5. Heritage significance

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.

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.

Criterion F) Technical achievement 

This criterion is satisfied by places that have significant heritage value because of importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period.

Criterion G) Social value 

This criterion is satisfied by places that have significant heritage value because of strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. 

State Heritage Register Criteria

Explanation

Criteria A) Historical significance

Constructed and lit in 1875, the Sugarloaf Point Lightstation Group is of state heritage significance as the first major lightstation in the 'highway of lights' that was erected along the NSW coastline during the mid-to-late 19th century. Although it was not the first lighthouse erected in the state (this being Francis Greenway's 1818 Macquarie Light at Sydney's South Head), Sugarloaf Point Lightstation was the first major station complex to be constructed in NSW in response to the inaugural complete and thorough analysis of the navigational requirements for Australia's coastline in 1863. At the time of its completion, the Sugarloaf Point Lightstation was also the most expensive station at the time and its final cost of 18,973 pounds reflects the colony's commitment to the installation of navigational aids along the NSW coastline.

The Sugarloaf Point Lightstation Group is also of state heritage significance as the first major lightstation designed by James Barnet as Colonial Architect (1865-1890). The forerunner to his other major lighthouse constructions, the design of the Sugarloaf Point complex and many of its features were to become notable characteristics of Barnet's architectural style.

Criteria B) Associative significance

The Sugarloaf Point Lightstation Group is of state heritage significance for its association with Colonial Architect, James Barnet, and President of the Marine Board of NSW, Captain Francis Hixson.

As Superintendent of Pilots, Lighthouses and Harbours in NSW and President of the Marine Board of NSW, Captain Hixson dominated marine services in NSW from 1863 until the end of the 19th century.

At the 1863 conference of the Principal Officers of Marine Departments of the Australian Colonies, Captain Hixson proclaimed that he wanted the NSW coastline "illuminated like a street with lamps" (NPWS 'Lighthouse Keeping (Part A)', p15). The systematic construction and installation of navigational aids along the NSW coastline in the mid-to-late 19th century can be attributed to the leadership of Captain Francis Hixson.

Unlike most of the country, the consistency in the design of lightstations in NSW is credited to James Barnet during his service as Colonial Architect from 1865-1890. As head of public architecture, Barnet was responsible for the design of more than a dozen lighthouses along the NSW coastline, constructed in the mid-to-late 19th century.

The Sugarloaf Point Lightstation Group, although the third station built under Barnet's direction, is considered to be the first major lightstation design of his career as Colonial Architect. With a final cost of 18,973 pounds, the Sugarloaf Point Lightstation Group was the most expensive and substantial navigational aid in the state at the time.

Criteria C) Aesthetic significance

Located within the Myall Lakes National Park and sited on an isolated but naturally prominent Seal Rocks headland, the Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse is a small but well-proportioned tower that reflects the consistent architectural design of Colonial Architect James Barnet. With its domed oil store, heavily bracketed upper balcony and curved balcony railings, the two-storey lighthouse demonstrates the architectural style used extensively by the Colonial Architect in the late 19th century.

Retaining its original Messrs Chance Bros lantern and distinctive external staircase, the Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse is complemented by a compact group of simple mid-Victorian buildings (including Head Keepers and Assistant Keepers Cottages) that are visually unified by alignment, scale, proportion and the use of common materials.

To avoid the harsh elements of the coastal environment of Sugarloaf Point, the suite of station buildings were separated from the tower and constructed on the southern side of the headland, nestled into a landscape cutting that shelter the buildings from the weather.

Criteria D) Social significance

Despite its isolated location, the Sugarloaf Point Lightstation has layers of social significance.

For 91 years (until the station was converted to electricity in 1966), the lightstation was permanently manned by a Head Keeper, two Assistant Keepers and up to three families at any one time. Maintaining the light was of paramount importance to their experience of Sugarloaf Point. Additionally, their lives were inextricably linked to the landscape and ultimately shaped by the natural elements - the water, the cliffs and the native flora and fauna.

The Seal Rocks and Myall Lakes locality is also a significant area of the Worimi people.

Evidence of the area’s occupation by the Worimi people, particularly at Sugarloaf Point, can be seen in the campsites and middens of the region. As with most Aboriginal groups in Australia prior to European colonisation, the Worimi people lived a traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle that utilised the natural resources available in their environment and, being coastal people, the Worimi sought much of their food and resources from the ocean. The coastal environment also provided meeting places for the Worimi people and various sites in the region (both on land and water) are considered to be of mythological and spiritual importance.

Criteria E) Research potential

Within the Sugarloaf Point Lightstation Group, there are opportunities to uncover further heritage values that are of state heritage significance.

Elements associated with the design, construction, early operation and occupation of the site as a lightstation are of state heritage significance. Archaeological remnants of the construction camp (which only existed during the 1874-75 construction period) remain on the site and are considered to be of state significance.

The site also has the ability, more broadly, to demonstrate the occupation of the area by the Worimi people prior to European occupation. There is recorded evidence in the area of middens and camp sites and there is further scope to elaborate on these investigations of Aboriginal cultural heritage values to reveal new information.

Criteria F) Rarity

Built in 1875, the Sugarloaf Point Lightstation Group is the first major lightstation designed by James Barnet during his career as Colonial Architect (1865-1890). Amongst Barnet's lightstations in NSW, there is a consistency in design with recurring elements (particularly the presence of curved detailed balconies, domed oil stores and heavily bracketed upper balconies) that are common characteristics of his architectural style. At Sugarloaf Point, the tower includes an external staircase and landing from its base to first floor that is considered to be a rare element of a Barnet lightstation and a notable deviation from his consistent lightstation design.

Criteria G) Representativeness

The Sugarloaf Point Lightstation Group is of state heritage significance as a representative station along NSW's 'highway of lights', a system of navigational aids installed along the coastline in the mid-to-late 19th century. Important to the safe passage of shipping in NSW, the system of lightstations has a collective significance that reflects the logistical management for installing coastal infrastructure and the technical evolution of the stations.

There is also an architectural coherency between lightstations across NSW, particularly those designed by James Barnet as the Colonial Architect (1865-1890). As a representative example, the design and compact nature of the building group at Sugarloaf Point reflects the typical layout of regional lightstation complexes around Australia.

Value

Values (including attributes)

Condition

Integrity

Criterion A) Processes

Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse, opened in 1875, is significant for its association with the development of New South Wales maritime navigational aids during an important period of expansion of the lighthouse network. It also has a long association with Australian shipping.

Good

High

Criterion B) Rarity

The tower is unusual in that it is one of only two with an external stairway providing access to the tower. Further, it retains its original Chance Bros optics.

Good

High

Criterion E) 

Aesthetic characteristics

Dramatically located on the summit of an abrupt headland which rises 60 metres above the sea, and free from modern visual intrusions, the lighthouse has strong aesthetic values.

Good

High

Criterion F) Technical achievement

The Sugarloaf tower, with its rendered brick shaft, bluestone gallery supported by concrete corbels, and graceful gunmetal railing, represents a fine design achievement.

Good

High

Criterion G) Social value

Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse is well known in the area and has social significance for mariners, tourists and the north coast community.

Good

High

Criterion H) Significant people

The lighthouse was designed by New South Wales Colonial Architect James Barnet, and was the first of his major lighthouse designs. Barnet played a very influential role in the colony's architecture for over 25 years.

Good

High