Grassy Hill - The Lighthouse
Cooktown was established in 1873, but no beacon guided ships through the reef until the lighthouse was built in 1886. It was supplied by Chance Brothers Ltd, England, and for years was one of only four along the Queensland coast. Small lighthouses were staffed by a lone keeper who announced the arrival of ships by raising a flag. At midday a time ball was dropped from the signal staff.
Grassy Hill Lighthouse circa 1914
Extract from The Cooktown Courier, 1885
“We understand that our Lighthouse is on board the “New Guinea”, which left Batavia on 27th of July for Queensland ports. We have another proof of the government’s desire to deal fairly with us.
Before long the bright rays of our light will be glowing over the waste waters, carrying comfort and an assurance of safety to mariners who have to thread the intricate navigation of our coast – no better monument could be erected to the memory of Capt. James Cook.
It is the one he himself would have chosen, as it will reach the gallant navigator and explorer every time it’s white tower of bright light is seen.”
Cooktown’s Last Lighthouse Family
Thomas William Carter, a mariner by profession, was the last lighthouse keeper at Cooktown.
Carter died at Grassy Hill on Christmas Eve, 1918, a month before his 59th birthday. He was survived by his wife and seven children, the youngest just 6 months old, and 5 months before his eldest son, Joseph returned from World War 1.
Of living on Grassy Hill, Joseph later wrote enthusiastically –
“An Ideal Spot -- 500 feet above sea level---got every breeze that blew; being so far North, that was an asset. We had a glorious view towards Mt. Cook...the Endeavour River flats for miles, and up to 25 miles to sea-ward. On clear days, with the telescope, it was possible to see the surf breaking on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef.
The Lighthouse is about 20 feet high and was classed 4th Order – one man station, no night watches kept. A fixed white light, visible in clear weather, at sea level, approximately 20 miles, no red sectors in lantern windows all clear water to the inner edge of the Barrier Reef and South to the toe of Mount Cook and North to Cape Bedford”.
Our Lighthouse in the Limelight
After shining its beam across the reefs for a hundred years, the threat of the loss of the lighthouse galvanised the Cooktown community in 1987. Threatened with the Government decommissioning of the facility, a group of residents believing the Lighthouse to be of great local National and International significance campaigned for nearly a year to save the Lighthouse for the community and visitors into the future. Receiving substantial media attention, support came from all over Australia. The power of a united voice prevailed and in 1988 the Lighthouse and the area around it, was “sold” to the Cooktown people for $100.
Read detailed Queensland Heritage info on the lighthouse here
