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reported in the 'Notice to Mariners' that the light was double-flashing, with each flash lasting for 7.5 seconds, and an eclipse of 0.33 seconds. The tower was accompanied by the three sandstone keepers' cottages which was approximately 160 metres from the lighthouse. It is believed the total cost of the lightstation was around £16,000.[xxvii]

Light keeping
The first keepers to be stationed at Cape du Couedic were Mr. G.G. Duthie as Headkeeper, Mr G. E. Luckett as second-keeper, and Mr G. Marment as third-keeper. All three men were described as coming from experienced lightkeeping backgrounds, Duthie had previously been stationed at Troubridge Shoal, and Luckett had worked at Cape Northumberland Lighthouse prior to his posting at Cape du Couedic.[xxviii] Despite this experienced team, life at the station was not without peril. In 1910, just 13 months after Cape du Couedic was first lit, third keeper Marment was drowned near South Neptune Island while fishing.[xxix]
Figure 13. Cape du Couedic Lighthouse, 1917. Image courtesy of the NAA: A6247, A56/2 (© Commonwealth of Australia, National Archives of Australia)[xxx]

An oversight in the lighthouse's construction also resulted in serious injuries. The lantern
installed at the tower did not arrive with an internal or external catwalk which made cleaning the lantern glazing difficult. The Headkeeper in 1929, H.H. Beare, broke his ribs and suffered internal injuries when he fell approximately 21 metres from the tower while cleaning the glazing. After great difficulty in getting Beare to Kingscote via car, and then onto Adelaide by air, he made a full recovery.[xxxi]

Due to the rough road to the lighthouse, supplies were delivered via steamer and carried up the haulage way. Mail was delivered by horseback fortnightly.[xxxii]  By the early 1950's, shipping along Kangaroo Island had subsided considerably with vessels using Backstairs Passage and Investigator Strait instead.[xxxiii] By 1957, the lighthouse was automated and the keeper positions were terminated.

Keepers remained stationed at Cape du Couedic Lighthouse until the light was automated in 1957. The land was transferred to the State of South Australia with the Commonwealth retaining management of the lighthouse tower.

In 2019-2020, up to 96% of the Flinders Chase National Park was consumed by bushfires. The lightstation was left intact and unharmed.

  3.6 Chronology of major events
The following table details the major events to have occurred at Cape du Couedic Lighthouse.
Date          Event
27 June 1909  Light first exhibited.[xxxiv]