Hope For Vandalized Crookhaven Lighthouse
By Sue Clark on May 26, 2008 in Featured 
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Vandalism, Neglect, Weather Takes Toll
One of New South Wales’ most endangered lighthouses, Crookhaven Head, may get some help to restore it to its natural beauty. The Shoalhaven City Council will be meeting May 27, 2008 to discuss options for restoring this most neglected of Australia’s lighthouses. In a story at the South Coast Register, the council’s Crown Reserve, Works and Community Operations committee discussed the community’s concern with the state of the light tower ad considered ways to turn the lighthouse and headland into a major tourist draw.
The council maintains a small trail to the site, along with a small platform, but is not allowed to clear the overgrown tangle of thicket from the rest of the area. This has led to increased vandalism at the site, as the area is not easily visible to the town. The Mayor, Greg Watson, suggested the town apply to the proper authorities for permission to clear the land back to its “bald as a badger” state.
The Ongoing Vandalism
Earlier this year, Lighthouse News mentioned Crookhaven Head in an article about the ongoing problem of vandalism to NSW’s lighthouses. It is inconceivable how any community can allow their historic treasures to be defaced without putting a stop to it. The building attached to the lighthouse was restored in the 1990s, but because of the isolation, was hit repeatedly by vandals and is in worse shape now than it was.
The lighthouse on the site is the current incarnation, built in 1904. Photo at the right shows the light circa 1908. The original, a wooden structure, was placed into service in 1882. Prior to that, a red light made from a ship’s masthead light and supported on two poles had been used as a makeshift lighthouse at the river entrance for the ten years previous.
Heritage Groups To Help
According to the story, there are lighthouse heritage groups willing to help if access is gained. And the first step is clearing up the land about the site. One of the councillors requested the council to again write the Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock asking her to spearhead a campaign to have the lighthouse restored. With this much interest, perhaps the damage to Crookhaven will end and restoration can begin.
The solution is simple. Get the necessary permissions to clean the site up, get your citizens involved and restore the light. Perhaps forming a citizen’s watch group will help cut down on the vandalism, if there is access beyond a trail. If there is as much pride in their history as the story indicates, the townspeople will surely step up to help if requested.
If You Fix It, They Will Come
Tourists will flock to the area, with their money, and help the local economy if the lighthouse is accessible, safe and attractive. There won’t be much the town has to do to bring them in. See how lighthouses are good for the economy, Making Lighthouses Profitable, a previous article in Lighthouse News. All it takes is some willing volunteers and some seed money, possibly available through grants and other funding sources. Partnering with other groups makes it even easier.
Let’s hope the vandalism at Crookhhaven stops now. For an amazing success story on the resurgence of a vandalized Queensland Lighthouse, check out the story on Bustard Head at One News. It can be done.
Photo credits:
- Crookhaven Head Lighthouse by caz61.
- 1908 Crookhaven from Wollongong City Library & Illawarra Historical Society
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