Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01613:front:0:p12
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Character Range: 31954–34739

elevation would be of great benefit to the coast.[18]

Despite the ever-insistent requests for a lighthouse, the various marine boards of Tasmania were reluctant to action the works claiming "there was no necessity at present for a light at Table Cape".[19]

Eventually in 1880, the erection of a light on Table Cape was put towards the Consolidated Marine Board, a board comprised of members from both the Launceston and Hobart Marine Boards. Finally, the motion was accepted and by early 1883, a site on Table Cape had been inspected, selected and cleared.[20]

Design and construction
The design for Table Cape Lighthouse was originally tasked to a Mr H. Conway, who visited the chosen site in 1883. Conway's design was never completed and eventually in 1886, the Marine Board Architect, Mr. R. Huckson of Huckson & Hutchinson, was given the responsibility of designing the lighthouse. His designs displayed a brick structure approximately 50 ft. in height with two accompanying cottages.[21]
Huckson & Hutchinson
Huckson & Hutchinson was founded in 1887 by Robert Huckson and R. Hutchinson. The firm was responsible for the design of many Tasmanian lighthouses including Table Cape, Mersey Bluff, Eddystone Point, Maatsuyker, Cape Sorrell, and Low Head. The firm also designed various alterations and necessary repairs to lightstations across the state.

On 9 February 1887, tenders were called for the construction of the lighthouse. The original estimate for the works was placed at £7,000, and Mr. John Luck's tender of £4240 5s. 11d. was accepted for construction of the tower and keepers quarters.[22] Construction began that same year. Approximately 110,000 red vitrified bricks were imported from Victoria for the construction of the lighthouse, and a hydraulic ram pumped water from the nearby creek to the site.[23]
Figure 13. Design blueprint for Table Cape Lighthouse, 1887. Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia: A9568, 5/14/1 (© Commonwealth of Australia, National Archives of Australia)

Equipment when built
Upon completion, the lightstation consisted of the tower, a flagstaff, and two cottages to house the Head Lightkeeper, Assistant Lightkeepers, and their families.
The tower stood at 45 ft. in height, and the lantern at 25 ft. A vaulted chamber was constructed at the base of the tower to be used as a storeroom with an iron spiral staircase made up of 65 steps leading to the lantern room.[24]

The following was the 'Notice to Mariners' published in The Mercury newspaper on 30 April 1888:

    It is situated in lat. 41deg. 3 min. south; long. 145deg. 43min. 30sec. east (approximate). The tower is 50 ft. in height from the base of the lantern and is built of red bricks, and left in the natural colour. It will be a 'fixed white light,'