The cultural significance of the lighthouse resides in its fabric, and also in its intangible aspects – such as the meanings people ascribe to it, and the connections to other places and things. The survival of its cultural value depends on a well-informed understanding of what is significant, and on clear thinking about the consequences of change. The Burra Charter35 sets out good practice for conserving cultural significance.
Criterion under 'Heritage Significance' refer to the criterion satisfied within the specific Commonwealth heritage listing (see section 5.1).
All images included in sub-section 4.1 and 4.2 – Source: AMSA.
Lighthouse feature: Lantern roof
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
Recent 16-sided pyramidal roof of glass-reinforced-plastic panels on 1845 cast metal ribs and top ring.
- Ribs – cast metal ribs
- Inner skin – none
- Ventilator – recent GRP replica of ball type ventilator, without ventilation holes
- Wind vane – none
- Lightning conductor – single spike on top of ventilator
- Gutter – none
| Finish: | painted |
| Condition: | intact and sound |
| Integrity: | high |
| Significance: | original fabric: high other parts: low |
| Maintenance: | keep in service, prepare and repaint at normal intervals |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The original cast metal ribs and top ring are an original part of the lighthouse – they maintain significance due to the lighthouse being the oldest of the Bass Strait lighthouses (and by being one of only 4 extant pre-1850 lighthouses) (criterion a, criterion b).
The lantern roof contributes to the aesthetic value of the lighthouse (criterion e).
Lighthouse feature: Lantern glazing
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
Polygonal in form, with 16 sides. The vertical astragals extend from a base ring at lantern floor level up to the lantern roof – there is no separate lantern base.
- Panes – flat rectangular glass. Two tiers of glass, with narrow tier of blank plywood panels above, and wider tier of blank panels below (forming the lantern base, see below). One landward face is blanked off by a timber framed and sheeted door in which is inset a cast iron frame for the balcony door.
- Astragals – vertical astragals of moulded profile with thickenings at intersections with horizontal astragals and at top and bottom. Horizontal astragals of similar moulded section. Uppermost horizontal astragal (which separates a tier of blank panels from glass panes) is a later addition.
- Handholds – one on each vertical astragal, fixed to cover strips.
- Emergency panes – set of emergency panes in metal frames, with copper alloy fixing bolts, are stored in the tower below the lantern room.
| Finish: | blanking panels, astragals and glazing strips: painted |
| Condition: | intact and sound |
| Integrity: | high |
| Significance: | high |
Maintenance:
| keep in service, reglaze as necessary prepare and repaint at normal intervals |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The lantern glazing is an essential part of the lighthouse – it maintains its significance due to the lighthouse being the oldest of the Bass Strait lights, and due to being one of only four (4) extant pre-1850 lighthouses (criterion a, criterion b).
The lantern glazing contributes to the aesthetic value of the lighthouse (criterion e).
Lighthouse feature: Lantern base
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
Formed by the bottom tier of the lantern glazing which has been re-fitted with blank panels (originally fully glazed).
- Vents – recent cast cowls fitted over round vent holes in blanking panels.
- Door – cast iron frame and door inset into the bottom of a timber framed and sheeted door. The door is secured by two hand-wheels on pivoting studs which engage with projecting lugs on the frame.
| Finish: | painted |
| Condition: | intact and sound |
| Integrity: | high |
| Significance: | blank panels and vents: low other parts: high |
| Maintenance: | keep in service, prepare and repaint at normal intervals |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The lantern base is an essential part of the lighthouse – it maintains its significance due to the lighthouse being the oldest of the Bass Strait lights, and due to it being one of only four extant pre-1850 lighthouses in Tasmania (criterion a, criterion b).
Lighthouse feature: 1845 Lantern base
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
Original lantern base was formed within the top of the existing masonry tower walls. Fixing positions of the original internal catwalk brackets into the masonry walls are visible.
- Vents – original round vent openings still exist through masonry walls at this level. They are fitted with circular brass regulators. Only one regulator is original, others were replaced in 2012.
- Door – there was no door in the original lantern base and the balcony was accessed through the existing doors in the lantern glazing from the internal catwalk.
| Finish: | masonry wall: bare render pedestal: painted |
| Condition: | there is fretting of the top course of sandstone masonry on the internal face, otherwise sound |
| Integrity: | high |
| Significance: | high |
| Maintenance: | keep in service, prepare and repaint at normal intervals |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The lantern base is an essential and original part of the lighthouse – it maintains its significance due to the lighthouse being the oldest of the Bass Strait lights, and due to it being one of only four extant pre-1850 lighthouses in Tasmania (criterion a, criterion b).
Lighthouse feature: Lantern floor
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
Recent floor of compressed fibre-cement sheet on frame of galvanised steel rectangular hollow sections (RHS) sections bolted together. The frame sits on the top of the tower wall around the edge, and on a central RHS column.
- Access opening – rectangular, with expanded metal mesh cover.
| Finish: | painted |
| Condition: | intact and sound |
| Integrity: | high |
| Significance: | low |
| Maintenance: | keep in service, prepare and repaint at normal intervals |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: Low
Lighthouse feature: Beacon
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
Vega VRB-25 self-contained rotating beacon. Fitted with a set of four parasitic curtains, suspended from an aluminium frame on top of the beacon.
| Condition: | intact and sound |
| Integrity: | not assessed |
| Significance: | low |
| Maintenance: | keep in service |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: Low
Lighthouse feature: Pedestal
Description and condition
Welded aluminium post, with flat plates welded top and bottom.
| Finish: | bare aluminium |
| Condition: | intact and sound |
| Integrity: | high |
| Significance: | low |
| Maintenance: | keep in service |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: Low
Lighthouse feature: Balcony floor
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
1845 slate slab floor supported on the tower wall and cornice.
| Finish: | painted |
| Condition: | some damage around balustrade stanchion fixings from previous arrangement, otherwise intact and sound |
| Integrity: | high |
| Significance: | high |
Maintenance:
| keep in service maintain joint seals, prepare and repaint at normal intervals |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The balcony floor is both an essential and original part of the lighthouse. It maintains its significance due to the lighthouse being the odlest of the Bass Strait lights – and due to it being one of only four extant pre-1850 lighthouses in Tasmania (criterion a, criterion b).
Lighthouse feature: Balcony balustrade
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
Recent balustrade of welded stainless steel, with angle section stanchions bolted to the balcony floor at the bottom, with four round tubular rails.
| Finish: | bare metal |
| Condition: | intact and sound |
| Integrity: | high |
| Significance: | low |
| Maintenance: | keep in service |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: Low
Lighthouse feature: Walls
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
1845 stone walls, probably originally with exposed rock faced stone in courses with finely dressed freestone cornice courses at the top. It has render and stucco coatings inside and out, probably a later modification. Internal projecting ledges indicate probable earlier locations of intermediate floors, since removed.
| Finish: | painted |
| Condition: | intact and sound |
| Integrity: | high |
| Significance: | high |
Maintenance:
| keep in service, prepare and paint at normal intervals monitor condition of pointing and stonework |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The tower walls are both original and essential parts of the lighthouse. It maintains its significance due to the lighthouse being the oldest of the Bass Strait lights, and due to it being one of only four extant pre-1850 lighthouses in Tasmania (criterion a, criterion b).
The tower walls contribute to the aesthetic value of the lighthouse (criterion e).
The tower walls (with its rubble base and shaft with contrasting smooth freestone capital) exemplifies a unique design and form of construction (criterion f).
Lighthouse feature: Windows
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
Six original window openings with fixed glazing in stainless steel sashes and frames.
| Finish: | frames and sashes: bare metal glass: clear |
| Condition: | intact and sound |
| Integrity: | high |
| Significance: | original openings: high recent sashes and frames: low |
| Maintenance: | keep in service, replace broken panes as required |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The original window openings are an essential part of the lighthouse. They maintain significance due to the lighthouse being the oldest of the Bass Strait lights, and due to its being one of only four extant pre-1850 lighthouses in Tasmania (criterion a, criterion b)
The tower windows contribute to the aesthetic value of the lighthouse (criterion e)
Lighthouse feature: Door
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
1845 door opening. Later timber framed and sheeted door with stainless steel vent cover, hung in timber door frame. Secured with hasp and staple and CLS padlock. Stainless lock box added to door in 2011 after illegal entry took place.
| Finish: | painted |
| Condition: | sound |
| Integrity: | medium |
| Significance: | high |
| Maintenance: | keep in service, prepare and repaint at normal intervals |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The original door opening is an essential part of the lighthouse. It maintains significance due to the lighthouse being the oldest of the Bass Strait lights, and due to it being one of only four extant pre-1850 lighthouses in Tasmania (criterion a, criterion b).
Lighthouse feature: Intermediate floors
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
Two intermediate landings, of slate slabs carried on rolled iron beams built into the tower walls.
Original intermediate floors at lower levels have been removed when the cast iron stair was installed, but their positions are marked by projecting ledges inside the tower walls.
| Finish: | painted |
| Condition: | intact and sound |
| Integrity: | high |
| Significance: | high |
| Maintenance: | keep in service, prepare and repaint at normal intervals |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The intermediate floors are an essential part of the lighthouse. It maintains significance due to the lighthouse being the oldest of the Bass Strait lights, and due to it being one of only four extant pre-1850s lighthouses in Tasmania (criterion a, criterion b).
Lighthouse feature: Stairs
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
Cast iron spiral stair integrated with central weight tube/column, rising from the ground floor to a floor two storeys below the lantern floor. The stair structure is free-standing, independent of the stone tower.
Cast iron treads/riser units with lattice treads are bolted to one another and to the weight tube, the connecting bolts extend vertically as balusters supporting a wrought iron handrail on the outside of the flight.
A separate flight of stairs, with a wrought iron outer string, leads from the lower intermediate floor to the one below the lantern floor.
| Finish: | painted |
| Condition: | intact and sound |
| Integrity: | high |
| Significance: | high |
| Maintenance: | keep in service, prepare and repaint at normal intervals |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The internal tower stairs are an essential part of the lighthouse. They maintain their significance due to the lighthouse being the oldest of the Bass Strait lights, and due to it being one of only four extant pre-1850 lighthouses (criterion a, criterion b).
Lighthouse feature: Ground floor
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
1845 stone floor with later concrete topping.
- Equipment – batteries on racks mounted against the tower walls at ground floor level; control equipment
| Finish: | painted |
| Condition: | intact and sound |
| Integrity: | high |
| Significance: | high |
| Maintenance: | keep in service, prepare and repaint at normal intervals |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: high
The ground floor is both an original and essential part of the lighthouse. It maintains significance due to the lighthouse being the odlest of the Bass Strait lights, and due to it being one of only four extant pre-1850 lighthouses in Tasmania (criterion a, criterion b).
Lighthouse feature: Tower apron
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
Later thin concrete apron slab of unknown date placed around the base of the tower.
| Finish: | bare concrete surface |
| Condition: | some settlement cracks appearing on concrete slab |
| Integrity: | medium |
| Significance: | low |
| Maintenance: | monitor condition |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: Low
Lighthouse feature: Solar array
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
Solar panels mounted on aluminium stands affixed to concrete foundations at the base of the tower.
| Condition: | intact and sound |
| Integrity: | not assessed |
| Significance: | low |
| Maintenance: | keep in service |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: Low
Lighthouse feature: Oil store
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
1938 timber framed, gable roofed building on concrete slab floor. 2012 CFC sheeted and lined externally and internally. 2012 stainless steel corrugated roofing sheets, gutters and downpipes.
Double hung windows are boarded up. No equipment in place. Concrete water tank attached.
| Condition: | intact and sound |
| Integrity: | high |
| Significance: | high |
| Maintenance: | prepare and repaint parts as required |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The oil store is an essential part of the lightstation. It maintains significance due to the lightstation being the oldest of the Bass Strait lights, and due to it being one of only four extant pre-1850s lightstation in Tasmania (criterion a, criterion b).
Lighthouse feature: Remnant floor slab
© AMSA 2019
Description and condition
Concrete floor slab remaining from a demolished building (function not known). This is the structure currently used as a helipad.
| Condition: | many cracks throughout slab, but still sound |
| Integrity: | medium |
| Significance: | moderate |
| Maintenance: | keep in service |
| Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: Moderate
The helipad is an essential part of the lightstation and was originally a building.
4.2 Related object and associated AMSA artefact
There are no AMSA artefacts located on-site at Swan Island Lighthouse.
4.3 Comparative analysis
Exhibiting similar stylistic features, both Swan Island Lighthouse, first lit 1845, and Goose Island Lighthouse, first lit 1846, were built by ex-convict Charles Watson and his team of prisoners. Both masonry towers were constructed of cement rendered rubble stone and fitted with a catadioptric lens with silvered mirrors (see figure 19). In 1872, Swan Island’s mirrors were removed and fitted in the Goose Island lantern room. Located on isolated islands, the two towers are situated approximately 54.5 km apart in Bass Strait and are considered to be the two major coastal lights operating north-east of Tasmania.
Figure 15. Goose Island Lighthouse (Source: ASMA, 2019)
Figure 16. Swan Island Lighthouse (Source: AMSA, 2019)
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Footnotes
35 The Burra Charter, Australia ICOMOS, (2013).