Plans Found in Vacated Former Commonwealth Building

Along with the Friends of Maatsuyker Island and Wildcare, Inc., Lighthouses of Australia has acquired at auction plans and drawings of several Australian lighthouses. The online auction, held by Leski Auctions in Melbourne, had a winning bid of $3750 AUD for the lot of early and important plans, maps and design featuring many of Australia’s earliest lighthouses. Many of the plans were designed, signed and drawn by James Johnstone Barnet (1827-1904), noted Australian architect who was also responsible for many of Australia’s Public Buildings. His biography (linked to his name) is an interesting read in itself.

This is great news for the history of Australian lighthouses, although it would certainly have been better if these plans and drawings had been donated back to the state. I find it sad that lighthouse non-profits have to purchase items such as these at auctions, while at the same time applauding the three groups for going after them. Friends of Maatsuyker Island will retain the plans for Maatsuyker LIghthouse, Tasmania, while other Tasmanian lighthouse documents will be donated to an unidentified museum or heritage society.

It is thought the plans were formerly the property of the Hobart Marine Board, and left Tasmania when the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service took over management of the lighthouses. Some of the documents are in very fragile condition. The estimated value of the collection was $5,000 to $7,500 dollars.

Complete List of the Auction Lot

• Smokey Cape Lighthouse Plans (New South Wales)
  1. Detail of Tower Corble, hand drawn and coloured, 210×104 cm. Signed James Barnet, 31 August 1889.
  2. Road to Smokey Cape Lighthouse, drawn in ink, 122×76cm. Initialed JCR 11-90.
  3. Details of Iron Work, hand drawn and coloured, 234cmx110. Signed James Barnet, 28 August 1889.
  4. Granite Gallery Stone, hand drawn and coloured, 180×56cm. Signed James Barnet, 31 August 1889.
  5. Subsidiary Window for Fish Rock Danger, hand drawn, 52×36cm.
  6. Details of Gun Metal Casement, 126×75cm, hand drawn and coloured. Signed James Barnet, 18 September 1889.
  7. Details of Gun Metal Balcony Rail, 112×74cm, hand drawn and coloured. Signed James Barnet, 28 August 1889.
  8. Road to Smokey Cape Lighthouse, 121×75cm. Hand drawn in ink.
• McQuarie Lighthouse South Head Plans (New South Wales)
  1. Details of Panel Moulding, hand coloured and drawn, 144.84cm. Signed James Barnet, 28 october 1880.
  2. Details of Pier Cap Entrance Gates, hand drawn and colored 85×55cm. Signed by James Barnet, 13 September 1882.
  3. Details of Cornice, 108×69cm, hand drawn and coloured. Signed James Barnet, 8 March 1880.
  4. Details of Bulls Eye, hand drawn and coloured. 96×84cm.
  5. Details of Tower Base, hand drawn and coloured, 135×54cm. Signed James Barnet, 8 April 1880.
• Maatsuyker Island Light Station (Tasmania)
  1. Plan of Assistant’s Quarters, hand drawn ink, 72×57cm, R. Huckson, Architect.
  2. Plan of Master’s Quarters, hand drawn ink, 72×66cm, R. Huckson, Architect.
  3. Plan of Oil Store Workshop, (example 1), hand drawn ink. 69×45cm, R. Huckson, Architect.
  4. Plan of Oil Store Workshop, (example 2), hand drawn ink. 78×51cm. R. Huckson, Architect.
  5. Plan of Stable, hand drawn and colored. 65×48cm.
  6. Plan of Wharf , hand drawn ink, 69×67cm.
• Mersey Bluff Lighthouse (Tasmania)
  1. Details of Mersey Bluff Lighthouse (example 1) 74×55cm. Hand drawn and coloured. R. Huckson, Architect.
  2. Details of Mersey Bluff Lighthouse (example 2) 74×55cm. Hand drawn and coloured. R. Huckson, Architect.
  3. Details of Mersey Bluff Towers, 73×54 cm. Hand drawn.
  4. Details of Mersey Bluff Lighthouse, 74×55 cm. Hand Drawn.
• Seal Rockpoint Lighthouse (New South Wales)
  1. Details of full size Anchor Irons, Plates, Fascia, Etc. 92×105cm. Hand drawn and coloured.
• Green Cape Lighthouse (New South Wales)
  1. Details of Balcony Corbels, hand drawn and coloured, 240×110cm. Signed John Barnet, 1 July 1881.
• Barranjuey Lighthouse (New South Wales)
  1. Plan showing Stair to Tower, hand drawn and coloured, 103×110cm. Signed John Barnet, 1 May 1880.
• Point Perpendicular Jervis Bay (New South Wales)
  1. New Light and Keepers Quarters, 140×78cm. Hand drawn and coloured, Signed A Darby, 1897
• Eddystone Point Lighthouse (Tasmania)
  1. Clerk of Works Quarters, 42×54cm. Hand drawn and coloured.
• Plans For King Island (Cape Wickham Lighthouse, Tasmania)
  1. Details of the survey of Currie Harbour, 91X61cm. Hand drawn and coloured, dated 1912.
• Plans For Lightship
  1. Detailed plans for unattended lightship. Hand Drawn and coloured, 100×65cm. Stamped Commonwealth Naval Dockyard, Cockatoo Island, signed and dated 1918.
• Remainder of Lighthouse Archive
  1. Unidentified ink drawing of Lighthouse. 53×41cm.
  2. Hand drawn logo dated 1889. 32×35cm.
  3. Detailed plans for ship. “Arrangement of Machinery” Navy Office 1917. 96×59cm.
  4. New Light and Keepers Quarters, 140×78cm. Hand drawn and coloured, Signed A Darby, 1897.

Photo credit: Maatsuyker Lighthouse, Tasmania Originally uploaded by gingerbread36. All rights reserved.

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