Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse

The Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse is located at Point Danger on the Queensland and New South Wales border.

Originally planned as a memorial to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the voyage along the east coast of Australia by Captain James Cook on the HMS Endeavour, in 1969 it was proposed that the project be expanded, the height of the memorial raised and a beacon incorporated into the design. The resulting lighthouse was subsequently constructed as a joint project between the Gold Coast City Council, the Tweed Shire Council and Commonwealth Department of Shipping and Transport in 1970.

The lighthouse used a helium-neon laser light and was the first light house in the world to beam laser light rather than use a more conventional electrical light source. The laser light was invented at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu U.S.A. in 1960.

The seven storey lighthouse, constructed of concrete, was built by Murwillumbah contractors Hanna & Edmed based on an original concept by the Gold Coast City Council’s first staff architect, Les Nyerges.

Consisting of four pillars, the lighthouse includes a capstan made by James Kemp and Co Pty Ltd that was cast from iron ballast reclaimed from Endeavour Reed where it was jettisoned by Cook in 1770.

The estimated cost of the project, including landscaping, was $72,189 and the lighthouse was officially opened on 18 April 1971 by The Hon. J. D. Anthony M.P. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry.

The laser beam was created by Laser Electronics Pty Ltd of Southport, but was found to be insufficient for the safety of shipping and shortly after installation, was replaced with conventional lighting.

In 1989 alterations were made to the base of the lighthouse to provide a radio base and observation post for the Point Danger Air-Sea Rescue organisation.

Sources of information and further reading

1. “Cook monument redesigned to act as a lighthouse” The Gold Coast Bulletin, (Southport, Qld.) 1969, 7 Nov.
2. Official programme : Captain Cook memorial and lighthouse : 2.30pm Sunday, 18 Apr, 1971.
3. “First Laser Lighthouse” The Gold Coaster, (Southport, Qld.) 1988, 29 Oct, p. 92.
4. “New Role for Cook Memorial” The Gold Coast Bulletin, (Southport, Qld.) 1989, 30 Feb, p. 24.
5. “bid to brighten up lighthouse” The Gold Coast Bulletin, (Southport, Qld.) 1983, 2 Sept, p. 28.
6. Gold Coast City Council News Release, Deputy Prime Minister to open Cook Memorial, 6 April 1971. Held in the Gold Coast Local Studies Collection.
7. Gold Coast City Council News Release, Remnants of the Endeavour for Point Danger, 6 April 1971. Held in the Gold Coast Local Studies Collection.
8. Gold Coast City Council News Release, Laser could lead the way in navigational revolution, 7 April 1971. Held in the Gold Coast Local Studies Collection.
9. Gold Coast City Council News Release, An original by Gold Coast City Architect, 7 April 1971. Held in the Gold Coast Local Studies Collection.
10. Gold Coast City Council News Release, Service Clubs show great interest in memorial, 8 April 1971. Held in the Gold Coast Local Studies Collection.