[AUSTRALIA-QLD] Torres Strait Goode Island Anchorage

Rare first issue of this Hydrographic chart of present day Goods Island, Torres Strait showing the entrance to the anchorage on the south western side of the island dated 18th March, 1904.

The first Europeans to inhabit Goods Island were E. Powell, the signalman, and his family. A signal station and quarters were established there in 1877. Powell used a flash lamp and flags to signal ships approaching Prince of Wales Channel or Normanby Sound, and then signal the Police Magistrate on Thursday Island. Shortly afterwards, a pilot station and associated living quarters were also established, on the eastern side of the island. Also at this time, Hockings, one of the Strait’s most prominent pearling businesses, established a pearling station there.

In 1882 Torres Strait pearl fishers requested that the Queensland government install a light at the western entrance of the strait. The request was strongly endorsed by George Heath, chairman of the Queensland Marine Board, who directed that it be constructed on Goods Island, to point out the entrance to Normanby Sound. A temporary light was at first installed on the verandah of the signalman’s quarters. This was followed in 1886 by the construction of a proper lighthouse using government labour. The lighthouse was a small iron clad, timber framed building, with a white, cylindrical body and red cupola roof. It was installed with a dioptric light of the Fourth Order, with a totally reflecting glass mirror. Although it only stood around five metres high, it was located at the highest point on the island, reaching a height of 115 metres.