The Cape Moreton Lighthouse

Cape Moreton was the first lighthouse to be built in Queensland, but was not the first lighthouse built by the Queensland government, it was constructed by the New South Wales government before Queensland became a separate colony.

History

Cape Moreton lighthouse stands on a rocky promontory at the northernmost point of Gheebulum Kunungai (Moreton Island) National Park. Cape Moreton lighthouse was built in 1857 under the supervision of Alexander Beazeley who served as the Foreman of Works after finalising the tower drawings done by NSW Colonial Architect Edmund Blacket who designed the lighthouse in 1854 before resigning from his position as Colonial Architect in September 1854. The lighthouse was positioned to improve the navigation of shipping entering the emerging Port of Brisbane following the loss of a number of ships including the steamer Sovereign in 1847 with the loss of forty four lives.  

The entrance into Moreton Bay between Moreton Island and Stradbroke Island, Amity Passage, is scattered with wrecks that attest the notoriousness of this entry into Moreton Bay.

The tower is constructed of sandstone quarried on what is predominately a sand island. The tower was extended in 1928 and is now 23 metres.

The station was manned by three keepers. The original keepers cottages were replaced in 1928 with three timber-framed fibro-clad cottages with corrugated iron roofing. 

The original optical apparatus consisted of a Wilkins & Co lantern with three groups of revolving catoptric paraboloidal reflectors lit by oil wick lamps. In 1930 the light was modernised with the installation of a 3rd order AGA 4 panel catadioptric rotating lens powered by acetylene gas within a Chance Bros lantern. The light was converted to 110v DC electric operation using generators in 1937 increasing its intensity. A further change was made in 1967 when the apparatus was converted to 240v operation using diesel generators increasing its intensity to 590,00 cd. Solar conversion took place in 1993.

The lighthouse is on the northern point of Moreton Island. On the west side of the island is Tangalooma which was also once home to Queensland’s first and only whaling station from 1952 to 1962.

This former whaling station has now been converted to a small resort and caters mainly for day trippers from Brisbane.

On 1 July 1915, Cape Moreton passed from State to Federal control.

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Keepers

Harold Klease manned the lighthouse from 1948-1954 with his wife Doreen and two of their children Billy and Rina. Harold then returned as head lighthouse keeper from 1962-1968 with Doreen and three children, Susan, Kevin and Karen. Harold Klease passed away at the age of 59. He also served as a keeper at Fitzroy island, Booby island and finally Caloundra lighthouse until it became automatic.

James Francis Crane, who had served in the first world war was stationed at Moreton Island Lighthouse from 1937 to 1941. During this time, his wife and 7 children were residents at the light station with him until the bombing of Darwin, which prompted the relocation of lighthouse keepers with families. As a result, around 1940 / 1941, his family was moved to Bulwar Island, where they remained until 1944. 

We need your help in continuing to compile a list of keepers for this lighthouse. If you have any information please send to keeper@lighthouses.org.au.

Please include this lighthouse’s name, the keepers full name and what years they were keepers. Also include the same information for any other lights they were on.