Page 48 - Port Douglas Magazine 40

THE FIRST

LIGHTHOUSE

KEEPER

WORDS by Amie McKay

IMAGES courtesy of The Douglas Historical Society

“I can think of no other edifice constructed by man as
altruistic as a lighthouse. They were built only to serve.”

- GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

IN 280BCE ALEXANDRIA, the ancient Egyptians constructed the Captain Owen’s role, and that of his two assistant keepers, was not

first known lighthouse, The Pharos of Alexandria. Standing 350 feet easy. A lighthouse keeper needed to know how to read and write to

high it was the largest man-made structure after the pyramids of Giza, keep meticulous records, and they had to be practical and level head-
and its source of light was a huge open fire built at the summit. ed. Keepers stayed awake during the night to ensure the light stayed

lit no matter the circumstances and especially during bad weather
Over centuries, man continued to adapt and improve the lighthouse such as cyclones. They spent most of their days cleaning and polish-

model to ensure the safety of ships and their crews, and the light- ing the lens and the lantern room windows, while ensuring that the
house became a symbol of hope, strength and protection. In art and oil wick was trimmed and operational. Maintenance of the station
literature, we have romanticised the isolation and loneliness of the was paramount, and keepers needed to be skilled in various trades
lighthouse keeper’s life as one of adventure and sanctuary. However, to complete the majority of repairs themselves. In harsh conditions
the reality of life for a keeper could be a grueling and dangerous occu- equipment and buildings weathered quickly, so cleaning and painting

pation. As was the case for Captain Daniel Owen, the first lighthouse formed part of their regular duties. Although the role offered a house

keeper posted on Low Isles 145 years ago.
and regular income, it was an isolating existence for the families.

Positioned 15.2km north-east off the coast of Port Douglas, Low Isles Food would often be rationed, and wives and children would spend

is made up of two small coral cay islands and surrounded by fifty-five their days assisting the keeper and attending to house duties. With

acres of reef. This area holds significant cultural value for the Ku Ku only each other to converse with they had to wait every two weeks for

Yalanji and Yiragandi people, and is traditionally named Wungkan. news from the mainland when supplies came from either Port Doug-
las or Mossman. There was no access to medical treatment and any

The discovery of gold in North Queensland in the 1800s urged the injuries or illnesses were attended to by the inhabitants themselves.

government to search for suitable ports across the northern coast-
line and support for Island Point, later named Port Douglas, came On the 15th July, 1880, Captain Owen’s wife Jane Ann Owen (nee
from Captain Daniel Owen, of the SS Corea, in 1877. Captain Owen Coulsen) died at 41 years of age. She was buried in an unmarked
noted on one of his many trips between Cooktown and Brisbane the grave on the island and in recent years a headstone has been erect-
picturesque haven and suitable anchorage of Island Point and more ed in her honour. Captain Owen remained head keeper until he re-

importantly his attraction to Low Isles. Captain Owen was drawn to tired in 1898, 20 years after his initial posting. He relocated with his
the beauty of Low Isles and its reef and as a ship master, he under- daughter Susie and his second wife Agnes to Kangaroo Point. Cap-
stood the danger the area posed to travelling vessels. In the same year tain Owen passed away at 83 years in 1907.
a tender to build a lighthouse on Low Isles was put forward and con- Over time the conditions for lighthouse keepers would improve from
struction was completed in 1878. The Low Isles Lighthouse was the Captain Owen’s time, with advances in technology. In 1993 the Low

first built in North Queensland and the first to light the inner passage Isles Lighthouse became automated with the last keeper leaving in
of the Great Barrier Reef. Standing 18 metres tall, on a timber frame 1994. In 2008 Low Isles and its lighthouse were listed on the Com-
with galvanised sheath, it was the original lighthouse in Queensland monwealth Heritage List for its Indigenous history and its contribu-
to have porthole windows. Internally a timber staircase was con- tion to Australian cultural heritage. The original lens can be seen on

structed for access to the lantern room which contained an oil wick display at The Old Court House Museum in Port Douglas, and the

ignition. Animal or vegetable oil was used to light the wick each night historic lighthouse and Jane Owen’s final resting place remain on Low

as kerosene wasn’t introduced to Low Isles until 1923. Built alongside Isles today.
the structure were three cottages that housed Captain Owen, his wife
Jane and their young daughter Susie, and his two assistants. Later
construction formed the relieving quarters, the old powerhouse and

a fuel store. These original outbuildings were destroyed by a cyclone Interested in more history of the region?
in 1934. douglashistory.org.au