Lighthouses of Western Australia

Up until now this was one of the most endangered lighthouses in Australia.

In regards to the question being posed 'what does the community want', the local mining industry and Council have responded with moves that will hopefully lead to the long term preservation of this light.

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The Jarman Island Lens at Cape Naturaliste Museum
Photograph: Denise Shultz

The interior of the Jarman Island Lighthouse
Photograph: John Ibbotson

History

The Jarman Island Lighthouse is one of two segmented cast iron sea lights in Western Australia using the newly developed pre-fabricated cast iron towers imported from England.

The other cast iron lighthouse, manufactured by Chance Brothers, is located at Point Moore near Geraldton.

As stated in the entry for the Register of the National Estate:

Cast iron towers were established as a viable way of getting lights to remote areas. The new design technique was innovative and represented a new era in lighthouse construction.

As they were pre-fabricated, they could be constructed in remote areas with much more ease than one of stone.

The lighthouse industry had reached the point in 1887 where a complete lighthouse could be packed and shipped from England for erection in Australia.

The lighthouse at Jarman was complete except for the lens which seems to have been sent separately.

The tower body of the Jarman Island lighthouse is composed of cast iron plated a little more than 1in (28mm) thick, flanged and bolted on the inside presenting a smooth face to the exterior.

This type of construction was developed so that salt laden aerosols or spray would not get a foothold and cause corrosion at the joints. The lighthouse came complete from England with the tools for its construction and the paint to protect it.

The Resident Engineer for the North West, W L Owen and Chief Government Architect George Temple Poole were responsible for the design and construction of the new lightstation.

The labour for the construction were prisoners from Malaysia, the Philippines, China and Arabian countries, the majority of which were from the pearling fleet which was at that time laid up in Cossack during the cyclone season.

The rubble and concrete duplex keepers quarters were also erected in 1888 and is typical of other buildings around Roebourne of that era. Pre-cast concrete blocks were used for corners, doors and windows.

The unique feature of the 1888 dwelling is the curved concrete shell roof. Unfortunately this did not suit the climate and in along with additions in 1895 the whole structure was given a new roof and a verandah all around.

The original light was a flashing second order lantern with a four wick Douglas burner. The fuel was kerosene or paraffin oil. The lamp was replaced in 1910 by a 55mm incandescent lamp using a vaporised kerosene mantle. The character then became occulting.

In 1917, the lamp was to an AGA acetylene gas lamp activated by a sunvalve.

The Jarman Island Lighthouse is in a precarious state
Photograph: John Ibbotson

The first lightkeeper S Efford was appointed on 16 May 1888 with assistant lightkeeper W White not being appointed until 24 July 1888. Francis T Langer must have been an alien as apparently he was arrested and interned for the remainder of the First World War. Having a position of a keeper would have seemed to be an obvious threat by Authorities.

Please note, this list is far from complete - we are aware that there may be omissions. If you have a reasonable belief that a keeper should be added to the list please forward it with all you know so we can validate the information and add them to the list.

Please include this lighthouse's name, the keepers full name, what years they were keepers and their position. Also include the same information for any other lights they were on then send it to Web Keeper.

Special Thanks to:

• Denise Shultz for Photograph

• John Ibbotson for Photographs

• Shire of Roebourne for Photograph

• Winsome Bonham for Photograph

Sources:

• Llyrus Weightman, Karratha Community Library

• Register of the National Estate

• Shire of Roebourne

• The West Australian

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