Location:

3km east of Bowen, North Queensland

GPS: Lat: 16° 23’ S : Long: 145° 33’ E

First Lit: 1866 (Decommissioned 1985, Refurbished 2016)

Tower height: 65′ (19m). Focal height: 190′ (20m) msl

Original Lens: 3rd Order Chance Bros. Fresnel

Range: 17nml (31km)

Characteristic: One white flash every ten seconds: [Fl W 10s]

Small in stature and overlooked by many, but with a simple charm and loved by it’s community the North Head Lighthouse is a metaphor for Bowen itself!

History:

The North Head Lighthouse Complex is located in Bowen, which was originally known as Port Denison.
Port Denison was the first port established in North Queensland and the settlement of Bowen was officially proclaimed on 11 April 1861 (named after Queensland’s first Governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen). The township of Bowen quickly grew to support the local pastoral, agricultural and mining industries and the port was active until the late twentieth century. The colony of Queensland was responsible for all lights along its coastline and within its harbours after separation from New South Wales in 1859. The colonial government quickly set about constructing lighthouses along the coast and harbours including Bowen.

The Lighthouse:

It’s unclear who designed the North Head Lighthouse because unlike most of the other lighthouses of this era in north Queensland it and the two lighthouses on Woody Island had their own unique design very different from the standard conical designs of the day.

The tower is tapered hexagonal timber tower with a curved extension at the top section, as well as a gallery and lantern room with a dome roof. The timber structure is covered with tin sheeting secured by lead flashing and weatherboard cladding remains intact underneath. Another unique feature is the four wire stays that anchor the structure to the ground The exterior of the structure was painted in white, with a red-coloured dome.

Tenders were called for the North Head lighthouse in April 1866 and remarkably it was operational by November the same year. The timber for the structure was manufactured in Maryborough by the experienced lighthouse builders J & J Rooney but unlike others it is thought that this lighthouse was constructed on site rather than being prefabricated in Brisbane which was the usual practice. It is unknown why this lighthouse was different in so many aspects from the standard practice of the day.

The lighthouse was maintained by the pilot boat’s crew, stationed at Dalrymple Point. A severe cyclone prevented the crew from reaching the lighthouse in 1867, ensuring there was no light. However, due to the relatively light shipping traffic in the port, a lightkeeper was not stationed on the island to maintain the light. There is no further documentary evidence that a lightkeeper was stationed on the island; however, an historical photo dating from c1908 clearly indicates what appears to be a domestic structure on the island. It is believed that the house was removed from the island and relocated to Bowen. The lighthouse continued in use until 1985 and the original lens is now located at the Bowen Historical Society and Museum.

A Second Life:

After it was deactivated in 1985 the lighthouse fell into disrepair and was facing demolition which galvanised the local community into action. The threat of losing it resulted in the Bowen community coming together to save it and in April 2016, the Whitsunday Regional Council undertook a $100,000 restoration project on the lighthouse for its 150th anniversary. The restoration was completed August 2017 and the local community are very proud of their lighthouse and its history.

Every year since it’s restoration there is a community walk held on the lowest tide of the year, usually in late August, and this has gone on to become an important event of the local calendar with hundreds of locals and visitors participating and raising money for a local charity.

Current Status:

Due to its inactive status the North Head Lighthouse was gifted by AMSA to the local community in 2016.