Sandy Cape Lightstation, Fraser Island

Sandy Cape Lighthouse Source: Queensland Heritage Register 

The Sandy Cape Lighthouse is a heritage listed building. It is located at the most northern point on Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia. According to the Heritage Register, it was "designed by William Pole of Kitson and Company, of England and built by a local firm J & J Rooney, was completed in 1870" with an initial construction cost of £4524 with annual maintenance costs of £630.

The Heritage Register also states "The contractors for the construction of the tower were J & J Rooney of Maryborough, whose tender of £4524 was accepted". 
It has five floors connected by an internal staircase. Details of the lighthouse from 1870 can be found here in the Maryborough Chronicle

• Close view of the lens of the White Rock Lighthouse at Sandy Cape, Queensland Source: Trove

Early records indicate that a First Order light was placed in the Sandy Cape lighthouse, although it currently contains a Fourth Order Light, probably installed in 1936. The power of the Sandy Cape light was increased in 1917 and six years later the power of both Sandy Cape and Bustard Head lights was increased and then converted to electric operation in the 1930s. The keepers' cottages at Sandy Cape were replaced in 1935 with the two existing timber framed, fibro clad residences (Qld Heritage Register).

The original cottages were built of weather board and iron roofs to house the Head Keeper and three assistant keepers and their families. The lay out is described in the Brisbane Courier Mail here

Irene Askew at Sandy Cape Lighthouse on Fraser Island, ca. 1910 Source:Trove

Children standing near the whim at Sandy Cape on Fraser Island, ca. 1907. Pictured in the photograph are: Esmond Byrne; Walter Shephard; Claire Byrne; Ruby Byrne; Irene Askew and Clarence Byrne. The whim was used to bring supplies up from the beach to the lighthouse keepers' residences near the base of the Sandy Cape Lighthouse. Source: Trove

A school mistress was supplied and was billeted with one of the families.

School mistress and her pupils in front of the school building at Sandy Cape Lighthouse in 1911 Front row: Flora Shephard,Claire Byrne(holding the plate),Dorothy Lambert Middle row: Clarence Byrne,Walter Shephard,Irene Askew,Harold Lambert,Esmond Byrne Back row:Percy Lambert,George Shephard,Clara Muhldorf, Ray Shephard Source: Light houses of Australia

School mistress and her pupils in front of the school building at Sandy Cape Lighthouse in 1911 Front row: Flora Shephard,Claire Byrne (holding the plate), Dorothy Lambert Middle row: Clarence Byrne, Walter Shephard, Irene Askew, Harold Lambert, Esmond Byrne Back row: Percy Lambert, George Shephard, Clara Muhldorf, Ray Shephard
Source:Light Houses of Australia

Sandy Cape Lightstation was automated in April 1991 and destaffed in June 1994.Further information can be found here 

References:
Brisbane Courier Mail 27.11.1906  retrieved on 7.11.2018 from Trove
Brisbane Courier Mail 4.12.1906  retrieved on 7.11.2018 from Trove
Lighthouse.org.au
Maryborough Chronicle 19th April, 1870 The Sandy Cape Lighthouse retrieved on 7.11.2018 from Trove
Queensland Heritage Register retrieved 7.11.2018 from https://environment.ehp.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=601712#

Tags #lighthouses #frasercoastlibraries #fraserisland #sandycape