5.1 Commonwealth Heritage listing – Cape Sorell Lighthouse
The following information is taken from the Cape Sorell Lighthouse listing on the Australian Heritage Database (Place ID: 105597).
Commonwealth statement of significance
Cape Sorell Lighthouse, built in 1899, is significant for its associations with the development of navigational aids along the west coast of Tasmania, and is the only remaining intact structure in a lightstation complex that included the tower, three keepers’ residences and an engine room. Remnant foundations serve to indicate the location of the former residences. (Criteria A.4 and B.2) (Themes: 3.8.1 Shipping to and from Australian ports, 3.16.1 Dealing with hazards and disasters).
In its general configuration, form and massing, the tower is illustrative of one of the types of lighthouses constructed around the continent during the latter part of the 19th century. (Criterion D.2)
The lighthouse, situated on the tip of the outermost boundary of Macquarie Harbour, in a rugged and lonely coastal setting, and being a very prominent structure in that landscape, has strong aesthetic values. (Criterion E.1)
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, the Cape Sorell Lighthouse is discussed in relation to each of the criteria as based on the site’s current Commonwealth Heritage Listing (Place ID: 105597).
Criterion | Relevant Attributes Identified | Explanation |
Criterion B – Rarity This criterion is satisfied by places that have significant heritage value because of possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Australia’s natural or cultural history. |
The whole tower, its prominence within the coastal landscape plus the footings of three former residences and an engine room. |
Cape Sorell Lighthouse, is the only remaining intact structure in its lightstation complex that included the tower, three keepers’ residences and an engine room. Remnant foundations serve to indicate the location of the former residences. |
Criterion D – Characteristic values This criterion is satisfied by places that have significant heritage values because of importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of Australia’s natural or cultural history. |
The tower’s form and massing. |
In its general configuration, form and massing, the tower is illustrative of one of the types of lighthouses constructed around the continent during the latter part of the 19th century. |
Criterion E – Aesthetic values This criterion is satisfied by places that have significant heritage value because of importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristic value by a community or cultural group. |
The lighthouse’s prominence within its coastal setting. |
The lighthouse, situated on the tip of the outermost boundary of Macquarie Harbour, in a rugged and lonely coastal setting, and being a very prominent structure in that landscape, has strong aesthetic values. |
5. 2 TAS State Heritage Register – Cape Sorell Lighthouse
The following information is taken directly from the Cape Sorell Lighthouse listing on the Tasmanian Heritage Register (THR ID: 5631).
TAS heritage statement of significance
No statement is provided for places listed prior to 2007.
TAS State heritage criteria
The Heritage Council may enter a place in the Heritage Register if it meets one or more of the following criteria from the Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995 (Tas).
| Criteria | Explanation/evidence |
| Criterion A – The place is important to the course or pattern of Tasmania’s history. | Cape Sorell Lighthouse, erected in 1899, is significant for its association with the development of navigational aids along the west coast of Tasmania, and is the only remaining structure in a light station complex that included the tower and three keepers’ residences. |
| Criterion D –The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of place in Tasmania’s history. | Cape Sorell Lighthouse is of historic heritage significance because it represents the principal characteristics of a Victorian brick lighthouse. |
| Criterion F –The place has a strong or special associations with a particular community or cultural group for social or spiritual reasons. | The lighthouse, situated on the tip of the outermost boundary of Macquarie Harbour, in a rugged and lonely coastal land and seascape setting, is of historic heritage significance as a dramatic landmark feature values by the community. |
These heritage values, identified and explained in the Commonwealth Heritage List and the State Heritage Register, will form the basis of the management of Cape Sorell 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 the Cape Sorell Lighthouse.
5.3 Condition and integrity of the 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 values are derived from the latest available ‘Heritage asset condition report’ produced by AMSA’s maintenance contractor.
Condition is measured on a Good – Fair – Poor scale and incorporates the current condition of the specific value. Integrity is measured on a High – Medium – Low scale which incorporates the value’s intactness.
As a whole, the heritage values of Cape Sorell Lighthouse are in good condition and considered to have high integrity. The tower remains intact with its configuration largely unchanged from its original design. It also maintains its standing as a prominent feature within the landscape.
| Criteria | Values (including attributes) | Condition | Integrity |
| b)Rarity | Cape Sorell Lighthouse, is the only remaining intact structure in its lightstation complex that included the tower, three keepers’ residences and an engine room. Remnant foundations serve to indicate the location of the former residences. The whole tower, its prominence within the coastal landscape plus the footings of three former residences and an engine room. | Good | High |
| d) Characteristic values | In its general configuration, form and massing, the tower is illustrative of one of the types of lighthouses constructed around the continent during the latter part of the 19th century. The tower’s form and massing. | Good | High |
| e) Aesthetic characteristics | The lighthouse, situated on the tip of the outermost boundary of Macquarie Harbour, in a rugged and lonely coastal setting, and being a very prominent structure in that landscape, has strong aesthetic values. The lighthouse’s prominence within its coastal setting. | Good | High |
5.4 Gain/loss of heritage values
Evidence for the potential gain or loss of heritage values will be documented within this section of future versions of this heritage management plan.