This weekend (16 - 17 August) is International Lighthouse Heritage Weekend, and as an active stakeholder in many of the state's magnificent old lighthouses, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) is celebrating their fascinating history, their rich heritage and their splendid locations.
Many of Tasmania's lighthouses and lightstations sit within national parks and reserves, often in incredibly remote places. As most were constructed over 100 years ago, they embody outstanding heritage values which are managed by PWS, often with assistance from dedicated volunteers.
Here we feature three of Tasmania's most isolated lighthouses, all in national parks and only accessible by boat or helicopter – Maatsuyker Island, Deal Island, and Tasman Island.
Maatsuyker Island
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse shines under the Aurora Australis
Completed in 1891 and perched atop a remote and rugged island 10 km off Tasmania's wild south coast, Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse is Australia's most southerly lighthouse and was the last in Australia to be operated by keepers. It was decommissioned in 1996 with the installation of an automated solar-powered light, and management of the lightstation was transferred from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to PWS.
The lighthouse is constructed of a rendered, red brick cavity wall. Its original lantern was manufactured by the Chance Brothers of Birmingham, England. The light was upgraded from wick oil to kerosene and mantle in 1924, and in 1976 diesel generators and an electric light were installed.
Maatsuyker Light Station (including Lighthouse and Keeper's Houses) is listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register. It is within the Southwest National Park and the Tasmanian World Heritage Wilderness Area and is managed by PWS for its historic heritage values.
The wet and salty environment means that the building fabric is highly susceptible to deterioration, and regular conservation and maintenance works are a requirement. The
Friends of Maatsuyker Island volunteer group (FOMI) are committed to the conservation of historic, natural, and cultural values of Maatsuyker Island. Formed in 2003 and with over 150 members, FOMI work hard alongside PWS to ensure the many values of Maatsuyker are protected for future generations.
Deal Island
Lying in Bass Strait midway between Flinders Island and Victoria's Mornington Peninsula,
Deal Island Lighthouse commenced operation in 1848, and is the highest lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere, standing 305 metres above sea level. However, this height often proved detrimental, with low lying cloud affecting visibility of the light.
The tower is 16 metres high, with walls two metres thick at the base. It was constructed from granite rubble, initially painted, but later rendered with cement. The top of the tower, including the cornice, was of coursed freestone.
The original lantern was two metres high with a revolving catoptric light made by Wilkins & Co of London, upgraded in 1891 with a new Chance Brothers lantern house, which was replaced in 1921 with a fixed catadioptric lense around an automatic light, powered by acetylene gas. This was converted to electric operation in the 1930s with a Chance Brothers revolving lense and generators, which lighthouse keepers had to manually switch on and off.
The original superintendent's cottage is the one of the oldest light keeper's residences in Australia, and is now a museum.
The light was deactivated in 1992 and the last lightkeepers left after the installation of other lights on nearby islands by AMSA. In 1998 ownership of the island was transferred to the Tasmanian Government. In 2000 PWS took over the management of the lightstation, which is listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register. The lighthouse is protected along with other heritage island values under Kent Group National Park, an archipelago of islands including Erith and Dover Island.
PWS along with
The Friends of Deal Island (FoDI) volunteer group undertake conservation on the island that ranges from the protection of natural values through to conservation of the islands European heritage.
Tasman Island Lighthouse
Opened in 1906 and surrounded by cliffs rising 276 metres above sea level,
Tasman Island Lighthouse is the highest operating lighthouse in Australia. The island lies just off the towering sea cliffs of Cape Pillar, at the entrance to Storm Bay, where most shipping coming down the east coast to Hobart turns to enter the Derwent estuary.
The pre-fabricated cast iron lighthouse tower is 29 metres high, comprising 224 plates bolted together, and weighs 147 tons, whilst the lantern and associated gear weigh 25 tons. It was designed by Huckson and Hutchison of Hobart and manufactured in England.
The light was initially powered by kerosene, then converted to wind power in 1975, fully automated in 1976, and has been solar powered since 1991. The last lightkeepers left in 1977 and the lighthouse continues to be managed by AMSA. Tasman Lightstation is listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register, and the lighthouse is on the Commonwealth Heritage List.
Tasman Island is part of Tasman National Park and the buildings and structures of the lightstation, including three lightkeepers' quarters, are managed by PWS for their heritage values.
The Friends of Tasman Island (FoTI) volunteer group have worked hard alongside PWS for the last 20 years to preserve and restore the cultural and historical values of the lightstation.