Gantheaume Point Lighthouse

Author

Shire of Broome

Place Number

04414

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Location

Gantheaume Pt Rd Broome

Location Details

4km from Broome town

Local Government

Broome

Region

Kimberley

Construction Date

Constructed from 1917, Constructed from 1984, Constructed from 1905

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Register of the National Estate	Indicative Place				Heritage Council
Lighthouses Survey	Completed	01 May 2000			Heritage Council
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	28 Aug 2014	Grading C	Grading C A place (including a site with no built remains) of some cultural heritage significance to Shire of Broome. No constraints. Recommend: Encourage retention of the place, or where there are ruins, archaeological findings or no built remains: Interpret the place.

Statement of Significance

Gantheume Point lighthouse and ruins are significant as a landmark on the coast, and for the association with the functions of keeping a lighthouse, and with the lighthouse keepers, particularly Pat and Anastasia Percy.

Physical Description

Stainless steel trellis tower, 27m high with a fibreglass lantern. A stone chimney remains are evident at the carpark where there are also some interpretive panels telling of the history of the area including Anastasia’s Pool, and the Dinosaur’s footprint. Intrusive private residential development in close proximity to lighthouse.

History

Gantheume Point lighthouse was commissioned in 1905, and was one of ten lighthouses built on the West Australian coast between 1900 and 1913, most of them on the North West coast. At the time, the provision of lighthouses was the responsibility of the State, but in 1915, the control of all coastal lights went to Commonwealth. A house was provided for the lighthouse keeper, and the light was automated in 1922. The Gantheume Point light has been upgraded on a number of occasions in keeping with advancing technology. The last upgrade was in 1984. The light is powered by mains electricity and can be seen for18 nautical miles in normal weather conditions. The tower is home to a family of ospreys. When the residence was no longer required for a lighthouse keeper it was purchased by Pat Percy and his wife Anastasia. Pat was a police sergeant at Broome, but took up the more lucrative pursuit of pearling. Pat Percy invented the pearl box, a secure box for safeguarding pearls on board the luggers until they could be handed over to the pearling master. He was a member of Broome Road Board and held the post of Chairman. Anastasia Percy suffered from arthritis and when they moved out to the lighthouse keeper's house, Percy found a large hole, washed by the spring tide, which he had cemented so Anastasia could relax in the water to alleviate her condition. The remains of the chimney of the lighthouse keeper's house were restored by the Historical Society.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree
High degree

Condition

Fair/good

References

Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	Broome Historical Society	2000
Tom Chapple, Broome	The Exciting Years	1912-1930
Val Burton	General History of Broome

Other Reference Numbers

Ref Number	Description
No.48	MI Place No.

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id	Title	Medium	Year Of Publication
4586	The Australian Maritime Safety Authority : lighthouse conservation assessment : Gantheaume Point : Broome : Western Australia.	Heritage Study {Other}	2000
5942	Conservation analysis of 13 lighthouse properties.	C D Rom	2000

Place Type

Historic site

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	Transport\Communications	Water: Lighthouse
Present Use	Transport\Communications	Water: Lighthouse

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Other	METAL	Steel

Historic Themes

General	Specific
TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS	River & sea transport

Creation Date

21 Aug 1995

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

25 Feb 2021

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.