Table Cape Light house (series of 9)
Table Cape area first settled and developed by the Van Dieman's Land Company in the 1820's.
A marine board was established for the nearby Port of Wynyard in 1868. The port had grown during the 1850' to cope with the burgeoning timber trade.
Mr C.B.M. Fenton, a former mariner, kept a light burning in the front window of his house to guide mariners during the night.
The board established two iron beacons at the mouth of the Inglis River in 1870. These were constructed by Mr William Peart, who later became Harbour Master.
After several shipping incidents in the area, Table Cape was examined by Mr J.C. Climie, a railway engineer, for its suitability for a lighthouse.
Table Cape is a spectacular flat topped promontory with a sheer drop to the sea.
Construction began and the tower and cottages were completed and in service in 1888. The tower was constructed of brick then, painted white. It has a circular steel stairway and a steel fly-over gangway to the door which is set above the below ground level base. The keeper's cottages were built of stone.
The design was by Huckson and Hutchinson of Hobart and built by a local builder, Mr. John Luck. The bricks came from Victoria as ballast.
Materials were brought to the site, from Wynyard 7 kilometres to the south, by bullock wagon.
Less than three weeks after the opening of the light the headkeeper's son, Bertie died at the age of 14 months.
The cause is not known, but it is the cause of a sad entry in the lighthouse log book.
"Wind south. A strong breeze and misty weather. Employed in the lighthouse and cleaning up about station. At 5.10 p.m.
Bertie Jackson, son of the head lightkeeper, departed this life aged one year and two months."
The undertaker struggled up from Wynyard on horse back with the small casket and after consultation with the clergy recommended that Bertie be buried near the lighthouse were his family could tend to his grave.
He was placed in a grave marked by a fuchsia bush. The bush has long since disappeared, but locals who knew the place have recently constructed a memorial.(Light houses of Australia)
Table Cape Light house (series of 9)
Table Cape area first settled and developed by the Van Dieman's Land Company in the 1820's.
A marine board was established for the nearby Port of Wynyard in 1868. The port had grown during the 1850' to cope with the burgeoning timber trade.
Mr C.B.M. Fenton, a former mariner, kept a light burning in the front window of his house to guide mariners during the night.
The board established two iron beacons at the mouth of the Inglis River in 1870. These were constructed by Mr William Peart, who later became Harbour Master.
After several shipping incidents in the area, Table Cape was examined by Mr J.C. Climie, a railway engineer, for its suitability for a lighthouse.
Table Cape is a spectacular flat topped promontory with a sheer drop to the sea.
Construction began and the tower and cottages were completed and in service in 1888. The tower was constructed of brick then, painted white. It has a circular steel stairway and a steel fly-over gangway to the door which is set above the below ground level base. The keeper's cottages were built of stone.
The design was by Huckson and Hutchinson of Hobart and built by a local builder, Mr. John Luck. The bricks came from Victoria as ballast.
Materials were brought to the site, from Wynyard 7 kilometres to the south, by bullock wagon.
Less than three weeks after the opening of the light the headkeeper's son, Bertie died at the age of 14 months.
The cause is not known, but it is the cause of a sad entry in the lighthouse log book.
"Wind south. A strong breeze and misty weather. Employed in the lighthouse and cleaning up about station. At 5.10 p.m.
Bertie Jackson, son of the head lightkeeper, departed this life aged one year and two months."
The undertaker struggled up from Wynyard on horse back with the small casket and after consultation with the clergy recommended that Bertie be buried near the lighthouse were his family could tend to his grave.
He was placed in a grave marked by a fuchsia bush. The bush has long since disappeared, but locals who knew the place have recently constructed a memorial.(Light houses of Australia)