Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00074:reg:2023:p14
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00074
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2023 (pt 14/15)
Character Range: 35655–38441

being visible between the bearings of north east by east through south and south west and would be visible in fine weather for 24 miles.[xxx] Goods Island was the fourth lighthouse of a total of only nine of this type to be constructed in Queensland.[xxxi]

Figure 11. Goode Island Tower - details, 1922. Courtesy of the National Archives of Australia. NAA: J2776, QN 06 010 (© Commonwealth of Australia, National Archives of Australia)[xxxii]
Light keeping
Goods Island Lighthouse was overseen by a number of keepers when it was first lit in 1887. By the turn of the twentieth century, Goods Island, which by now included a lightstation, signal station, pilot station and pearl-shelling base, had become home to various families. In 1902, a school was established on the southern shore of the island and by 1904, fourteen children were enrolled.[xxxiii] Gradually however, inhabitants on Goods Island dwindled, and by 1912 it was reported that only two families remained on the island.[xxxiv]
Figure 12. A family group at the Goods Island Lighthouse ca. 1909 (Courtesy of the State Library of Queensland)[xxxv]
The lighthouse launch Roonganah travelled twice a month from Thursday Island bringing mail and stores for the keepers stationed at the island. Landing points were either at the pilot station jetty on the southeast shore or at the foot of the tramway at half tide or above.

Throughout the duration of the Second World War, the keepers were removed from the lightstation, and operation of the light was overseen by the military as naval surveillance was carried out in the waters of the Torres Strait. This arrangement only lasted for the duration of the war and keepers were reinstated in the early 1950s.
Alongside tending to the light, keepers were required to report maintenance on the lighthouse and accompanying residence – reports that shed light on the condition of the lightstation over time. In 1957, the keepers reported on 'repairing washaway on trolley line', 'painting cream inside engine shed', 'painting radio mast and outside engine shed', 'painting outside of outhouses', 'painting water tanks'. In 1958 it was revealed that a new water tank was constructed at the station, and in 1959, loose paint was scraped from inside the lantern room.[xxxvi]

The rainfall station closed on 20 November 1973 when the last lighthouse keeper, Townsend, departed.

Second World War
Goods Island and its lightstation were changed dramatically following the onset of World War II (1939-1945). The need to fortify Goods Island had been previously analysed as early as 1907, and a 1913 contour survey of the island clearly demonstrated that Tucker Point, Quoin Point and Tessy Head at the western and eastern extremes of the island were slated for defence purposes.[xxxvii]