Carnarvon Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage (fmr) [Babbage Island Lighthouse]

Child Places

• 25484 Babbage Island Lighthouse
• 25484 Babbage Island Lighthouse

Statement of Significance

The light house keeper’s quarters has some significance as a demonstration of a way of life now seldom practised maintaining the isolated light houses on the Western Australian coast. It has historical significance as part of a group of structures including the Light Tower, the ‘mile long’ jetty and the remains of the tramway, that have played an important part in the development of Carnarvon as a part. It is also well preserved but by no means unique example of a timber frame PWD housing at the turn of the century.

Physical Description

The Light House Keeper’s quarters is a simple timber and iron cottage designed by the PWD in 1895 and built in 1896-7 in association with a timber light tower. It is located on Babbage island near the ‘mile long’ stock jetty ad the tramway connecting it to the town of Carnarvon, all built around the same time as major improvements to the port facilities. These replaced the 1880’s jetty and tramway at Mangrove Point that could cater for lighters only. The shipping of wool, cattle and people by coastal steamer had become big business in the northwest by the 1890’s and Carnarvon was the major port to the Gascoyne region.
The cottage is a fairly well-preserved example of its type but isnot unique. Finer examples of light keeper’s quarters that are contemporary with this one, still exist on Rottnest Island, at Woodman’s Point and at Capers Leeuwin and Naturalist. These are similar in plan by have hipped roofs and are built of locally quarried stone. They all belong to the days when lighthouses required daily attention and their keepers were housed on site. Most lights are now automatic and only service once or twice a year.
The Quarters consist of a four roomed cottage with a central passage and a verandah all round. The main gable roof and verandahs are sheeted in corrugated iron. The main gable roof and verandahs are sheeted in corrugated iron. Verandah roofs are sealed on the rake with reed moulded lining boards. Ceilings and walls inside are similarly lined while external walls and gable ends are clad in rough weatherboard. These materials are in fair and near original condition. Timber boards to the verandahs still exist but are in poor condition. Floors appear to be supported on tree trunk stumps in some places, The southern verandah has been enclosed and washrooms added to the seaward side of the west verandah. The yard contains a detached WC and a standard design PWD cistern with its dome above ground level.

History

Assessment 1989 for LIGHT HOUSEKEEPERS QUARTERS

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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.