Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00074:reg:2021:p9
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00074
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2021 (pt 9/15)
Character Range: 68292–72331

Island Lighthouse's Commonwealth heritage listing:
    A signalling station has existed on Goods Island (Palilag), in Torres Strait, since 1877. The present lighthouse was constructed at the highest point on the island in 1886. It is believed to be the only lighthouse in Queensland to have been constructed entirely by government labour. The lighthouse has been a key element of the maritime history of Torres Strait, ensuring the safety of vessels in Prince of Wales Passage and Normanby Sound for over 110 years. It played an important role in the days of World War 2, when Torres Strait was a vital location in Australia's defence against invasion by Japan. The light still operates, having been transferred to automatic function in 1973. (Criteria A.4, B.2. Historic Themes 3.8 Moving goods and people; 7.7.2 Preparing to face invasion).

    With the exception of its automatic light, the Goods Island lighthouse demonstrates the principal characteristics of a late 19th Century Queensland lighthouse. The associated lightstation complex, including the lighthouse, the keeper's quarters, the rear lead light contribute to this by illustrating important aspects of lightstation design concepts of the 1880s. (Criterion D.2).
Commonwealth heritage criteria
There are nine criteria for inclusion in the Commonwealth Heritage List, meeting any one of these is sufficient for listing a place. These criteria are similar to those used in other Commonwealth, state and local heritage legislation, although thresholds differ. In the following sections, Goods Island Lighthouse is discussed in relation to each of the criteria as based on the site's current Commonwealth Heritage Listing (Place ID: 105458)
Criterion                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Attributes                                                                                                                                                           Explanation
Criterion A) Processes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The whole lighthouse, its setting and its prominent location.                                                                                                        A signalling station has existed on Goods Island (Palilag), in Torres Strait, since 1877. The present lighthouse was constructed at the highest point on the island in 1886 and has been a key element of the maritime history of Torres Strait, ensuring the safety of vessels in Prince of Wales Passage and Normanby Sound for over 110 years. It played an important role in the days of World War 2, when Torres Strait was a vital location in Australia's defence against invasion by Japan. The light still operates, having been transferred to automatic function in 1973.

This criterion is satisfied by places that have significant heritage value because of [their] importance in the course, or pattern, of Australia's natural or cultural history.

Criterion B) Rarity                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   The building fabric, particularly the quality of construction.                                                                                                       Goods Island lighthouse is believed to be the only lighthouse in Queensland to have been constructed entirely by government labour.
This criterion is satisfied by places that have significant heritage value because of [their] possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Australia's natural