Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01334:front:0:p13
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colonial architect's office. As a direct result, the responsibility for constructing the Smoky Cape Lighthouse under Barnet's original design was tasked to Cecil W Darley, engineer-in-chief of the Harbours and Rivers Department[xiv].

Construction
Tenders were called for the erection of a lighthouse tower and annexe, a head keeper's and assistant keepers' residences, coach house, stables and retaining walls, in both December 1888 and January 1889. The contract was awarded to Messers Oakes and Co. and construction required excavation and levelling of the site due to the Cape's configuration. Granite for the structure was quarried locally.
During construction of the Smoky Cape Lightstation, Oakes died suddenly onsite. The contract was left to his executors to complete under direction of Darley. Work was completed within the budgeted £16,800, and the light was first exhibited 15 April 1891.
The official opening ceremony was celebrated 29 April 1891, and attended by Darley and various members of the Marine Board[xv].
Figure 12. Design plan for Smoky Cape Lighthouse, 1889. Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia. NAA: A9568, 1/17/2 (© Commonwealth of Australia, National Archives of Australia)
Figure 13. Site plan for Smoky Cape Lightstation, 1889. Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia. NAA: A9568, 1/17/1 (© Commonwealth of Australia, National Archives of Australia)
Equipment when built
Upon completion, Smoky Cape Lighthouse stood as a concrete-mass plan lighthouse in the typical James Barnet style. Its lantern consisted of a First Order Chance Brothers 920mm focal radius, nine panel catadioptric revolving lens mounted on a clock driven roller bearing pedestal housed in a 12' 1½ diameter lantern. The original light source was a Trinity House pressure lamp (Chance Bros). The nine lens panel made one revolution every 90 seconds with an intensity of 100,000 candelas (cd) and a range of approximately 25 nautical miles.
Fittings for a red auxiliary light were installed within the lighthouse, however there is little evidence to suggest this 5th Order 187mm lens was ever properly installed at Smoky Cape, let alone lit. The lens itself was eventually installed in the Cape Byron lighthouse upon completion of its construction in 1901[xvi].
  3.6  Lighthouse keepers
The first head lightkeeper stationed at Smoky Cape was Captain Robert Kelly, flanked by his two assistants James H Vanderwood and David MacFarlane.
The keepers, who resided with their families in the onsite keeper's cottages and maintained limited contact with the surrounding communities, worked in shifts manning the light each night.
The keepers were also instrumental in a number of disastrous events that occurred around the lighthouse. Shipwrecks were not uncommon on the cape and the lighthouse often served as the first point of call for aid. On 12 November 1903, the ketch Sir George was