Lighthouses of Australia Inc

Ibbo's Updates by John Ibbotson, Lighthouse photographer & author The Cape Conran Lighthouse The Cape Tourville and Point Home Lookout Lights The Cape Inscription Lighthouse The Double Island Point Lighthouse Rock Lighthouses of Britain

John Ibbotson at Cape Jaffa Lighthouse Photo: Denise Shultz

1. The Cape Conran Lighthouse

The original Cape Conran Lighthouse, near Orbost in Victoria, was built in 1944. It was replaced with a new tower in late 2004 or early 2005, but continues to be equipped with an ML300 acrylic lens. The light is mainly used by local fishermen and recreational sailors.

The Old Cape Conran Lighthouse Photo: John Ibbotson

The Old Cape Conran Lighthouse Photo: Kristie Eggleston

The New Cape Conran Lighthouse Photo: Dianne Hughes

2. The Cape Tourville and Point Home Lookout Lights

These two lights, on the east coast of Tasmania, have just had their glass Fresnel lenses replaced with Sabik LED 350 beacons. The Cape Tourville lens was an AGA, 300mm focal radius catadioptric bull’s eye lens, which had originally come from the light vessel CLS5, while Point Home Lookout had a Chance Brothers, 375mm focal radius lens. At least one will go to the Tasmanian Maritime Museum. It is anticipated that many of the glass lenses currently being used, as well as many of the first generation acrylic beacons, such as the ML 300, will be replaced with LED lights.

The Cape Tourville lantern room Photograph: Andrew Murray

Point Home Lookout Lighthouse Photograph: Deborah Taylor

Sabik LED 350 Beacon Photo: John Ibbotson

3. The Cape Inscription Lighthouse

This lighthouse on the northern end of Dirk Hartog Island in WA is Australia’s most westerly lighthouse. Cape Inscription is also one of Australia’s most historic localities and has just been added to the National Heritage Register. It is the where the Dirk Hartog, captain of the Dutch East India Company’s ship Eendracht, landed on 25/10/1616. He left a pewter plate there, nailed to a post, and it is the oldest European artefact in Australia. Currently the cape and its lighthouse are difficult to visit, but hopefully this will be changing within a year or two. 

To make the area public friendly, the old keepers’ quarters, abandoned in 1917 have been restored. They will serve as a warden’s residence, visitors’ centre and a museum. As the photo, taken at the end of 2005 shows, the buildings have already been re-roofed. The interiors have also been restored. The next step is to build a runway to allow visitor access. It is not clear at this time when the runway will be built and whether overnight stays will be permitted but once it is completed it will be well worth a visit.

The Cape Inscription Lighthouse Photograph: John Ibbotson

Cape Inscription Lighthouse Photograph: John Ibbotson

The Cape Inscription Lighthouse Photo: Winsome Bonham

4. The Double Island Point Lighthouse

Double Island Point is located at the southern end of Rainbow Beach Qld, which is just south of Fraser Island. In spite of my Visitors Guide saying it is in the Capricorn Coast National Park it is actually in the Cooloola Section of the Great Sandy National Park. Although the point has been accessible for many years by tour bus, or by walking up the steep sandy track, there were no organised activities or accommodation available.

There is now an interpretive centre next to the lighthouse, which is opened from 10:00am until 2:00pm daily. The keepers’ quarters have been fully restored and can be rented, although there is a catch. They are only rented to Noosa Parks Association (NPA) members (it is easy to join), the minimum period is for a week, and while there you are expected to work on restoring the natural and cultural values of the point. For more information call the Booking Officer for the Noosa Parks Association on 07 5474 2486 or at PO Box 836 Noosa Heads Qld 4567.

The Double Island Point Lighthouse Photograph: Winsome Bonham

Double Island Point Lighthouse Photo: Denise Shultz

The cottages at Double Island Point Photograph: Denise Shultz

5. Rock Lighthouses of Britain This superb book by Christopher Nelson (1995) has been updated - ISBN 1-90444-527-6. It is a larger (A4), 224 page, hard-cover book with many new spectacular colour photographs, plans and drawings and an updated text. I have the original and I’m looking forward to receiving the updated version. It is available directly from the Australian distributor Inbooks for $79.95. If you mention the Lighthouses of Australia Inc Bulletin, they will pay the $7.70 P&H charge.  They can be contacted on 02 9986 7082, or by fax on 02 9986 7090 or orders@inbooks.com.au or at Locked Bag 535 Frenchs Forest NSW 1640.