Cowan Cowan Point Light

Cowan Cowan Point Light

Cowan Cowan Point Light in 1899
Queensland
Location	Moreton Island Queensland Australia
Coordinates	27°08′12″S 153°21′46″E / 27.13655°S 153.36282°E / -27.13655; 153.36282
Year first constructed	1860s (first) 1874 (second)
Automated	1950
Construction	wooden tower
Tower shape	hexagonal frustum tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern	white tower and red lantern dome
Height	5.5 feet (1.7 m), from 1867 10 feet (3.0 m)
Light source	acetylene in 1950
Range	12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi)
Admiralty number	K2859
NGA number	5844
ARLHS number	AUS-295

Cowan Cowan Point Light, was also known as Cowan Cowan Light or Cowan Point Light, was located on Cowan Cowan Point, on the western shore of Moreton Island, Queensland, Australia.

The first settlement at the point was a pilot station, moved from Amity Point in August 1848. The pilot station was later moved to Bulwer. The first lighthouse was constructed in the early 1860s, a 18 feet (5.5 m) wooden tower. It carried a large kerosene burner with a reflector and showed a fixed white light. In 1867, together with the construction of the Comboyuro Point Light tower, the tower was extended to 34 feet (10 m).

In 1873 it was decided that the tower should be upgraded again. The new lighthouse was constructed in 1874 by the brothers John and Jacob Rooney of Maryborough, who already constructed Sandy Cape Light in 1870. The Rooney brother also constructed Lady Elliot Island Light around the same time, and the same lantern plan was used for both lighthouses. They later constructed Cape Bowling Green Light in 1874,Cape Capricorn Light in 1875, and finally Booby Island Light in 1890. The apparatus was also upgraded and the old apparatus was installed on the old Comboyuro Point tower which was moved to Burnett Heads and is now known as the Old Burnett Heads Light. The light was intensified in 1883 by installed condensing prisms. Further construction is reported in 1899, though no details exist.

Coastal erosion problems were reported as early as 1898. In 1901 the tower and the cottage were moved 635 feet (194 m) inland to protect them from the aforementioned erosion. A 1909 listing describes the tower as a wooden tower, carrying a fixed fourth order dioptric apparatus. The light was showing red and white sectors, and was visible for 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi).

In 1909 the pilot station at Bulwer was closed except for a remaining signal station. In 1912 this signal station was moved to Cowan Cowan. For part of its lifetime, the signal station was operated by the Cowan Cowan light keeper. In 1950 the light was converted to acetylene gas, automated, and demanned.