The Cape Capricorn Light Station on Curtis Island has been home to three different lights since it was built in 1875. Plans to build the original lighthouse faltered when only one tender was received to build it, and this was at twice the estimated cost. Eventually, the lighthouse was prefabricated in Brisbane and shipped to Curtis Island. It was replaced in 1937 and again in 1964, but the keeper’s quarters remained largely unchanged since the first facelift.
The lighthouse has been guiding ships safely along the Central Queensland coast for many years and it has played an important role in the development of Queensland’s maritime history. It was especially significant for its strong association with the life of the light keepers and their families, as well as the maintenance and store people. The lighthouse stands at an elevation of 300ft and is exposed to the full force of the strong winds. A tramway with a grade of 1 in 7 was used to haul all the stores from the beach to the lighthouse. The trolley was hauled up by a motorised friction winch, which gave a jerky ride going up.
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