5.1 Commonwealth heritage listing – Cape St Albans Lighthouse
The following information is taken directly from the Commonwealth Heritage listing for Cape St Albans Lighthouse (Place ID: 105413)34
Commonwealth statement of significance
The following statement of significance is taken directly from Cape St. Alban Lighthouse’s Commonwealth heritage listing:
Historically, Cape St Alban Lighthouse is one of the earliest purpose built unattended lights established in South Australia. It was built during a period of transition in lighthouse technology when Australian maritime authorities and the South Australian Marine Board in particular, began to experiment with automatic illumination systems (Criterion F1).
Cape St Alban Lighthouse formed part of a comprehensive system of coastal lighting established by the South Australian Marine Board before the Commonwealth Government assumed functional responsibility in 1915. Together with the other lights on Kangaroo Island, Cape St Alban Lighthouse continues to play an important role in providing navigational assistance to shipping serving Adelaide and other coastal centres in the region (Criterion A4).
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 St Albans Lighthouse is discussed in relation to each of the criteria as based on the site’s current Commonwealth Heritage Listing (Place ID: 105413)
| Criteron | Attributes | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
Criterion A) Processes This criterion is satisfied by places that have significant heritage value because of importance in the course, or pattern, of Australia’s natural or cultural history. | The whole of the lighthouse including tower, curtilage and modified optics. | Cape St Alban Lighthouse formed part of a comprehensive system of coastal lighting established by the South Australian Marine Board before the Commonwealth Government assumed functional responsibility in 1915. Together with the other lights on Kangaroo Island, Cape St Alban Lighthouse continues to play an important role in providing navigational assistance to shipping, serving Adelaide and other coastal centres in the region. |
Criterion F) Technical achievement This criterion is satisfied by places that have significant heritage value | The whole of the lighthouse including tower, curtilage and modified optics. | Cape St Alban Lighthouse is one of the earliest purpose-built, unattended lights established in South Australia. It was built during a period of transition in lighthouse technology when Australian maritime authorities and the South Australian Marine Board in particular, began to experiment with automatic illumination systems. |
These heritage values, identified and explained in the Commonwealth Heritage List, will form the basis of the management of Cape St Albans Lighthouse. In the event of necessary works, all criteria will be consulted to inform best practice management of the values associated with the lighthouse. (See ‘Section 7. Conservation management policies’ for further information on strategies to conserve heritage values of Cape St Albans Lighthouse).
5.2 Condition and integrity of Commonwealth heritage values
A heritage-monitoring program was implemented in 2016. Each site is visited and reviewed every two years to value the heritage fabric and values of the site. Assessment of the condition and integrity of lighthouse's 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 St Albans Lighthouse’s Commonwealth heritage values and its associated attributes, maintain good condition and high integrity.
| Value | Attributes | Condition | Integrity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criterion A) Processes | The whole of the lighthouse including tower, curtilage and modified optics. | Good | High |
| Criterion E) Aesthetic value | The whole of the lighthouse including tower, curtilage and modified optics. | Good | High |
5.3 Gain or loss of Commonwealth heritage values
Evidence for the potential gain or loss of heritage values will be documented within this section in future versions of the plan.
Footnotes
34 ‘Cape St Alban Lighthouse, Cape St Albans Rd, Penneshaw, SA, Australia’