5.1 Commonwealth heritage listing - Cape du Couedic Lighthouse
The following information is taken directly from the Commonwealth Heritage listing for Cape du Couedic Lighthouse (Place ID: 105414).
Commonwealth statement of significance
The following statement of significance is taken directly from Cape du Couedic Lighthouse’s Commonwealth heritage listing:
The Cape du Couedic Lighthouse, built in 1909, is significant for its association with South Australia's maritime and economic history, and illustrates the State's continuing dependence on the sea for transportation at this time. The lighthouse is also important as one of the last built in South Australia before the Commonwealth Government took over the management and control of Australian lighthouses in 1915. (Criterion A.4) (Australian Historic Themes: 3.8 Moving goods and people; 3.8.1 Shipping to and from Australian ports; 3.8.2 Safeguarding Australian products for long journeys; 3.16.1 Dealing with hazards and disasters; 7.4 Federating Australia)
The Cape du Couedic Lighthouse is part of a relatively intact early nineteenth century complex of lighthouse and service buildings, which contributes to its significance. (Criterion D.2)
The Cape du Couedic Lighthouse is important as a prominent visual landmark on the south-western point of Kangaroo Island. (Criterion E.1)
The Cape du Couedic Lighthouse is associated with the Cape du Couedic Flying Fox and Associated Structures (Register No. 7461) and the Cape du Couedic Keepers' Cottages and Sheds (Register No. 7460)
Indigenous values of national estate significance may exist in this place. As yet, these values have not been identified, documented or assessed.
Commonwealth heritage criteria
There are nine criteria for inclusion in the Commonwealth Heritage List, meeting any one of these is sufficient for listing a place. These criteria are similar to those used in other Commonwealth, state and local heritage legislation, although thresholds differ. In the following sections, Cape du Couedic Lighthouse is discussed in relation to each of the criteria as based on the site’s current Commonwealth Heritage Listing (Place ID: 105414)
| Criterion | Attributes | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
Criterion A) Processes This criterion is satisfied by places that have significant heritage value because of [their] importance in the course, or pattern, of Australia’s natural or cultural history. | The whole of the lighthouse, its setting and its visual prominence. | The Cape du Couedic Lighthouse, built in 1909, is significant for its association with South Australia's maritime and economic history, and illustrates the State's continuing dependence on the sea for transportation at this time. The lighthouse is also important as one of the last built in South Australia before the Commonwealth Government took over the management and control of Australian lighthouses in 1915. |
| Criterion D) Characteristic values | The integrity of the fabric, and its functional association with service buildings and other lighthouses. | The Cape du Couedic Lighthouse is part of a relatively intact early nineteenth century complex of lighthouse and service buildings, which contributes to its significance. |
| Criterion E) Aesthetic characteristics | The prominence of the lighthouse within its landscape setting. | The Cape du Couedic Lighthouse is important as a prominent visual landmark on the south-western point of Kangaroo Island. |
These heritage values, identified and explained in the Commonwealth Heritage List, will form the basis of the management of Cape du Couedic Lighthouse. In the event of necessary works, all criteria will be consulted to inform best practice management of the values associated with the lightstation. (See ‘Section 7. Conservation management policies’ for further information on strategies to conserve heritage values of Cape du Couedic Lighthouse)
5.2 SA State heritage register listing – Cape du Couedic Lighthouse
The Cape du Couedic Lighthouse is listed on the SA State Heritage Places Database (Place ID: 10398).
SA Heritage Register Statement of Significance
There is no statement of significance or heritage criterion available for Cape du Couedic Lighthouse.
5.3 Condition and integrity of Commonwealth heritage values
A heritage monitoring program was implemented in 2016. Each site is visited and reviewed every two years where the heritage fabric and values of the site are evaluated. Assessment of the condition and integrity of lighthouse's Commonwealth heritage values are derived from the latest available Heritage asset condition report produced by AMSA’s maintenance contractor.
‘Condition’ is measured from Good-Sound-Poor and incorporates the current condition of the specific value. Integrity is measured from High-Medium-Low and incorporates the value’s intactness. Cape du Couedic Lighthouse’s Commonwealth heritage values and its associated attributes maintain good condition and high integrity.
The Commonwealth heritage values for Cape du Couedic Lighthouse exhibits good condition and a high level of integrity. The intact lightstation continues to maintain strong associations with the State’s maritime history, and remains a prominent visual landmark free of modern intrusions on the cape.
| Value | Values (including attributes) | Condition | Integrity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criterion A) Processes | The Cape du Couedic Lighthouse, built in 1909, is significant for its association with South Australia's maritime and economic history, and illustrates the State's continuing dependence on the sea for transportation at this time. The lighthouse is also important as one of the last built in South Australia before the Commonwealth Government took over the management and control of Australian lighthouses in 1915. | Good | High |
| Criterion D) Characteristic values | The Cape du Couedic Lighthouse is part of a relatively intact early nineteenth century complex of lighthouse and service buildings, which contributes to its significance. | Good | High |
| Criterion E) Aesthetic characteristics | The Cape du Couedic Lighthouse is important as a prominent visual landmark on the south-western point of Kangaroo Island. | Good | High |
5.4 Gain or loss of Commonwealth heritage values
A correction is required for Criterion D, as it lists the lighthouse as part of an ‘early nineteenth century complex’. Cape du Couedic Lighthouse and the accompanying cottages were built in 1907-1909 and therefore should be listed as an ‘early twentieth century complex’.
Evidence for the potential gain or loss of heritage values will be documented within this section in future versions of the plan.