flattopisland

Flat Top Island outside Mackay, ca. 1874

from State Library of Queensland

• Vesna Verencevic said:

  Flat Top Island, is a small island off the entrance to Mackay harbor at the mouth of Pioneer River, about 6.5 kilometers (4.0 mi) east of Mackay, Queensland, Australia. It used to mark the river entrance for shipping and the direction of the port, as well as highlighting close-by shoals at Shoalwater Point and a reef off Hay Point. Flat Top Island Light is an inactive lighthouse located on Flat Top Island. At 6 meters (20 ft) from the ground to the lantern floor, it is the shortest of Queensland's timber-framed iron-clad lighthouses. In January 1918 the lighthouse was the only structure on the island and the only aid to navigation to survive the 1918 Mackay cyclone.[12] The lighthouse was automated around 1920. In 1991, the light source was still an open flame acetylene gas burner.[13] The light was discontinued in March 2007[14] and it is currently conserved on site.[15] The last light characteristic displayed was four flashes every twenty seconds, red and white depending on the direction. The lighthouse is currently inactive. Before that, it was operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The island is accessible only by boat. It is unclear whether public access to the site and tower are available. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Top_Island_Light

• Peter Robo said:

  Surely there must be someone in Mackay, a group or organization who would be interested in taking custodianship for this unique piece of history... Insitu restoration or relocation to Mackay as a tourist attraction!