Bulletin - Vol 9 No. 1 January/February 2006

• Cape Conran & Little Rame Head lighthouses
• Arthur Chilcott, drowned keeper at Goose Island
• Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse unmanned
• What did a lighthouse "weigher" do?

Cape Conran & Little Rame Head lighthouses

The Little Rame Head light, built in 1993 Photograph: John Ibbotson

The Cape Conran steel tower, built in 1966 Photograph: John Ibbotson

Dear LoA,

Could you please email some information on Cape Conran & Rame Head Lighthouses as I have looked up the LoA site & have found no lighthouses by these names listed.

I have a Gregory's Tourist Map of Victoria & it shows lighthouses in these areas. Cape Conran is south of Cabbage Tree Creek on the Princes Highway & Rame Head Lighthouse is in Croajingolong National Park at Wingan Inlet which is east of Point Hicks Lighthouse.

As we are travelling this way at Christmas time to look at lighthouses from Ulladulla, NSW to Orbost, Vic & would like any information on these lighthouses or if they do exist.

Yours sincerely

David Baker
 Email David Baker

Hi David,

With regard to your query about the Cape Conran and Little Rame Head lighthouses, these are not actually lighthouses in the normal sense of the word.

The Cape Conran light Photograph: Kristie Eggleston

The Cape Conran light is basically a lightbulb fixed on top of a steel tower, and the Little Rame light is a "Tupperware" light - a plastic box around 1-2 metres tall which has a modern solar powered lightbulb at the top. These lights are obviously not manned, do not require regular maintenance, and don't really fit the stereotype of a lighthouse.

The Cape Conran light, if I remember correctly, is relatively easily accessible south-east of Orbost, but the Rame light apparently is extremely remotely located, with a long walk to access.

So, depending on your level of interest in lights that are not the typical stone tower, these two lights may need to be struck from your lighthouse trail map. Lighthouses of Australia has very few photos and little information about these two lights, which is why there is no mention of them on the LoA website.

I hope this is not too disappointing for you, but better forewarned before you head off into the bush in anticipation! We would love to hear about your lighthouse travels when you get back, and welcome any photos that you might want to offer for our website. Enjoy your trip - it's a lovely part of the coastline between Ulladulla and Orbost, with some great lights along the way.

Regards,

Kristie Eggleston
Webmaster
Lighthouses of Australia Inc
 Email Kristie Eggleston

Arthur Chilcott, drowned keeper at Goose Island

Graveyard on Goose Island Photograph: AMSA

My grandfather, Arthur Chilcott, whom I never knew, nor seen a photo of, was an assistant lighthouse keeper at Goose Island around 1921. Apparently he and another fellow went out to collect the mail from a freighter one night when there was a severe storm and they drowned. My mother was then only a baby of a few months, and I think he is buried there on the island or one of the group nearby.

My grandmother re-married twice, moving to Hobart then to Sydney. My mother died in 2001, and no photos of my grandfather are known to exist. If I can track one down see what he looked like, it would be very precious.

Can you tell me where I should look to possibly find a photo or information about Arthur Chilcott?

Yours faithfully, 
Sally Nelthropp
 Email Sally Nelthropp

Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse unmanned

Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse Photograph: Jeff Jennings

Hello Steve,

Just grazed onto the LoA website, after a sea kayak trip from Strahan to Adventure Bay which included a visit to Maatsuyker Island and the lighthouse and adjacent buildings.

Unfortunately, there was no-one but the seals and I on Maatsuyker, and a note on the No. 1 residence door to contact someone by phone if needed.

Is the Maatsuyker light still being manned by caretakers for three month periods? Hope so.

Appreciate your website,

Cheers, 

Peter Treby
 Email Peter Treby

Dear Peter,

One of the caretakers was ill and Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) policy is not to have just one person there on their own (so they came off with their partner). They were taken of by the medical rescue helicopter that the police operate.

PWS was going to leave the island without a caretaker until the new caretakers were due start (leaving the island without a caretakers for up to six weeks). I was rung up about this from one of the Friends of Maatsuyker Group and I emailed the PWS to say this was too long a gap (at the same time a story appeared in the Mercury newspaper saying there was no one on the island).

After looking at some options, PWS sent back one current caretaker to go back to Maatsuyker with a friend during the interim period. They returned about two weeks ago and found the place in good order. In all there was a period of about three weeks when there were no caretakers on the island.

Cheers, 

Christian Bell
Tasmanian representative, LoA Inc
 Email Christian Bell

What did a lighthouse "weigher" do?

Dear LoA,

I have recently gained access to part of my grandfather's personnel record as a Lighthouse Keeper at P.R.O. Vic. He served at Cape Schanck, Portland, Wilsons Prom, and on the South Channel Light between 1897 and 1907.

At one stage it says he was transferred to being a "Weigher". I wondered if anyone knows what this was? It is very difficult to interpret the abbreviations used in the documents but Weigher may have been with Ports and Harbours because at one stage the document says " The transfer to position of Weigher was only temporary; will retain position on the list of L.House staff."

Regards,

Margaret Mabbitt
Email Margaret Mabbitt

Thanks for your enquiry, Margaret. 

We ask the ex-keepers out there to enlighten us on the terminology "weigher".

Regards Steve Merson 
Editor LoA Inc.
Email Steve Merson