Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)
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 Charter sets out good practice for conserving cultural significance.
Below, each part of the lighthouse is listed and the description, condition and significance of each part is discussed. Criterion listed under ‘Heritage Significance’ refer to the criterion satisfied within the specific Commonwealth heritage listing (see ‘Section 5.1’).
Chance Bros part-spherical dome of copper sheets lapped and riveted. Ex-Black Peak lighthouse, WA.
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 lantern roof is an early feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The lantern roof is an early feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
Chance Bros, cylindrical in form.
Finish: | 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, including features, are an early feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The lantern glazing, including features, are an early feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
Chance Bros, cast iron lattice floor panels supported on solid cast iron brackets bolted to lantern base.
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 catwalk is an early feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The internal catwalk is an early feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
Chance Bros, cast iron lattice floor panels supported on openwork cast iron brackets bolted to lantern base.
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 external catwalk is an early feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The external catwalk is an early feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
Chance Bros, cylindrical in form. Curved panels of cast iron bolted together with flanged joints.
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 lantern base is an early feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The lantern base is an early feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
1878 timber floor. Hardwood joists in radial arrangement, with stop chamfers. Hardwood tongue and groove floor boards. Replacement Chance Brothers maker’s plaque fit to underside of hatch door.
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 lantern floor is an original feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The lantern floor is an original feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
Vega VRB-25 self-contained rotating beacon.
Condition: | intact and sound |
Integrity: | high |
Significance: | low |
Maintenance: | keep in service |
Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: Low
Chance Bros mercury-float pedestal, adapted to support the Vega beacon.
Finish: | pedestal: painted beacon pedestal: bare |
Condition: | intact and sound |
Integrity: | high |
Significance: | high |
Maintenance: | keep in service, prepare and repaint pedestal at normal internals |
Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The pedestal is an early feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The pedestal is an early feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
(Continuation of lantern floor) 1878 timber floor. Hardwood joists in radial arrangement. Hardwood tongue and groove floor boards (partial replacement of floorboards in 2011). Original sheet lead covering was previously replaced with a bituminous membrane. In 2011, the bituminous membrane was removed and a fibre cement sheet laid over the balcony timberwork. An elastomeric acrylic membrane was placed over the fibre cement sheeting.
Finish: | painted |
Condition: | intact and sound |
Integrity: | high |
Significance: | high |
Maintenance: | keep in service, prepare and repaint at normal internals |
Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The balcony floor is an original feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The balcony floor is an original feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
Railing with stainless steel stanchions bolted to balcony floor, with eyes for top, middle and bottom rails of stainless steel pipe. Round stanchion bases bolted to balcony floor. The stainless steel materials are a 2011 replacement of the earlier solid wrought iron stanchions and gas pipe rails.
Finish: | painted |
Condition: | intact and sound |
Integrity: | high |
Significance: | low |
Maintenance: | keep in service, prepare and repaint at normal internals |
Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: Low
1878 timber frame with iron plating.
Finish: | painted |
Condition: | intact and sound |
Integrity: | high |
Significance: | high |
Maintenance: | keep in service, prepare and repaint at normal internals |
Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The tower walls are an original feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The tower walls are an original feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
20 tower windows have glass in aluminium sashes fixed in place (replacing the original timber sashes). Hardwood sills project beyond the iron plating.
Finish: | sashes: painted glass: clear |
Condition: | intact and sound |
Integrity: | high |
Significance: | original window openings: high aluminium sashes: low |
Maintenance: | keep in service, prepare and repaint sashes at normal intervals, reglaze as necessary |
Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The window openings are an original feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The window openings are an original feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
Four intermediate floors, with hardwood joists and pine tongue and groove boards.
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 original feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The intermediate floors are an original feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
Winding timber stairs wrapped around square timber weight tube. Treads and risers housed into strings. Hardwood posts from floor to floor at the four corners of the stairway support handrail and intermediate rail.
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 original feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The intermediate floors are an original feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
Concrete slab topping on concrete caisson filling. Cylindrical concrete upstand and iron manhole cover for access to water tank in concrete caisson filling. Rectangular concrete upstand with semi-rotary hand-pump and gulley. 2011 shallow grout repair to complete perimeter of ground floor just inside base ring with cementitious grout.
Finish: | painted |
Condition: | intact and sound |
Integrity: | high |
Significance: | high |
Maintenance: | keep in service, clean at normal intervals |
Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The ground floor is an original feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The ground floor is an original feature of the residence’s established within the tower of the lighthouse (criterion b).
The ground floor is an original feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
1878 roof in the form of a truncated cone attached to the tower.
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 roof is an original feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The ground floor roof is an original feature of the residence’s established within the tower of the lighthouse (criterion b).
The ground floor roof is an original feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
Description and condition
1878 timber framed walls enclosing the quarters and subdividing the eight rooms.
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 walls are an original feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The ground floor walls are an original feature of the residence’s established within the tower of the lighthouse (criterion b).
The ground floor walls are an original feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
64 batteries on galvanised steel racks; control gear; eight solar panels mounted on platform of quarters roof.
Condition: | intact and sound |
Integrity: | high |
Significance: | low |
Maintenance: | keep in service |
Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: Low
Timber double hung sash windows. A number of windows and frames were replaced in 2011. The replacement window joinery was done in white beech timber species as per the original fabric.
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 window openings are an original feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The ground floor window openings are an original feature of the residence’s established within the tower of the lighthouse (criterion b).
The ground floor window openings are an original feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
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 doors are an original feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The ground floor doors are an original feature of the residence’s established within the tower of the lighthouse (criterion b).
The ground floor doors are an original feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
1878 caisson of cast iron panels bolted together and filled with concrete, incorporating voids for fresh water storage. 1898 external wrought iron bands were applied around the outside. The iron bands were removed in 2011 during the lighthouse major overhaul. The top section of the 1878 cast iron panels was also removed and a new concrete ring beam of 800mm depth cast completely around the circumference of the structure containing the earlier lower strength concrete within, and replacing the iron panels in this area. Approximately 300mm of the new concrete ring beam is visible above ground level.
Finish: | painted off-form concrete |
Condition: | intact and sound |
Integrity: | high |
Significance: | high |
Maintenance: | keep in service |
Rectification works: | none |
Heritage significance: High
The iron caissons are an original feature of a lighthouse associated with the establishment of navigational aids along the Queensland coast (criterion a).
The iron caissons are an original feature of the residence’s established within the tower of the lighthouse (criterion b).
The iron caissons are an original feature of a lighthouse built on a coral reef (criterion b).
There are currently no AMSA artefacts at North Reef Lighthouse.
North Reef Lighthouse bears strong similarities with Lady Elliot Island Lighthouse (Queensland). First lit in 1873, Lady Elliot Island Lighthouse was the first large scale lighthouse to be built with a timber frame and iron plating. The lighthouse’s design featured a truncated cone form with a tapering profile. This was later replicated in the North Reef design, although North Reef was notably larger and incorporated the keeper’s quarters at the base of the tower. The timber framed and iron plated tower design was also replicated in ten other lighthouses including Flat Top Island and Booby Island.34
_______________________________________________________________________