Woodman Point Quarantine Station

The Woodman Point Lighthouse was built in 1902 from local limestone, is (9.8m) high and was officially opened on 23rd August 1902 and is situated at Latitude 32 07.9S Longitude 115 46.0E

It was originally constructed as a rotating light but converted to a sector light of Red, White and Green. However, the sectors were placed incorrectly and Woodman Point is the only lighthouse in Australia that has a green and red sectors reversed. Ships always come in on the white sector.

The light was originally powered by a kerosene vapour light and was visible for 17 nautical miles, and a timing pattern that hid the light for 3 seconds every 30 seconds but was converted to electricity on the 19th July 1955 and de-manned.

The light is of 31,000 candle power and eclipses every 27 seconds for a period of 3 seconds and is now visible for 34.5 nautical miles ( 63.9 km ) in clear weather and during WWII it was used by the army as a communications base and observation post.

The lighthouse has an additional light that shines over Jervoise Bay toward Garden Island and both lights are activated through light sensitive receptors attached to the outside of the lighthouse.

The first lighthouse keeper was Mr. W. T. Efford and the last,
Mr.Laurance (Larry) Wallace McBride.
There were two relieving lighthouse keepers and these were for the above Mr. J. J. Lyons and the last Mr. L.V. Livesey. The names of the other lighthouse keepers were, Hutchinson, Arthur Dray, Ernest Dicks, and Christian J. P. Hansen.

William Thomas Efford. ( 1846 - 1920 )
with his wife Elizabeth (1856-1944)
and Amy Franklin(1887-1966) whom they adopted
W.T. Efford was also Lighthouse Keeper
at Arthur's Head and Rottnest Island

Laurance Wallace McBride.
Woodman Point's
last Lighthouse Keeper
Passed away 28th July 1992

Looking over the Woodman Point Peninsular, South West to Garden Island and West towards
Carnac Island

The Lighthouse Keeper cottages can be seen in the left foreground.

The two lighthouse keepers cottages were built in 1902 by the Harbour and Lights Dept. and are classified by the National Trust.
The cottage on the left is where the Head Keeper resided, while the other one, shown on the right, is the residence of the assistant lighthouse keeper.

The Obelisk, shipping marker or Cairn was built in 1839 or 1840 and is located approximately two kilometers south east of the Woodman Point Quarantine Station on a land feature that is commonly called the Spearwood Ridge.
It was built during maritime mapping and possibly by Commander Wickham of the H.M.S. Beagle and was used for all forms of navigation until the Woodman Point lighthouse was constructed in 1902.

The Navy cottages above, ( The Mayers family residence is on left ), were vacated by them for use by the Navy during WWII, to oversee employees who worked at the Naval Base Munition Jetties shown below.

The Naval Base Munitions Jetties shown in 2007 and in the 50's

Prior to WW2, Jack Mayers, was the Chief Boiler Engineer at the Quarantine Station. His occupation was O.I.C of the fumigation shed and the steam laundry, including, maintaining a constant water supply to the Quarantine Station from the well situated nearby to the lighthouse.

The well and reservoir that supplied water to the quarantine station, and required priming, morning and night.
A task completed daily by the Chief Boiler Engineer, Jack Mayers.

Compiled by:

Earle Seubert