Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2020L01547:reg:1999:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2020L01547
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 1999 (pt 2/19)
Character Range: 46504–50937

State of Efficacy: The tower, lantern, optical apparatus, and dwellings are in good condition.
The light is too slow for modern requirements. Three light-keepers are stationed here.
Communication: Provisions and mails once weekly by coastal steamer. Government stores yearly. The lighthouse is not connected by telephone with the mainland, but messages by distant signals during the day and by Morse lamp at night may, under favourable conditions, be sent and received via the signal station at Narooma (distant 5 miles), which has telephonic communication with the main telegraph system.
Electric Morse lamp at lighthouse.

Fogs: From January to March, fogs may be experienced and may last as long as nine hours.

Soundings: From 5 miles off Thubbul River to about 1 mile westward of Montagu Island, this soundings range from 51 to 17 fathoms on a sandy bottom, but at 7 miles south-eastward of the island there is no bottom at 100 fathoms.
RECOMMENDED:
   (a)  The speed of the flashes be increased by inserting new mechanism (pedestal and clock), so as to give one revolution every 80 seconds, and produce a character of fixed and flashing every 20 seconds, thus: Fixed, 9 ½ seconds; eclipse, 4 ½ seconds; flash, 1 ½ seconds; flash, 1 ½ seconds; eclipse, 4 ½ seconds.
   (b)   Wireless telegraph equipment be installed. Nearest main wireless station, Gabo Island, distant about 84 miles.

    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.

Date                                                                                                  Alteration

1910
55 mm Schmidt-Ford vaporised kerosene powered mantle installed. Intensity: 250,000 candlepower (cp)
                                                                                                     New mantle installed.
13 April 1923                                                                                        Intensity: 357,000 cp
                                                                                                     Roller pedestal removed. Mercury
                                                                                                     bath pedestal installed.
19 July 1926                                                                                         Four of the original eight panels screened off – light now only produces a flashing light.
                                                                                                     Conversion to diesel electric operation – 1000 W Tungsten- halogen lamp installed.
                                                                                                     Four optic panels (ex-Green Cape
20 June 1969                                                                                         lighthouse) installed.
                                                                                                     Intensity: 1,000,000 cp
                                                                                                     First order lens turned off and
14 Sept 1986                                                                                         removed to the mainland.
                                                                                                     Solar-powered PRP-24 beacon
28 Nov 1986                                                                                          installed. Lighthouse fully-automated.
                                                                                                     Solar-powered Vega VRB-25 beacon installed. Intensity: 132,736 cp
6 April 2006

  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.

 Date          Works Completed
 Circa 1980s   Lantern room refurbished
Sept 1986     Original lantern and lens removed
              from tower

3.9             Summary of current and former uses