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Commonwealth legislation
This Heritage Management Plan prescribes how the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) will manage, maintain and alter Mersey Bluff Lighthouse so its Commonwealth heritage values are conserved while the light continues to operate as an aid to navigation. It sets practical rules on maintenance schedules, equipment changes, approvals, monitoring and record‑keeping.
The plan affects AMSA, its maintenance contractor, state and federal heritage bodies, authorised visitors and Traditional owners because it determines who may act, what approvals and reports are required, and who pays for and delivers upkeep.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Mersey Bluff Lighthouse Heritage Management Plan 2022.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority makes this heritage management plan under section 341S of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) for Mersey Bluff Lighthouse.
1 November 2022
Mick Kinley
Chief Executive Officer
Copyright
© Australian Maritime Safety Authority
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority encourages the dissemination and exchange of information provided in this publication.
Except as otherwise specified, all material presented in this publication is provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. This excludes:
The Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence is a standard form licence agreement that allows you to copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this publication provided that you attribute the work. The details of the version 4.0 of the licence are available on the Creative Commons website, as is the full legal code for that licence.
Third Party Copyright
Some material in this document, made available under the Creative Commons Licence framework, may be derived from material supplied by third parties. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has made all reasonable efforts to identify content supplied by third parties using the following format ‘© [name of third party]’ or ‘Source: [name of third party]’. Permission may need to be obtained from third parties to re-use their material.
Acknowledgements
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community.
Contact
For additional information or any enquiries about this heritage management plan, please contact:
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Manager Asset Management and Preparedness
PO Box 10790
Adelaide Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Phone: (02) 6279 5000 (switchboard)
Email: Heritage@amsa.gov.au
Website:
Attribution
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s preference is that you attribute this publication (and any material sourced from it) using the following wording:
Source: Australian Maritime Safety Authority Mersey Bluff Lighthouse Heritage Management Plan – 2022
Front cover image
Figure 1. Mersey Bluff Lighthouse (Source: AMSA, 2020)
More information
For enquiries regarding copyright including requests to use material in a way that is beyond the scope of the terms of use that apply to it, please contact us through our website: www.amsa.gov.au
Mersey Bluff Lighthouse
Heritage Management Plan
2022
Table of Contents
Executive summary
Introduction
Mersey Bluff Lighthouse site
2.1 Location
2.2 Setting and landscape
2.3 Lease and ownership
2.4 Access
2.5 Listings
3.1 General history of lighthouses in Australia
3.2 The Commonwealth Lighthouse Service
3.3 Tasmanian lighthouse management administration
3.4 Mersey Bluff: a history
3.5 Building a lighthouse
3.6 Chronology of major events
3.7 Changes and conservation over time
3.8 Summary of current and former uses
3.9 Summary of past and present community associations
3.10Unresolved questions or historical conflicts
3.11Recommendations for further research
4.1 Register
4.2 Related object and associated AMSA artefacts
4.3 Comparative analysis
5.1 Commonwealth Heritage Listing – Mersey Bluff Lighthouse
5.2 TAS State Heritage Register – Mersey Bluff Lighthouse
5.3 Condition and integrity of the Commonwealth heritage values
5.4 Gain and loss of heritage values
6.1 Implications arising from significance
6.2 Framework – sensitivity to change
6.3 Statutory and legislative requirements
6.4 Operational requirements and occupier needs
6.5 Proposals for change
6.6 Potential pressures
6.7 Processes for decision-making
Conservation management policies
Policy implementation plan
8.1 Plan and schedule
8.2 Monitoring and reporting
Appendix 1. Glossary of heritage conservation terms
Appendix 2. Glossary of historic lighthouse terms relevant to Mersey Bluff
Appendix 3. Table demonstrating compliance with the EPBC Regulations
Appendix 4. Mersey Bluff current light details
Appendix 5. Document detailing 1921 acetylene explosion inside Mersey Bluff Lighthouse &
Transcription
Appendix 6. Notice to Mariners. Mersey Bluff Lighthouse – Intended alteration in colour of
Tower (1929).
Endnotes
Reference list
List of Figures
Figure 1. Cover photo of the Mersey Bluff Lighthouse (© AMSA, 2020)
Figure 2. Planning process applied for heritage management (Source: Australia ICOMOS, 1999)
Figure 3. Location of Mersey Bluff Lighthouse (Map Data © 2021 Google, NASA, TerraMetrics)
Figure 4. Mersey Bluff, Devonport (Map data: © 2021 Google, CNES/Airbus, Maxar Technologies)
Figure 5. Setting and landscape of Mersey Bluff – views from Lighthouse (© AMSA, 2013)
Figure 6. Mersey Bluff Lighthouse Map of AMSA lease, 2018 (Map data: © Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community)
Figure 7. View of access road from lighthouse (© AMSA, 2017)
Figure 8. Incandescent oil vapour lamp by Chance Brothers (Source: AMSA)
Figure 9. Dioptric lens on display at Narooma (Source: AMSA, 2011)
Figure 10. Dalén’s system - sunvalve, mixer, flasher and cylinder (Source: AMSA)
Figure 11. Huckson & Hutchison design blueprint for Mersey Bluff Lighthouse 1889. NAA: A9568, 5/7/1 (© Commonwealth of Australia, National Archives of Australia)
Figure 12. Mersey Bluff [picture] [ca. 1910] In: Crowther album 3, no. 16], digitised item from: W.L. Crowther Library, State Library of Tasmania
Figure 13. Proposed alteration in colour of tower, CLS 1929. NAA: P1130, 29/0062 (© Commonwealth of Australia, National Archives of Australia)
Figure 14. a) Table Cape Lighthouse (TAS) lit 1888 (Source: AMSA), and b) Mersey Bluff Lighthouse (TAS) lit 1889 (© AMSA, 2010)
Figure 15. Original document detailing acetylene explosion at Mersey Bluff Lighthouse, 1921. NAA: P1130, 29/0006 (© Commonwealth of Australia, National Archives of Australia)
Figure 16. Notice to Mariners regarding 1929 alteration to tower colour. NAA: P1130, 29/0062 (© Commonwealth of Australia, National Archives of Australia)
Acronym List
List of acronyms utilised throughout this heritage management plan:
| Acronym | Definition |
|---|---|
| AGA | Gas Accumulator Company |
| AMSA | Australian Maritime Safety Authority |
| AMSG | Australian Maritime Systems Group |
| AtoN | Aid to Navigation |
| BBT | Barbier, Benard, et Turenne |
| CHL | Commonwealth Heritage List |
| EPBC Act | Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) |
| EPBC Regulations | Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (Cth) |
| HMP | Heritage Management Plan |
| IALA | International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities |
| LED | Light emitting diode |
| NAA | National Archives of Australia |
| NES | National Environmental Significance |
| NLA | National Library of Australia |
| RMS | Record Management System |
| RNE | Register for the National Estate (non-statutory archive) |
| THR | Tasmanian Heritage Register |
Executive Summary
Mersey Bluff Lighthouse is a historic site recognised by both Commonwealth and State governments for its heritage significance. The lighthouse was placed on the Commonwealth Heritage List in 2004 due to its contribution to the development of Devonport and the Mersey District, and its status as a significant local landmark.
Mersey Bluff Lighthouse is listed on the Tasmanian State Heritage Register for its association with the early settlement and development of the surrounding region, and the expansion of the shipping trade along the Tasmanian coast. The site is also recognised for its representation of principal late 19th century lighthouse characteristics, and its standing as an important local landmark within the township of Devonport. This site is also of high cultural significance to the Tommeginne People.
Built in 1889, the lighthouse is situated on Mersey Bluff, a promontory located along the northern coast of Tasmania within Mersey District. Originally accompanied by superintendents’ quarters, a flag pole, tide house and signal shed, the lighthouse tower is now the only structure found at the site and is leased by AMSA.
The tower is fitted with a 4th Order Chance Brothers & Co. lens and exhibits a light-emitting diode (LED) source operated on an automated mechanism as part of AMSA’s network of marine aids to navigation (AtoN). The equipment is serviced by AMSA’s maintenance contractor who visits at least once each year. AMSA officers visit on an ad hoc basis for auditing, project and community liaison purposes.
This heritage management plan concerns the lighthouse, but also considers the management of the surrounding land which is managed by the Minister administering the Crowns Lands Act 1976 (Tas). The plan is intended to guide decisions and actions of AMSA who continues to operate the lighthouse. AMSA has prepared this plan to integrate the heritage values of the lighthouse in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Cth (EPBC Act), and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 Cth (EPBC Regulations).
Well-built and generally well-maintained, the lighthouse is in relatively good, stable condition. The policies and management guidelines set out in this heritage management plan strive to ensure the Commonwealth heritage values of Mersey Bluff Lighthouse are recognised, maintained and preserved for future generations.
Introduction
1. Background and Purpose
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is the Commonwealth agency responsible for coastal AtoN. AMSA’s network includes the Mersey Bluff Lighthouse, built in 1889.
Section 341S of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act requires AMSA to prepare a management plan for Mersey Bluff Lighthouse that addresses the matters prescribed in Schedules 7A and 7B of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (Cth) (EPBC Regulations). The principal features of this management plan are:
a description of the place, its heritage values, their condition and the method used to assess its significance
an administrative management framework
a description of any proposals for change
an array of conservation policies that protect and manage the place
an implementation plan
ways the policies will be monitored and how the management plan will be reviewed.
AMSA has prepared this heritage management plan to guide the future conservation of the place. This plan provides the framework and basis for the conservation and best practice management of the Mersey Bluff Lighthouse in recognition of its heritage values. The policies in this plan indicate the objectives for identification, protection, conservation and presentation of the commonwealth heritage values of the place. Figure 2 shows the basic planning process applied.
Figure 2. Planning process applied for heritage management (Source: Australia ICOMOS, 1999)
1.2 Heritage management plan objectives
The objectives of this heritage management plan are to:
In undertaking these objectives, this plan aims to:
The organisational planning cycle and associated budgeting process is used to confirm requirements, allocate funding and manage delivery of maintenance activities. Detailed planning for the AtoN network is managed through AMSA’s internal planning processes.
An interactive map showing many of AMSA’s heritage sites, including Mersey Bluff Lighthouse, can be found at AMSA Heritage Lighthouses Interactive MapP0F[1]P.
1.3 Methodology
The methodology used in the preparation of this plan is consistent with the recommendations of The Burra Charter[2] and with the requirements of Chapter 5, Part 15 Division 1A of the EPBC Act. In particular, the plan:
The cri
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.