The Australian Maritime Safety Authority, acting pursuant to Section 341s of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, makes this heritage management plan in relation to parts of the Montague Island Lighthouse within its ownership or control.

this 5th day of November 2020

Mick Kinley

Chief Executive Officer

Copyright

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority encourages the dissemination and exchange of information provided in this publication.

Except as otherwise specified, all material presented in this publication is provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

This excludes:

•  the Commonwealth Coat of Arms

•  this department’s logo

•  content supplied by third parties.

The Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence is a standard form licence agreement that allows you to copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this publication provided that you attribute the work.

The details of the version 4.0 of the licence are available on the Creative Commons website, as is the full legal code for that licence.

Acknowledgements

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority acknowledges that the Lighthouse is in the traditional country of the Yuin People.

For additional information or any enquiries about this heritage management plan, contact the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Manager Asset Capability, PO Box 10790, Adelaide Street, Brisbane QLD 4000

Phone: (02) 6279 5000 (switchboard) Email:            Heritage@amsa.gov.au Website: www.amsa.gov.au

Attribution

AMSA’s preference is that you attribute this publication (and any material sourced from it) using the following wording:

Source: Australian Maritime Safety Authority Montague Island Lighthouse Heritage Management Plan – 2020

Front cover image

© Copyright Peter Marquis-Kyle

More information

For enquiries regarding copyright including requests to use material in a way that is beyond the scope of the terms of use that apply to it, please contact us through our website: www.amsa.gov.au

Montague Island Lighthouse

Heritage Management Plan

          2020         

Contents

Executive summary                                                             3

1. Introduction                                                                        4

1.1     Background and purpose                                           4

1.2     Heritage management plan objectives                    4

1.3     Methodology                                                                 5

1.4     Status                                                                              5

1.5     Authorship                                                                     5

1.6     Acknowledgements                                                     5

1.7     Language                                                                      6

1.8     Previous reports                                                           6

1.9     Sources of information and images                         6

2. Montague Island lightstation site                                  7

2.1     Location                                                                         7

2.2     Setting and landscape                                                8

2.3     Lease and ownership                                                  9

2.4     Listings                                                                           9

2.5     Access                                                                            9

3. History                                                                               12

3.1     General History of lighthouses in Australia           12

3.2     The Commonwealth Lighthouse Service              14

3.3     New South Wales lighthouse service

administration                                                             15

3.4     Montague Island: a history                                       15

3.5     Planning a lighthouse                                               16

3.6     Lighthouse keepers                                                   20

3.7     Chronology of major events                                    21

3.8     Changes and conservation over time                    22

3.9     Summary of current and former uses                    23

3.10  Summary of past and present associations          24

3.11  Unresolved questions or historical conflicts          25

3.12  Recommendations for further research                25

4. Fabric                                                                                25

4.1     Fabric register                                                             25

4.2     Related object or associated AMSA artefact          51

4.3     Comparative analysis                                               51

5.
Heritage significance                                                    53

5.1     Commonwealth heritage Listing –

Montague Island Lighthouse                                   53

5.2     NSW State heritage register –

Montague Island Lighthouse                                   55

5.4     Condition and integrity of the

Commonwealth heritage values                            58

5.5     Gain or loss of heritage values                                59

6. Opportunities and constraints                                    60

6.1     Implications arising from significance                   60

6.2     Framework – sensitivity to change                         61

6.3     Statutory and legislative requirements                  63

6.4     Operational requirements and occupier needs    67

6.5     Proposals for change                                                68

6.6     Potential pressures                                                    69

6.7     Process for decision-making                                   69

7. Conservation management policies                         71

7.1     Policies                                                                        71

8. Policy implementation schedule                                77

8.1     Heritage implementation plan                                77

8.2     Monitoring and reporting                                          77

9. Appendices                                                                      80

Appendix 1. Glossary of heritage conservation terms    80

Appendix 2. Glossary of historic lighthouse terms

relevant to Montague Island lighthouse                           80

Appendix 3. Current Montague Island light details         82

Appendix 4. Table demonstrating compliance to the

EPBC Act (1999) and the EPBC Regulations 2000         86

Reference List                                                                     88

Website URLs                                                                      90

List of figures

Executive Summary

Montague Island Lighthouse was included in the Commonwealth Heritage List in 2004. It has played  a significant part in the history of Australian shipping and it is known for its offshore position, design

and craftsmanship, association with renowned architect James Barnet and its contribution to the development of marine Aids to Navigation (AtoN) on the New South Wales coast. The lighthouse is well- regarded for its social values as a prominent site for tourism and its aesthetic qualities.

The Montague Island Lighthouse was  placed  on the NSW State heritage register in 1999 for its historical, aesthetic and social significance, and for its research potential, rarity and representativeness. The site holds immense cultural value for the Yuin People and the island is a gazetted Aboriginal  Place.

Situated approximately 10 kilometres south-east of Narooma, NSW, and approximately 350 kilometres south of Sydney, NSW, the lighthouse is located

in the centre of Montague Island. Montague Island Lighthouse was built in 1881 to improve vessel safety along the New South Wales coastline following the trading boom of the late 19th century. Its granite tower, tapering walls, outwardly curved platform and balustrade were designed by colonial architect, James Barnet  who was responsible for a number of lighthouses on the NSW coastline at the time. As a working AtoN, the lighthouse tower remains the property of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).

Although the lighthouse originally housed a

1st Order Chance Bros. lantern, the tower now exhibits a solar-powered Vega VRB-25 beacon and runs on an automated mechanism as part of our network of AtoN. The equipment is serviced  by our maintenance contractor who visits at least once each year. AMSA officers visit on an ad hoc basis for auditing, projects, and community liaison purposes.

The lightstation includes the keepers’ quarters which lie outside our lease and are managed by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

This heritage management plan  is concerned mainly with the lighthouse, but addresses the management of the surrounding precinct and land. The plan is intended to guide our decisions and actions. We have prepared  this plan to integrate the heritage values of the lightstation in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act 1999) and

the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (EPBC Regulations 2000).

Well-built and generally well-maintained, the lighthouse is in relatively good, stable condition. The policies and management guidelines set out in this heritage management plan strive to ensure that the Commonwealth heritage values of the Montague Island Lighthouse are recognised, maintained and preserved for future generations.

1.   Introduction

1.1  Background and purpose

AMSA is the Commonwealth agency responsible for marine AtoN. Our network includes the Montague Island Lighthouse in NSW built in 1881.

The EPBC Act 1999 requires the preparation of management plans that satisfy the obligations included in Schedule 7A and 7B of the EPBC Regulations 2000. The principal features of this management plan are:

•     a description of the place, its heritage values, their condition and the method used to assess its significance

•     an administrative management framework

•     a description of any proposals for change

•     an array of conservation policies that protect and manage the place

•     an implementation plan

•     ways the policies will be monitored and how the management plan will be reviewed.

We have commissioned this heritage management plan to guide the future conservation of the place.

This plan provides the framework and basis for the conservation and best practice management of the Montague Island Lighthouse in recognition of its heritage values. The policies in this plan indicate the objectives for identification, protection, conservation and presentation of the Commonwealth heritage values of the place. Figure 2 shows the basic planning process applied.

1.2  Heritage management plan objectives

The objectives of this heritage management plan are to:

•     protect, conserve and manage the Commonwealth

heritage values of the Montague Island  Lighthouse

•     interpret and promote the Commonwealth heritage values of the Montague Island Lighthouse

•     manage use of the lightstation

•     use best practice standards, including ongoing technical and community input, and apply

best available knowledge and expertise when considering actions likely to have a substantial impact on Commonwealth heritage values.

Figure 2. Planning process applied for heritage management (Australia ICOMOS, 1999)

In undertaking these objectives, this plan aims to:

•     Provide for the protection and conservation of  the heritage values of the place while minimising any impacts on the environment by applying

the relevant environmental management requirements in a manner consistent with Commonwealth heritage management principles.

•     Take into account the significance of the

Island as a cultural landscape associated with Aboriginal people over many thousands of years.

•     Recognise that the site has been occupied by

lease holders since the early 20th century.

•     Encourage site  use that is compatible with the historical fabric, infrastructure and general environment.

•     Record and document maintenance works, and changes to the fabric, in the Montague Island fabric register (See Section 4 Fabric).

The organisational planning cycle and associated budgeting process is used to confirm requirements, allocate funding, and manage delivery of maintenance activities. Detailed planning for the aids to navigation network is managed through our internal planning processes and budgeting.

An interactive map showing many AMSA’s heritage

sites, including Montague Island, can  be  found on AMSA’s online Interactive Heritage Lighthouse Map.a

1.3         Methodology

The methods to prepare this plan are consistent with the recommendations of The Burra Charter. The plan addresses:

•     The history of the site based on information sourced from archival research, expert knowledge and documentary resources.

•     The description of the site based on information sourced from site inspection reports and fabric registers.

•     The Commonwealth heritage criterions satisfied by Montague Island as set out by the EPBC Act 1999 and EPBC Regulations (2000).

The EPBC Regulations (2000) Schedule 7A

(h) (i-xiii) was used to develop the necessary  policies for management of the Montague Island Lighthouse, and the Department of the Environment and Energy advised on best practice management approaches.

The draft management plan was advertised in accordance with the EPBC Act 1999 and EPBC Regulations (2000). A response was received proposing the placement of a concessionaire on the Island. This request was passed onto NSW NPWS and was not incorporated into the final document.

The Wagonga Local Aboriginal Land Council (WLALC) was consulted with in April 2020, and information on the Island’s history, and

aboriginal associations were incorporated into the management plan. The Council’s request to erect a symbol on the island was also incorporated in this management plan and will be included within the Fabric Register section in future versions of this plan.

Consultations with the WLALC are still currently ongoing and we anticipate further feedback. This feedback will be included in an amended version of the plan.

The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service was consulted with in March 2020 and provided AMSA with feedback on the plan as a whole. Their edits relating to the history of the Island, the site’s current uses, and policies on management were incorporated into the final document.

A developed draft was submitted to the Minister through the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment where advice was sought from the Australian Heritage Council. On 26 August 2020,  the Australian Heritage Council advised that the  plan was not inconsistent with the Commonwealth Heritage Management Principles, and gave approval..

No updates or amendments have been made in this version of the plan. Future updates and

amendments will be listed here in later versions.

1.4         Status

This plan has been adopted by AMSA in  accordance with Schedule 7A (Management plans for Commonwealth Heritage places) and Schedule 7B (Commonwealth Heritage management principles) of the EPBC Regulations (2000) to guide the management of the place and for inclusion in  the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

1.5         Authorship

This plan has been prepared by AMSA. At the initial time of publication, Australian Maritime Systems Group (AMSG) is the contracted maintenance provider for the Commonwealth Government’s AtoN network including Montague Island Lighthouse.

1.6         Acknowledgements

AMSA acknowledges the professional assistance of

Peter Marquis-Kyle, heritage architect.

1.7         Language

For clarity and consistency, some words in this plan such as restoration, reconstruction, and preservation, are used with the meanings defined in the Burra Charter 1. See Appendix 1 Glossary  of heritage conservation terms. Also see Appendix 2 Glossary of lighthouse terminology relevant to Montague Island Lighthouse, which sets out the technical terminology used in this plan.

1.8         Previous reports

A Supplementary Information Report (NPWS Lighthouses – Conservation Management and Cultural Tourism Plan) was completed by Graham Brooks and Associates Pty Ltd in November 2001 for the NSW NPWS.

A Heritage Lighthouse Report was completed for AMSA by heritage architect Peter Marquis-Kyle in 2007.

1.9         Sources of information and images

This plan has incorporated a number of sources including the National Archives of Australia (NAA), National Library of Australia (NLA), as well as the AMSA heritage collection.

Photos with no credit are solely owned by AMSA.

Website URLs are referenced via superscript (for example Montague Island Reportx) and located at the end of the document (See Website Links).

1 Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter (2013)

2.   Montague Island Lightstation site

2.1         Location

The Montague Island lighthouse is located on Montague Island, a protected nature reserve found offshore from the South Coast region of New South Wales. The lighthouse and island are approximately

10 kilometres south-east of Narooma, NSW, and approximately 350 kilometres south of Sydney, NSW.

Lighthouse coordinates: 36° 15.1143 ‘S, 150°

13.6035 ‘E

Figure 3. Location of lighthouse on Montague Island (Google Maps)

Figure 4. Location of Montague Island lighthouse along Australian coastline (Google Maps)

Figure 5. Location of Montague Island along NSW coastline (Google Maps)

2.2         Setting and landscape

The lighthouse is located on the Montague Island

Nature Reserve, a protected reserve approximately

82 ha in size. The island is outlined with rugged, steep cliffs with landing only possible at two  sheltered locations on the western side of the island. Montague Island is a gazetted Aboriginal Place.

Figure 6. Setting and landscape of Montague Island (2002)

Fauna and flora

Classified as a nature reserve by NPWS, Montague Island is recognised for its abundance of unique fauna and flora.

The island supports NSW’s largest colony of Eudyptula minor (or little penguin) that breeds on   the island. Additionally, Australian fur seals and New Zealand fur seals are regular visitors to the Island with up to 10,000 counted along the shores during peak season.

Humpback whales are frequently spotted passing Montague Island during spring, with some Orcinus orca, or killer whales, occasionally seen in nearby waters.

The island has approximately 90 bird species that migrate to the area throughout the year. Of these,  12 species are known to nest on the island including short-tailed shearwaters, wedge-tailed shearwaters, Gould’s kites, peregrine falcons, swamp harriers, crested terns, and silver gulls.

Over 200 plant species have been identified on Montague Island.2    Whilst many are introduced to the island, the majority of the island is covered by Lomandra longifolia (mat-rush). Other flora recorded includes:

•       tussock grass, found along the Island’s northern

slopes

•       Westringia fruticosa

•       Pelargonium austral

•       Melaleuca armillaris

•       Correa alba, found along the cliff edges

•       coastal wattle

A Montague Island Nature Reserve Plan of Management was published in 1996 and offers additional information on the environmental management of the reserve.b NPWS is currently undertaking a review of this plan.

2.3         Lease and ownership

The Montague Island lighthouse and surrounding land is managed by the New South Wales State Government. AMSA lease the lighthouse and land from NPWS.

The AMSA lease consists of one parcel of land (Lot 1) which encompasses the lighthouse tower alone.

The current lease was signed on 9 July 1998, commencing on 1 July 1997 and terminating on 30 June 2022, with an option to renew for a further 25 years. The lease stipulates that AMSA must comply with any applicable management plan and state environmental laws.

Due to public interest in Montague Island and the lighthouse, a tourism license was signed between AMSA and the NSW Minister for the Environment commencing 1 July 1997, ceasing on 30 June 2022 with a renewal option for a further 25 years.

Montague Island is a gazetted Aboriginal Place and a Native Title claim application is currently active under the South Coast People.

2  Heyligers, P.C., and L.G. Adams, ‘Flora and vegetation of Montague Island – past and present‘, Cunninghamia 8, 2004 pg. 285–305

Figure 8. Map of lease - Montague Island lighthouse (2017)

Figure 9. Montague Island Lightstation, NSW Heritage Register Plan 2954 (NSW Heritage Council, 1994)

2.4         Listings

The table below details the various heritage listings of the Montague Island Lightstation.

2.4       Access

Montague Island is only accessible to authorised vessels and approved contracted boat operators. No private vessel landing is permitted. Vehicular access from the landing site at Jetty Bay to the lighthouse is available  for  authorised  vehicles only. Access trails, some of which are historically significant, are maintained on the southern section of the island. The Montague Island Lightstation features as a landmark on the Montague Island walking track which ensures pedestrian access to

the site. Access inside the lighthouse is restricted to authorised personnel and tour groups only.

Figure 10. Montague Island walking trail (NPWSf)

3.   History

3.1         General history of lighthouses in Australia

The first lighthouse to be constructed along Australian soil was Macquarie Lighthouse, located at the entrance to Port Jackson, NSW. First lit in 1818, the cost of the lighthouse was recovered through the introduction of a levy on shipping. This was instigated by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, who ordered and named the light.

The following century oversaw the construction of hundreds of lighthouses around the country. Constructing and maintaining a lighthouse were costly ventures that often required the financial support of multiple colonies. However, they were deemed necessary aids  in assisting the safety of mariners at sea. Lighthouses were firstly

managed by the colony they lay within, with each colony developing their own style of lighthouse and operational system. Following Federation in 1901, which saw the various colonies unite under one Commonwealth government, lighthouse management was transferred from state hands to the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service.3

Figure 11. Early technology used in lighthouses 3

Lamps and optics – an overview

Lighthouse technology has altered drastically over the centuries. Eighteenth  century  lighthouses were lit using parabolic mirrors and oil lamps.

Documentation of early examples of parabolic mirrors in the United Kingdom, circa 1760, were documented as consisting of wood and lined with pieces of looking glass or plates of tin. As described by Searle, “When light hits a shiny surface, it is reflected at an angle equal to that at which it hit.

With a light source is placed in the focal point of a parabolic reflector, the light rays are reflected parallel to one another, producing a concentrated beam”4.

In 1822, Augustin Fresnel invented the dioptric glass lens. By crafting concentric annular rings with a convex lens, Fresnel had discovered a method

of reducing the amount of light absorbed by a lens. The Dioptric System was adopted quickly with Cordouran Lighthouse (France), which was fitted with the first dioptric lens in 1823. The majority

of heritage-listed lighthouses in Australia house dioptric lenses made by others such as Chance Brothers (United Kingdom),  Henry-LePaute (France), Barbier, Bernard & Turenne (BBT, France) and Svenska Aktiebolaget Gasaccumulator (AGA

of Sweden). These lenses were  made  in a range of standard sizes, called orders—see ‘Appendix 2. Glossary of lighthouse Terms relevant to Montague Island Lighthouse’.

Early Australian lighthouses were originally fuelled by whale oil and burned in Argand lamps, and multiple wicks were required in order to create a large flame that could be observed from sea. By the 1850s, whale oil had been replaced by colza oil, which was in turn replaced by kerosene, a mineral oil.

In 1900, incandescent burners were  introduced. This saw the burning of fuel inside an incandescent mantle which produced a brighter light with less fuel

within a smaller volume. Light keepers were required to maintain pressure to the burner by manually pumping a handle as can be seen in Figure 12.

In 1912, Swedish engineer Gustaf Dalén, was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for a series of inventions relating to acetylene-powered navigation lights. Dalén’s system included the sun valve,

the mixer, the flasher, and the cylinder containing compressed acetylene. Due to their efficiency and reliability, Dalén’s inventions led to the gradual demanning of lighthouses. Acetylene was quickly adopted by the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service from 1915 onwards.

Large dioptric lenses, such as that shown in Figure 13, gradually decreased in popularity due to cost and the move towards unmanned automatic lighthouses. By the early 1900s, Australia had stopped ordering these lenses with the last installed at Eclipse Island in Western Australia in 1927.

Smaller Fresnel lenses continued to be produced and installed until the 1970s when plastic lanterns, still utilising Fresnel’s technology, were favoured instead. Acetylene remained in use until it was finally phased out in the 1990s.

3.2         The Commonwealth lighthouse service

When the Australian colonies federated in 1901, it was decided that the new Commonwealth Government would be responsible for coastal

lighthouses. This included only the major lights used by vessels travelling from port to port, not the minor lights used for navigation within harbours and rivers. There was a delay before this new arrangement came into effect and the existing lights continued to be operated by the states.

Since 1915, various Commonwealth departments have managed lighthouses. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), established under the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990, is  now responsible for operating Commonwealth lighthouses and other marine aids to navigation, along with its other functions.

Figure 14. Dalén’s system – sunvalve, mixer, flasher and cylinder

3 Figure 11 – Early example of a rotating catadioptric apparatus, made for the 1844 lighthouse at Skerryvore, Western Scotland

(Steel engraving from Tomlinson’s Cyclopaedia of Useful Arts, 1854)

4  Searle. G, First Order: Australia’s Highway of Lighthouses, (2013). Page 34.

3.3         New South Wales lighthouse service administration

The table below details the timeline of lighthouse service administration from 1915 to present.

3.4         Montague Island: a history

Indigenous history

Vivienne Mason, Chairperson of Wagonga Local Aboriginal Land Council, Elder and Knowledge Holder of the Yuin Tribe shared knowledge of the land the light house sits on:

“A Dreamtime Story of my people, the Yuin, is that Barranguba (Montague Island) is the son of Gulaga, the mother mountain, (Mt Dromedary). Barranguba being the eldest son wanted to leave his mother, Gulaga. Gulaga agreed that Barranguba could  move, but only on the condition that she would

be able to watch over him. Barranguba went off- shore to live, far enough away from his mother but close enough for her to watch over him. Gulaga’s youngest son, Nadjanuka also wanted to leave but Gulaga insisted he stayed close by on the land to protect the Budjarns (Birds). To this day Barranguba, Nadjanuka and Gulaga are connected through her umbilical cord (an Underwater Freshwater Stream running from Gulaga to Barranguba and Nadjanuka. There is a fresh water spring on Barranguba but the location has been lost.”

‘Also, we were told, many years ago, that Aboriginal paintings were found on Barranguba, but they are now hidden due to the changes to the land. Legend has it that Barranguba is a Men’s Place but this is debated, it depend on who you speak to.”

It is recorded in a newspaper article from the first settlers of Narooma (copy at the National Library), that a tragedy befell a group of young Aboriginal men and women, who were returning from their annual seabird egg gathering expedition from Barranguba. These young people were lost at sea when a freak wave hit them.

Early European history

In 1770, British navigator and cartographer James

Cook sailed along the New South Wales coast. Although recording the ‘camel-shaped mountain’ which he named Mount Dromedary, Cook did not recognise the island as separate to the mainland and mistakenly recorded it as part of the headland.

It was not until 1790 that the convict ship Surprise

determined Montague was in fact an island.

It is alleged the island was named after George Montague Dunk, the Earl of Halifax.

Research on the early European history of the island yielded little information. During  the  mid- 19th century, a gold rush occured in Nerrigundah, north of Narooma, and it is alleged sea bird eggs were collected from Montague to sell to the miners. Records indicate a number of fishing shacks existed at some point on the western shore of the island, however no substantial structures were built and no remains have been located.9

3.5         Planning a lighthouse

Why Montague Island?

Due to its offshore and elevated position, Montague Island offered the perfect vantage point for a light.

In 1873, the erection of a lighthouse on Montague Island (known then as Montagu) was first proposed during a conference between the principal officers of the Marine Departments of the Australian Colonies chaired by Captain Hixson. However, it was not until 1877 that funds were allocated by the New South Wales Government to carry out the project.10

Design

James Barnet, colonial architect for New South  Wales, was placed in charge of designing the plans  for a light at Montague Island. Barnet, alongside prospective tenders, visited the Island and assisted in

selecting the best location for a lightstation. His blueprints, which were created following this visit, featured a granite tower 12-m in height with tapering walls and one upper platform.

Construction

Tenders for the construction of a light at Montague Island were called October 1878. The initial successful contractor, J Musson and Co., had  their offer of £13,900 accepted for an estimated 15-month construction period. The contract was signed on the 5 February 1879.

Work commenced with Mr John Kelly acting as foreman of works on behalf of the government, and Mr James Peters for the contractors.

However, poor management and inadequate materials hindered work running smoothly on-  site. The lighthouse was to stand on a large boulder overlooking the Island, and Barnet strictly instructed the boulder not to be touched. Contrary

to these express orders, the contractor fired a shot at the boulder which detached a large mass and caused the position of the Tower to be altered by

9   Brooks, G., and Assoc. NPWS Lighthouses (2001), pg. 4.

10  Brooks, G., Assoc. NPWS Lighthouses (2001), pg. 4.

several feet. Following this, J Musson and Co. gave up the contract. Tenders were called once more in July of 1879, however no successful contracts were secured.11

Fresh tenders were called again in 1880 following renewed interest from the government and WH Jennings was deemed the successful contractor for £16,950. On Barnet’s blueprints for the

tower, (See Figure 17) the names of the original contractors can be seen crossed out and replaced by WH Jennings.

The foundation stone was laid on St Patricks   Day 1881. Jennings recorded the progress of the construction:

The top of the island, in the neighbourhood of the lighthouse and keepers’ quarters, presents a busy appearance. Every available piece of ground at all level is occupied by masons, carpenters, plasterers, plumbers, blacksmiths, and their assistants. There is a tramway from the site of the buildings to the landing place, where a powerful crane is fixed, and moorings are made fast to the rocks and to buoys which are secured by heavy anchors in the sea. The landing of goods and materials is done quickly, 60,000 bricks, 100 casks cement, and 75 sheep having been landed in less than 24 hours. The lighthouse will be a solid and elegant structure….

…..[the walls are] 3 feet 8 inches thick at base,

tapering to 2 feet 2 inches….

…..the quarters will accommodate three keepers…. 12

Work was carried out effectively and the lighthouse was completed in October 1881, four months  within the contract time. The overall cost of the construction, including apparatus, amounted to

£25,981 following completion.

11  Searle, G., First Order (2013), pg. 203.

12   Quoted in Searle, G., First Order (2013), pg. 203.

Figure 16. Montague Island Lighthouse first order dioptric holophotal fixed and flashing light (1878)

Figure 17. Design plan for Montague Island Lighthouse and quarters (James Barnet, 1878)

Figure 18. Montague Island Lighthouse site plan (James Barnet, 1878)

Equipment when built

Following construction, Montague lighthouse stood as a 21 m tall circular granite tower with a light source powered by kerosene, providing an intensity of 45,000 cd.

The 910 mm focal radius, 8 panels, 1st Order Chance Bros. lantern and lens rotated on a roller pedestal which operated by clockwork mechanism and weights in the central tube within the tower.

The lens revolved every four minutes with:

“a steady flare for 30 seconds, then an eclipse for 13 seconds, and then a brilliant flash lasting four seconds, followed by another eclipse of 13 seconds’ duration.” 13

Figure 19. View of Montague Island Lighthouse, 1917 (NAA, 4746689)

3.6         Lighthouse keepers

Due to the island’s isolation, lightkeeping was

a demanding livelihood. The arrival of food and supplies from passing steamers lay at the mercy of

the weather and swell of the surrounding waters.  In 1952, the lightkeepers and their families went without fresh food for 10 days, eventually resorting to hunting wild goats roaming the Island. 14

Tragedy was also a common theme on the island. The lack of medical assistance available, and the inability to traverse the passage separating the island from the mainland, meant deaths among lightkeepers and their families occured. Head keeper, John Burgess, lost two of his children in the 1880s, one to whooping cough and the other to an unknown illness, and an assistant keeper Charles Townsend died after being thrown from his horse in 1894.

Mrs John Burgess’s letter to the local newspapers exemplified the consequences of isolation in 1894:

I have been a lighthouse keeper’s wife for nearly fifteen years, both at South Solitary and Montague Islands.

During that period several deaths have occurred in my family and those of the assistants, also accidents. We never could procure assistance till too late; although steamers pass both north and south frequently, they do not seem to see when we have a distress signal flying from our flagstaff. 15

The graves of the Burgess children and Mr Townsend, which are located nearby the lighthouse and cottages, are a stark reminder of the dangers faced in taking up lightkeeping in isolated locations.16

The move to automate the lighthouse in the 1980s faced controversy among keepers and local communities who feared it would lead to its dilapidation.17

Eventually however, the lighthouse was officially de-manned in 1986 following the station’s automation.

13  Quoted in Searle, G., First Order (2013), pg. 205.

14  Searle, G., First Order (2013), pg. 204-205.

15  “Shipping: Montague Island,” Evening News, Dec 19, 1894

16  Searle, G., First Order (2013), pg. 205.

17 “Island’s future threatened by automation,” The Canberra Times, Jan 7, 1983 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti- cle/116441586?-searchTerm=montague%20island%20lighthouse&searchLimits=exactPhrase|||anyWords|||notWords|||reques- tHandler|||dateFrom|||dateTo|||sortby

3.7         Chronology of major events

The table below details the major events to have occurred at the Montague Island Lightstation.

18  “Fatal accident at Montagu Island,” The Daily Telegraph, Dec 10, 1894 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/236111212?searchTerm=montague%20island%20 lighthouse&searchLimits=exactPhrase|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom|||dateTo|||sortby

19  “The Montague Island Lighthouse: Another Accident,” The Daily Telegraph, Dec 14, 1894 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/236115874?searchTerm=montague%20island%20 lighthouse&searchLimits=exactPhrase|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom|||dateTo|||sortby

20  “Earthquake at Montague Island,” The Daily Telegraph, Aug 6, 1895 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/238512032?searchTerm=montague%20island%20 lighthouse&searchLimits=exactPhrase|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom|||dateTo|||sortby

21 “In urgent need of food: A message from Montague Island,” The Daily Telegraph, Apr 8, 1908 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/238150413?searchTerm=montague%20island%20 lighthouse&searchLimits=exactPhrase|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom|||dateTo|||sortby

22  “Lighthouse Radios,” The Argus, Oct 28, 1938 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12526670?searchTerm=montague%20 island%20lighthouse&searchLimits=exactPhrase|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom|||dateTo|||sortby

23  “Lighthouse families marooned,” The Newcastle Sun, Aug 7, 1952 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/160330044?searchTerm=montague%20island%20 lighthouse&searchLimits=exactPhrase|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom|||dateTo|||sortby

24  “R.A.A.F. parachutes food on Montague Island,” The Canberra Times, Aug 9, 1952 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2861423?searchTerm=montague%20island%20 lighthouse&searchLimits=exactPhrase|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom|||dateTo|||sortby

25  “Meeting to discuss lighthouse plans,” The Canberra Times, Feb 27, 1983 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116453018?searchTerm=montague%20island%20 lighthouse&searchLimits=exactPhrase|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom|||dateTo|||sortby

26  “Montague Island wildlife haven,” The Canberra Times, Sept 20, 1992 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126943947?searchTerm=montague%20island%20 lighthouse&searchLimits=exactPhrase|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom|||dateTo|||sortby

27  “Old lighthouse,” The Canberra Times, Jan 28, 1993 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126972384?searchTerm=montague%20island%20 lighthouse&searchLimits=exactPhrase|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom|||dateTo|||sortby

3.8         Changes and conservation over time

The Montague Island Lighthouse has undergone minimal changes since its construction in 1901. Changes that have been made were largely in relation to the light source and electrical systems. The following sections detail the changes made to the lightstation.

The Brewis Report (1913)

In 1911, Commander CRW Brewis, retired naval surveyor, was commissioned by the Commonwealth Government to report on the condition of existing lights and to recommend any additional ones.

Brewis visited every lighthouse in Australia between June and December 1912 and produced a series of reports published in their final form in March 1913. These reports were the basis for future decisions.

Brewis’ recommendations for Montague Island included changing the character of the light,  inserting a new clockwork mechanism and pedestal and installing new wireless telegraph equipment.

28     CRW Brewis, Lighting of the East Coast of Australia: Cape Moreton to Gabo Island Including Coast of New South Wales (1913),

pg. 21.

Alterations to the Light

Due to developments in technology, the Montague Island Lighthouse was modified multiple times to improve its use as an AtoN.

Figure 20. Evolution of Montague Island Lighthouse lens/

lanterns (Searle, 2013, pg. 209)

Conservation Works

The table below details the major rectification works carried out on the Montague Island Lighthouse.These works have been undertaken as proactive measures to preserve the tower’s fabric and materials.

3.9         Summary of current and former uses

From its construction in 1881, the Montague Island Lightouse has been used as a marine AtoN. Its AtoN capabilities remain its primary use.

The Montague Island Lighthouse as a key tourism site developed over recent decades following

the transferral of the Island to the NPWS, and the keepers’ cottages are now used for tourist accomodation.

The Montague Island Lightstation precint is now used:

•       to house NPWS staff stationed on the island, as well as accomodating researchers and tour guides

•       a key tourism site, with facilities.

3.10      Summary of past and present community associations

Aboriginal associations

The Wagonga Local Aboriginal Land Council shared with AMSA the following:

“The language spoken is Dhurga. Both Walbunja  Yuin and Djirridjan Yuin claim connection to Barranguba.   Please note that all Yuin  people have a connection to Barranguba, Nadjanuka and Gulaga as they forever protect their people.

Today our people are restricted from accessing our special places which is due to white man’s laws and regulations.”

AMSA is currently working to erect a symbol on the island to acknowledge the Yuin people’s Elders, past, present and future generation.

Local, National, and International associations

Montague Island maintains firm state and national associations owing to its standing as a nature reserve under the NPWS. Montague Island Nature Reserve hosts one of the longest running seabird research programs in the world. This, combined with the unique species  present,  the accessibility of the island and its geographical location and significant size highlights the importance of Montague Island ecologically and scientifically.

The nature reserve offers a protective sanctuary to

species of local and national concern.

The lighthouse itself maintains strong associations with past lighthouse keeping families owing to

the significant period of time the lightstation was

manned.

3.11      Unresolved questions or historical

conflicts

A number of dates are disputed amongst past research.

The year the lighthouse was de-manned is disputed. Some sources credit 1985, others credit 1986. There is also uncertainty over which year the island was handed over to the NPWS with sources citing 1987-89.

Despite much of its history being recorded, information on the lighthouse keepers of Montague Island is relatively limited. The list of names and years of service is incomplete and very little is  known about the majority of those that occupied the site for more than 80 years.

3.12      Recommendations for further research

Archaeological investigation of the site may reveal further information on prehistoric and historic uses of Montague Island to broaden understandings of the site’s intrinsic value.

4.   Fabric

4.1         Fabric register

The cultural significance of the Montague Island Lighthouse resides in its fabric, and also in its intangible aspects, such as the meanings people ascribe to it, and its 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. Criterion under ‘Heritage Significance’ refer to the criterion satisfied within the specific Commonwealth heritage listing (see section 5.1)

Description and condition

1880 Chance Bros part-spherical dome of copper

sheets lapped and screwed to ribs.

•       Ribs – Chance Bros cast iron radial ribs

•       Inner skin – none (removed)

•       Ventilator – ball type with wind vane attached

•       Lightning conductor – vertical pole mounted on dome, with four spikes at top, and two braces to roof sheets, eight vertical spikes attached near the gutter

•       Gutter – circular ring of cast iron pieces bolted together. Drawings indicate the lantern roof may have been overhauled around 1981.

•       Ladder rail – attached to underside of gutter

•       Drip tray – copper dish suspended under ventilator, with central hole for heat tube

•       Heat tube support – framework with four radial members of rolled ferrous T-section, attached to gutter and to central ring

Heritage significance: High

The lantern roof is both an original and essential part of the lighthouse, exhibiting one style of late- 19th century lighthouses (criterion a, criterion d).

Description and condition

Chance Bros, polygonal in plan.

•       panes – flat trapezoidal glass, three tiers

•       astragals – Chance Bros vertical and horizontal astragals of rectangular and triangular section, bolted to gutter ring at top, and to lantern base below

•       downpipes – two short spitters inserted in bottom of gutter. Downpipes have been removed.

•       handholds – two sets, fixed to cover strips

Heritage significance: High

The lantern glazing is an essential part of the lighthouse – exhibiting one style of late-19th century lighthouses (criterion a, criterion d).

Description and Condition

Original catwalk decking removed  and  replaced with a new floor supported on the original openwork cast iron brackets bolted to the upper section of the lantern base.

•       floor – sheet flooring in segments, supported on pre-fabricated aluminium radial beams and cross beams, supported on the original iron brackets on the outside, and on a fabricated steel column in the middle

•       ladder – fixed aluminium ladder

Heritage significance: High

Highly significant for these reasons:

The internal catwalk is an original and essential part of the lighthouse (criterion a).

Description and condition

1880 Chance Bros, cast iron lattice floor panels supported on openwork cast iron brackets bolted to lantern base with modern socket-head bolts.

•       handrail – none

Heritage significance: High

The external catwalk is both an original and essential part of the lighthouse – exhibiting one style of late- 19th century lighthouses (criterion a, criterion d).

The external catwalk contributes to the aesthetic value of the lighthouse (criterion e).

Description and condition

1880 Chance Bros, cylindrical in form. Curved panels of cast iron bolted together with flanged joints.

•       internal lining – none (removed)

•       vents round air inlet near the bottom of exterior of each panel (sealed), with internal cast iron trunk bolted on. Single large circular opening on inside of each trunk, the regulators have been removed.

•       door – iron door leaf, curved to match the lantern base. Internal frame, lining and lock all removed. Fitted with rubber weather seals, and two strongbacks, threaded studs and nuts to secure the door closed. Copper alloy hinges.

Heritage significance: High

The lantern base is both an original and essential part of the lighthouse – exhibiting one style of late- 19th century lighthouses (criterion a, criterion d).

Description and condition

1880 floor of iron checker plate supported on rolled iron I section and channel beams built into the stone tower walls.

Holes indicate the former location of optic pedestal and clock.

Heritage significance: High

The lantern floor is both an original and essential part of the lighthouse – exhibiting one style of late- 19th century lighthouses (criterion a, criterion d).

Description and condition

Vega VRB-25 beacon.

Heritage significance: Low

Description and condition

Recent welded tubular aluminium post.

Heritage significance: Low

Description and condition

1880 granite slab floor, supported on the stone tower wall and cornice. Resilient joint caulking.

Heritage significance: High

The balcony floor is both an original and essential part of the lighthouse – exhibiting one style of late- 19th century lighthouses (criterion a, criterion d).

Description and condition

1880 gunmetal railing, with closely spaced balusters of rectangular section and curved profile, cruciform stiffeners bolted to  balusters,  rectangular  bottom rail, half-round top rail, turned bulbous fixing bolts at bottom.

Heritage significance: High

The balcony balustrade is both an original and essential part of the lighthouse – exhibiting one style of late-19th century lighthouses (criterion a, criterion d).

The balcony balustrade contributes to the aesthetic value of the lighthouse (criterion e).

The balcony balustrade demonstrates fine elements

Description and condition

1880 walls of granite with finely punched faces and drafted margins, inside and out.

Heritage significance: High

The tower walls are both original and essential parts of the lighthouse – exhibiting one style of late-19th century lighthouses (criterion a, criterion d).

The granite stonework of the tower walls contribute to the aesthetic value of the lighthouse (criterion e).

The tapering tower walls demonstrate fine elements

of design and craftsmanship (criterion f).

Description and condition

1880 windows with gunmetal casement sashes, hinges, latches and frames, built into stone walls.

Heritage significance: High

The windows are both original and essential parts of the lighthouse – exhibiting one style of late-19th century lighthouses (criterion a, criterion d).

Description and condition

1880 door opening with external stone architrave with royal insignia and date 1881.

Two timber framed and sheeted door leaves hung on butt hinges in timber frame. Secured with two hasps and staples with padlocks.

Heritage  significance: High

The tower door is both an original and essential part of the lighthouse (criterion a).

Description and condition

1880 geometric stair with cast iron treads attached to the tower walls. Wrought iron handrail and stanchions.

Heritage significance: High

The internal tower stairs are both an original and essential part of the lighthouse (criterion a).

Description and condition

1880 concrete slab.

Heritage significance: High

The ground floor is an original and essential part of

the lighthouse (criterion a).

Description and condition

1880 riveted iron tube in the centre of the tower, between the lantern floor and the ground floor.

Heritage significance: High

The weight tube is both an original and essential part of the lighthouse (criterion a).

Description and condition

1880 timber framed, sheeted and ceiled wind lock vestibule, fitted with timber four-panel door.

Heritage significance: High

The entrance vestibule is both an original and essential part of the lighthouse (criterion a).

Description and condition

1880 stone stair from keepers’ quarters area up to the base of the tower. Recent concrete path and aluminium railing.

Heritage significance: High

The walkway stairs are both an original and essential part of the lighthouse (criterion a).

Description and condition

14 solar panels on aluminium frame on concrete base, near the base of the tower, beside the much larger solar array used by the NPWS.

Two cabinets containing batteries and control equipment at the rear of solar array.

Heritage significance: Low

4.2         Related object or associated AMSA artefact

There are no AMSA registered artefacts.

4.3         Comparative analysis

The South Solitary Island Lighthouse, first lit  in 1880, bears the closest resemblance to the

Montague Island Lighthouse in design and style.

Designed by James Barnet, South Solitary Island Lighthouse stands as a mass concrete structure. Similar to Montague Island, South Solitary’s cylindrical tower was originally constructed to be slightly tapered in design with an outwardly sloping gunmetal balcony railing fitted around a Chance Bros. lantern room.  The two lighthouses also  share similar fittings such as the geometric cast  iron stairs located within the tower. The lighthouses were both originally fitted with 1st Order Chance Bros. optical assemblies.

Unlike Montague Island, South Solitary’s tower was painted white and the base of the tower was enclosed by a small annex which contained the oil store.

The close stylistic resemblances of Montague Island and South Solitary Island, built one year apart, are indicative of James Barnet’s vision for NSW’s ‘highway of lights’. Despite some variation between the designs, both of the isolated island towers represent late-19th century craftsmanship and technical achievement.

Figure 21. South Solitary Island Lighthouse elevation blueprint (James Barnet, 1878)

5.   Heritage Significance

5.1         Commonwealth heritage list – Montague Island Lighthouse

Statement of Commonwealth heritage

significance

The following statement of significance is taken from the Montague Island Lighthouse listing on the Australian Heritage Database (Place ID: 105601)c

The Montague Island Lighthouse tower, opened in 1881, is significant for its long association with the development and provision of maritime aids along the New South Wales coast, and for its part in

the history of Australian shipping over a considerable period (criterion a). (Themes:

3.8.1 Shipping to and from Australian ports,

3.16.1 Dealing with hazards and  disasters)

The granite tower, with tapering walls, outward curving platform and curved balustrade, is a well-proportioned  structure  displaying  very fine elements of design and craftsmanship.

The tower is also a good example of a late- 19th century light tower on the NSW coast (criterion f, criterion d).

The Montague tower is one of the only two offshore island lighthouses along the NSW coast (criterion b).

Additionally significant is the fact that the  tower was designed by NSW Colonial  Architect James Barnet. Barnet played a seminal role into the development of the colony’s architecture over 25 years (criterion h).

The island and the lightstation are socially significant on account of the large numbers of visitors to Montague, the tower’s high visibility from the coast and the incorporation of the tower into local tourism (criterion g).

The tower’s fine design and granite stonework, its landmark status along this part of the coast, the lack of modern visual intrusions, and the tower’s contrast with the island’s rounded granite slabs and treeless topography are all responsible for the tower having considerable aesthetic qualities (criterion e).

Commonwealth heritage values – criteria

There are nine criteria for inclusion in the Commonwealth Heritage List and meeting any one of these is sufficient for listing a place. These criteria are similar  to those used in other commonwealth, state and local heritage legislation, although  thresholds differ. In the following sections, the Montague Island Lighthouse is discussed in relation to each of the criteria as based on the current Commonwealth Heritage Listing Place ID 105601.

5.2         NSW State heritage register – Montague Island Lighthouse

The statement of heritage significance and the information from the table below was taken from  the Montague Island Lightstation listing on the New South Wales State Heritage Register (SHR). Listing ID: 01000.d

NSW State heritage register – statement of

heritage significance

Montague Island Lightstation and its setting

are highly significant as one of a collection of lighthouses which combine the natural values of a rugged coastal island with the cultural values of a prominent landmark and isolated outpost associated with the development of coastal shipping in the late 19th century.

NSW State heritage values – criterion

These heritage values, identified and explained within the Commonwealth Heritage List and the State Heritage Register, will form the basis of the management of the Montague Island Lighthouse. In the event of necessary works, all criteria will be consulted to inform best practice management of the values associated with the lightstation. (See Section 7 – Conservation management policies  for further information on strategies to conserve Montague Island Lighthouse heritage values).