905. In 1906 the lighthouse keeper
Lighthouse keeper
A lighthouse keeper is the person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Keepers were needed to trim the wicks, replenish fuel, wind clockworks and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning...
's cottage, a four bedroom weatherboard house with galvanised iron roof, had to be moved as well. In 1954 the light was converted to acetylene gas, automated, and demanned. In October 1960 the lighthouse was discontinued due to erosion, and later that year collapsed into the sea. The keeper's cottage was demolished in the 1960s. The 2010 List of Lights does not list a light at the location.
North Point Light
North Point Light, also known as North Point Hummock Light, was located on North Point, 27.02297°N 153.454483°W, the most northern point on Moreton Island.North Point Light was constructed in the early 1860s, carrying a large kerosene burner with a reflector.
In 1899 the lighthouse was replaced with a hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
framed
Timber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
structure, clad
Cladding (construction)
Cladding is the application of one material over another to provide a skin or layer intended to control the infiltration of weather elements, or for aesthetic purposes....
with corrugated iron. It was the sixth of a group of eight lighthouses in Queensland constructed this way, including, by order of establishment, Little Sea Hill Light, Grassy Hill Light
Grassy Hill Light
Grassy Hill Light, also known as Cooktown Light, is an active lighthouse located on Grassy Hill above Cooktown, Queensland, Australia, on the south side of the entrance to Endeavour River.-History:...
, Goods Island Light
Goods Island Light
Goods Island Light is an active lighthouse located on the highest point of Goods Island , an island in the Torres Strait, belonging to Queensland, Australia. It serves as the rear light of the Goods Island Range, pointing out the entrance to Normanby Sound.-History:The first navigation aid on Goods...
, Bay Rock Light
Bay Rock Light
Bay Rock Light is an inactive lighthouse which used to be located on Bay Rock, a rocky islet northwest of Magnetic Island, about north of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. First lit in 1886, it was automated in 1920 and deactivated in the 1980s. It was relocated in 1992 to the Townsville Maritime...
, Old Caloundra Light
Old Caloundra Light
Old Caloundra Light, also known as Old Caloundra Head Light or Cape Caloundra Light, is an inactive lighthouse located in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast in South East Queensland, Australia. It is the oldest surviving building in Caloundra. The lighthouse was active between 1896 and 1968. The tower...
, itself, Gatcombe Head Light and Bulwer Island Light
Bulwer Island Light
Bulwer Island Light, also known as Bulwer Island Range Rear Light, is an inactive lighthouse that used to be located on Bulwer Island, in the city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In 1983 it was moved to the Queensland Maritime Museum in Brisbane....
.
Oddly, A 1909 listing still describes the light as a square wooden lightroom, carrying a fixed sixth order dioptric apparatus. The light shown is described as a white sector, visible for 7 nautical miles (13 km).
In 1912 the lighthouse was transferred to the hands of the commonwealth. It was later demolished. The 2010 List of Lights does not list a light at the location.
Cowan Cowan Point Light
Cowan Cowan Point Light, was also known as Cowan Cowan Light or Cowan Point Light, was located on Cowan Cowan Point, 27.13655°N 153.36282°W, on the western shore of Moreton Island. The first settlement at the point was a pilot station, moved from Amity Point in August 1848. The pilot station was later moved to Bulwer. The first lighthouse was constructed in the early 1860s, a 18 feet (5.5 m) wooden tower. It carried a large kerosene burner with a reflector and showed a fixed white light. In 1867, together with the construction of the Comboyuro Point Light tower, the tower was extended to 34 feet (10.4 m).In 1873 it was decided that the tower should be upgraded again. The new lighthouse was constructed in 1874 by the brothers John and Jacob Rooney of Maryborough
Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough is a city located on the Mary River in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city is serviced by the Bruce Highway, and has a population of approximately 22,000 . It is closely tied to its neighbour city Hervey Bay which is...
, who already constructed Sandy Cape Light
Sandy Cape Light
Sandy Cape Light is an active lighthouse located on Sandy Cape, the most northern point on Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia. It stands about southwest of the northeastern tip of the island. It is the tallest lighthouse in Queensland. Built in 1870, it is the second major lighthouse to be built...
in 1870. The Rooney brother also constructed Lady Elliot Island Light
Lady Elliot Island Light
Lady Elliot Island Light is an active lighthouse located on Lady Elliot Island, the southern-most coral cay of the Great Barrier Reef, north-east of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. The lighthouse is located on the western side of the island...
around the same time, and the same lantern plan was used for both lighthouses. They later constructed Cape Bowling Green Light
Cape Bowling Green Light
Cape Bowling Green Light is an active lighthouse located on Cape Bowling Green, a lengthy headland ending with a long low sandspit, about from Ayr, Queensland, Australia. The lighthouse is at the end of the headland, near the base of the sandspit. The first lighthouse at the location, established...
in 1874, Cape Capricorn Light
Cape Capricorn Light
Cape Capricorn Light is an active lighthouse located on Cape Capricorn, a coastal headland on the northeast point of Curtis Island, in Central Queensland, Australia...
in 1875, and finally Booby Island Light
Booby Island Light
Booby Island Light is an active lighthouse located on Booby Island, an island near the tip of Cape York Peninsula, west of Prince of Wales Island, within the Endeavour Strait, Queensland, Australia. It marks the western entrance to the navigation channel through the Torres Strait...
in 1890. The apparatus was also upgraded and the old apparatus was installed on the old Comboyuro Point tower which was moved to Burnett Heads and is now known as the Old Burnett Heads Light
Old Burnett Heads Light
The Old Burnett Heads Light is an inactive lighthouse which used to be located on the south side of the Burnett River entrance, in Burnett Heads, Queensland, Australia. It was relocated to the Burnett Heads Lighthouse Holiday Park...
. The light was intensified in 1883 by installed condensing prisms. Further construction is reported in 1899, though no details exist.
Coastal erosion problems were reported as early as 1898. In 1901 the tower and the cottage were moved 635 feet (193.5 m) inland to protect them from the aforementioned erosion. A 1909 listing describes the tower as a wooden tower, carrying a fixed fourth order dioptric apparatus. The light was showing red and white sectors, and was visible for 12 nautical miles (22.2 km).
In 1909 the pilot station at Bulwer was closed except for a remaining signal station. In 1912 this signal station was moved to Cowan Cowan. For part of its lifetime, the signal station was operated by the Cowan Cowan light keeper. In 1950 the light was converted to acetylene gas, automated, and demanned.
The List of Lights lists an active light at the site, a square metal tower, which also serves as a daymark
Daymark
A daymark or a day marker is a structure such as a tower constructed on land as an aid to navigation by sailors. While similar in concept to a lighthouse, a daymark does not have a light and so is usually only visible during daylight hours...
, with orange yellow squares on the northwest and southwest faces. The light, displayed at a focal height of 30 feet (9.1 m), is a flash every two seconds, white, red or green, depending on the direction (Fl.W.R.G. 2s), visible for 10 nautical miles (18.5 km). Green is shown on 345°−016°30′, red is shown on 016°30′−048°30′, 055°−132° and 141°−188° while white is displayed on 048°30′−055° and 132°−141°. The light is partially obscured by trees on 165°−188°.
Yellow Patch Light
Yellow Patch Light was located about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) southwest of North Point. A 1877 book describes it as a 43 feet (13.1 m) high wooden tower, showing a fixed white light.Yellow Patch Light also suffered from coastal erosion. In 1882 it had to be shifted 300 feet (91.4 m) to the northeast, and by 1891 it was moved four times.
A 1909 listing describes it as a square wooden lightroom, carrying a fixed fourth order dioptric apparatus. The light shown was red and white sectors, visible for 11 nautical miles (20.4 km).
The 2010 List of Lights does not list a light at the location.
See also
- List of lighthouses and lightvessels in Australia