Dent Island Lighthouse

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Built in 1879

Dent Island is one of the group of islands that form the eastern edge of the Whitsunday Passage. The light provides navigational guidance for ships passing through the narrow passage between Whitsunday Island and the islands adjacent to the mainland.

The construction of lighthouses along the Queensland coast in the second half of the nineteenth century was in response to the quite dramatic expansion of regular coastal shipping along the inner route of the Great Barrier Reef following 1870. Prior to this period the major users of the inner route had been international shipping. The first imported prefabricated iron lighthouse in Queensland was erected at Bustard Head in 1867, with Sandy Cape Lighthouse (also imported) being erected in 1870.

The next phase of construction of light towers took on a different method in that the tower was erected around a timber frame of colonial hardwood. The conical boiler plate casing is non-structural. This new system (Type B), became the normal Queensland construction technique and was significantly cheaper than the Sandy Cape/Bustard Head technique. The frame could be prefabricated in Brisbane before being erected on site.
Many lighthouses were built in the Type B style, including those at Dent Island, Cape Cleveland, Lady Elliot Island, Low Isles, Double Island Point and Booby Island.

Commander George Poynter Heath, the Chairman of the Queensland Marine Board, wrote to the Colonial Treasurer in February 1878 recommending the construction of lights on both Cape Cleveland and Dent Island. Formal approval was granted in April and tenders were subsequently called. William P Clark was awarded the contract to erect the tower and two ancillary cottages for 1820 pounds. Building was completed in September 1879.

The six buildings associated with the tower (two residences, a winch house, storeshed, engine room and combined workshop/radio room) are constructed variously of weatherboard and fibro sheeting on timber frames, with galvanised iron roofs. The lighthouse is situated on the south-west tip of Dent Island approximately 55 nautical miles north of Mackay. The 160ha island is owned by the Commonwealth and designated a Lighthouse Reserve. Access is obtained by motor launch.

The red domed, white conical tower of timber framed, iron clad construction stands 10m high. A circular cast iron stair case runs inside the tower to the light platform. A fourth order lens and oil wick burner were originally installed in the light. In 1925, the burner was replaced by a 35mm incandescent kerosene mantle and the intensity of the light increased from 4,000 to 225,000 candelas.

Two years later the original lens was replaced by a reconditioned fourth order lens from Cape Cleveland. In 1982 the light was converted to electric operation and down-graded from 18 nautical miles to 10 nautical miles. It is presently surmounted by a 6ft 7.75in diameter lantern manufactured by Chance Brothers of Birmingham, England. The present optical apparatus consists of a self contained electric beacon mounted on the handrail of the tower balcony. It is powered by banks of solar cells housed on a north facing prefabricated stand erected close to the tower. The apparatus gives a character of flashing every five seconds with an intensity of 1,310 candelas resulting in a nominal visible range of 10 nautical miles. Accommodation consists of two timber framed, fibrocement cottages erected in 1960.

Cottage 1 is a two level building with three bedrooms and a bathroom located on the lower level and living room, kitchen, storage room, toilet, laundry and enclosed verandah on the upper level.

Cottage 2 is of single level construction with three bedrooms, living room, dining, kitchen, laundry, toilet, bathroom and store room and open front verandah. Just up the hill from the tower is a tiny, white picket fence enclosing the grave of a new born baby (apparently the first born of an early light keeper).

Other structures on the site (store shed, engine room and combined workshop/radio room), have concrete floors, are timber framed and have flat asbestos cement external wall cladding. A boat ramp is provided at the base of the cliff and concrete steps have been erected to provide access to the upper level. Domestic power is supplied by two diesel alternator sets located in a fibro powerhouse. Associated buildings include a weatherboard bulk fuel store and winch shed located adjacent to the crane landing and haulage way. A diesel powered winch is used to transfer stores from ship to shore.

See also:
www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/QLD/Dent%20Island/Dent%20I...