2.1 Location
As part of the Waterhouse Group Islands located within the Bass Strait, the Swan Isles – consisting of Little Swan Island and Swan Island – are situated off the north-eastern coast of the Australian state of Tasmania.
The Swan Island lighthouse is located on Lighthouse Point – the northeast end of the main Swan Island.
Coordinates: 40º 43.6713’ S, 148º 07.5403’ E.
Figure 3. Location of Swan Island within Bass Strait (Map data: ©Google, TerraMetrics)
Figure 4. Swan Island (Map data: ©Google, CNES/Airbus, Maxar Technologies)
2.2 Setting and landscape
Swan Island is a low-lying, windswept, 239Ha granite-based island consisting of the Swan Island lighthouse, an airstrip, and several houses. The lighthouse is situated by a rocky north eastern shoreline of low vegetation and granite surfaces.
Figure 5. Swan Island Lighthouse and surrounds (Source: AMSA, 2011)
Fauna and flora
The island forms part of the Cape Portman Important Bird Area and the following breeding colonies have been recorded on its shores:
- little penguin
- short-tailed shearwater
- pacific gull
- silver gull
- sooty oystercatcher
- pied oystercatcher
- hooded plover
- Caspian tern
- crested tern
- Cape Barren geese
Reptile species recorded on the island include:
- metallic skink
- White’s skink
- Bougainville’s skink
Populations of tiger snake have been recorded on Swan Island while European rabbits and common house mice are also known to maintain a prominent presence.4
Figure 6. AMSA 2018 Map of Lease (Map data: Esir, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, GIS User Community)
2.3 Lease and ownership
AMSA holds a lease for the lighthouse and land from the Minister administering the Crown Lands Act 1976 (Tas).
The lease identifies three lots:
- Lot 1: Helipad (67.7m2)
- Lot 2: Lighthouse tower and oil storeroom (266.4m2)
- Lot 3: (100m2)
The current lease commenced on 1 May 1998, lasting a period of 25 years. There is an option to renew for a further 25 years.
2.4 Access
Swan Island can be accessed via boat, small aircraft, or helicopter. The Island is privately owned and permission is therefore required to land transportation of any sort on its shores and airstrip.
Owing to the relatively flat terrain, access to the lighthouse site can be made by vehicle or on foot, (the helipad is reserved for authorised personnel only). Access inside the Swan Island Lighthouse tower and oil store is restricted to authorised AMSA personnel.
Figure 7. View of helipad and paths leading to Swan Island Lighthouse tower (© AMSA, 2018)
2.5 Listings
The following table outlines the various heritage registers on which Swan Island Lighthouse is listed.
Register | ID – Swan Island Lighthouse |
Commonwealth Heritage List | 1055985 |
Tasmanian Heritage Register | 14186 |
Register of the National Estate (non-statutory) | 126747 |
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Footnotes
4 Brothers, N., David Pemberton, Helen Pryor, Vanessa Halley, Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features, (Hobart: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, (2001).
6 Tasmanian heritage register, Swan Island Light Station, Heritage Tasmania