GRASSY ISLAND WARNING??

The Brisbane Courier, Saturday 20 May, 1911.

"In this connection," continued Mr.

Denham, "I may say that some few weeks

ago I asked the Portmaster (Captain

Mackay) to make a report, which might

form the basis of a communication to the

Federal Government with .respect to the

lighting along the Queensland coast. I

received that leport this morning, and it

is a lengthy and valuable one. I propose

remitting it to the Federal authorities, as

I think they will find it of considerable

assistance, coming from an officer who enjoys

the fullest confidence of this Government,

and, I think, of all sea going men. I note

a few things in the report which I feel at

liberty at this juncture to disclose. Captain 

Mackay remarks that following on the

loss of the Yongala an impression seems

to have gained currency that navigation

along the coast of Queensland is less safe

than elsewhere, but this is probably due

to a lack of evidence with respect to the

true cause of the disaster. Captain Mackay 

states that in respect to coastal lights

the Queensland coast is ahead of other

States, whilst from Pt. Danger to Cape

York it is the best surveyed portion of

the Australian coast. He reminds me that

in 1803 after obtaining the opinions of

coasting masters, Torres Straits pilots, and

others the following were submitted to the

Federal Government as localities where the

establishment of lights was considered most

deserving of attention : Pt. Lookout, India Head. 

Steep Island, Brook Island, and Cape Direction, 

on the inner route. In 1907 Captain Mackay 

was informed by Dr. Wollaston that these spots 

had been approved of, and a sum of £50,000 

placed on the Federal Estimates for the purpose 

of providing the lights recommended. The

amount was not passed and no further action 

was taken. At that time Steep Island was 

considered the best site, without any dissent, 

but the Yongala catastrophe, so fruitful of 

suggestions, has raised a consensus of 

opinion in favour of other sites, namely 

Cheviot Island, St. Bees, Keswick, Bailey 

Island, the Clara Group, and Dome Island. 

Although each of these has possibly its 

own special advantages, Captain Mackay 

thinks the question might remain in abeyance 

until inspected by the recently appointed 

Commonwealth expert. Captain Mackay 

considers the greatest danger on the coast is

at Breaksea Spit, and although the powerful 

light on Sandy Cape alleviates this to some 

extent, yet the risk of obscuration in squally 

weather, and the distance of the light from 

the extremity of the danger makes some 

improvement necessary. He therefore urges 

this for first attention. Capt. Mackay has 

submitted to me a chart showing the coast

from Keppel Bay to Townsville, on which he 

makes very interesting comments. He says: 

"Whilst the course impinges on several islands 

not one of them presents any outlying danger, 

and they can be approached closer up, and 

on the darkest night they stand out sentinel like, 

well defined and distinct. Capt. Mackav 

recommends that the following Iights should

have first attention:- Breaksea Spit, which he 

denominates as very important, Steep Island, 

or some other point in the vicinity, Keswick Island, 

Brook Island, and Cape Direction. He recommends 

further, the necessity for a light on Gloucester Head, 

or in that locality, and that the question of a light at 

Point Lookout remain in abeyance until the visit of the

Federal expert.

"I observe," continued Mr. Denham,

"that at a conference held recently at

Adelaide, some comment was made about 

providing communication between the light-

houses and Brisbane. At my request,

Capt. Mackay went into this matter, and

furnishes some interesting information.

He shows that the following lighthouses

are in direct telegraphic communication

with Brisbane, or they are able to

communicate by telephone, to telegraph 

stations giving connection with Brisbane:

Cape Moreton, Caloundra, Double Island

Point, Woody Island, Sandy Cape, Burnett 

Islands, Bustard Heads, Cape Capricorn, 

Flat-top, Cape Bowling Green, Cape

Cleveland, Archer Point, Grassy Island,

and Goode Island. So that in the absence

of any wireless installation Capt. Mackay

fails to see how the present communication 

can be improved. I understand that the 

installation of wireless is now largely in 

course of adoption by the shipping companies 

trading on the coast, and this will be an undoubted

element of safety in case of breakdown or minor 

disaster; but its efficiency under the conditions 

which overtook the Yongala must be largely a 

matter of conjecture."

From the tragedy emerged efforts to improve safety along the Queensland coast. 

If the report is accurate and Grassy Island had direct telegraphic communication with Brisbane, it begs the question why attempts were not made to signal Yongala a cyclone warning as she passed very close to the island at roughly 7 pm, 23 March? Surely if there was indeed communication with Brisbane, the same warning that reached Flat-Top must have reached this lighthouse as well???

Captain Stanley Robinson, an expert and good authority, assures me there was no light nor means of communication from Grassy Island.

However, there was means of communication from Cape Bowling Green Lighthouse and one assumes that the first reports of an approaching storm system / cyclone was issued to Brisbane from this site. And Brisbane allegedly sent a warning to Flat Top after Yongala had sailed.

courtesy Google Earth