LIGHTHOUSES ACT, 1911.

Lighthouses Act of 1911:

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2011C00218

'In June 1911 the Lighthouses Act came into effect after an extensive report into the condition of existing state lighthouses and the need for more. On 1 July 1915 the Commonwealth officially accepted responsibility for all light stations around Australia.'

https://www.amsa.gov.au/about-amsa/recent-events/2015/jun-lighthouse/index.asp

Daily Mercury, Mackay, Monday 26 May, 1913.

QUEENSLAND'S LIGHTHOUSES.

The State Treasurer (Mr. W. H.

Barnes), when questioned last week

on the proposal of the Commonwealth 

to take over the control of the lighthouses, 

lightships, beacons, and buoys on the 

coast of Queensland, said that an official 

communication had been received from the

Federal authorities in which it was

intimated that the proposed transfer

would take place on October 1 next.

The transfer would include the whole

of the 29 lighthouses and 23 beacons

on the coast, and it was the intention

of the Federal Government that the

Pine Islet light should be discontinued

later. The Federal Government had

power under clause 69 of the 

Constitution Act to take over posts, 

telegraphs, telephones, naval and 

military defence, lighthouses, lightships,

beacons, and buoys, quarantine. The

control of posts, telegraphs, and telephones 

had been taken over at the inception of the 

Commonwealth, and of 'quarantine' recently, 

but it was only now that action had been taken

with regard to the transfer of the control of 

lighthouses, lightships, beacons and buoys,

and for some reason or other a special Act had

been passed by the Commonwealth

Government during December, 1911, to deal 

with them. The Commonwealth Government 

had asked him to supply certain information 

with regard to the quantities of stores and

luminants estimated to be on hand on July 1 

next, and the quantities which the State 

Government intended to obtain up to that 

date in order to complete the supplies for 

the ensuing year. The estimated costs were 

asked, in each case, and it was said that it

was the intention of the Federal Government 

to pay for nine-twelfths of the stores and 

luminants estimated for the year ending

June 30, 1914.

At the time of the Yongala disaster the lighthouses along the Queensland coast fell under the jurisdiction of the State of Queensland. According to the extract above the Act came into being due to the 'state of lighthouses' and 'the need for more'. The timing of the Act coincided with the Inquiry into the loss of the Yongala. Was this purely coincidence? It was concluded at the Inquiry that having more lighthouses along the stretch of coast between Mackay and Townsville would not have prevented the Yongala disaster. Knowing where the wreck of the Yongala lies, 11 n miles off the coast, it was a rational conclusion. However, the function of these lighthouses, including that of Dent Island was under the jurisdiction of Queensland State and to a large extent explains, in my opinion, why the Marine Inquiry was held in this state and not at the port of registration for Yongala, Adelaide. Deficiencies in communication between lighthouse stations, such as Dent, was the weak link in providing Captain Knight with a warning about the cyclone off Bowen.