The Cleveland Lighthouse following conservation works

The Cleveland Lighthouse is located on Shore Street North, Cleveland Point, Cleveland.  The lighthouse is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register (ID 600722), Redlands Planning Scheme Heritage Register, Register of the National Estate (ID 8651) and the National Trust of Queensland heritage register.  The lighthouse is a timber-framed, hexagonal, tapering weatherboard tower and was constructed in c1864 by the Queensland government.  It was a particularly early example of lighthouse construction in the new colony of Queensland and is particularly rare as it is one of the few remaining hexagonal lighthouses that remain extant in Queensland.  It is also a widely-recognised landmark.

In recent decades, the condition of the lighthouse has steadily deteriorated.  In 2009, the lighthouse was in a severe state of disrepair; amongst other things, most of the external timber elements were rotten, the internal frame was termite infested and the metal elements, including the canopy, were corroding.  Redland City Council commissioned Converge Heritage + Community to develop a detailed emergency works and conservation program for the lighthouse. 

The project was undertaken in two stages.  The first stage consisted of a structural assessment and condition audit, archival recording and emergency works.  Stage Two involved extensive conservation works following approval from the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) Cultural Heritage Branch.  Specialist tradespersons skilled in traditional carpentry, joinery and plumbing trades, combined with experience on working on heritage buildings, were selected for all works. 

Converge developed detailed work method statements prepared to best-practice heritage standards to guide specialist tradespeople engaged to undertake the conservation work.  Converge also prepared an updated conservation management plan that includes a maintenance schedule to assist with the ongoing management of the lighthouse, and interpretative signage that ensures the heritage values of the lighthouse are effectively communicated to visitors. 

The conservation work and ongoing maintenance guided by the conservation management plan will ensure the lighthouse remains a landmark for decades to come.    

Conservation work to the lighthouse

Example of condition of the lighthouse prior to conservation works