4.4.1 Commonwealth heritage value

Five properties in the Region are on the Commonwealth Heritage List: Low Island and Low Islets lightstation; the lightstations on Dent Island, Lady Elliot Island and North Reef (Figure 4.4); and the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area. No new places in the Region have been added to the Commonwealth Heritage List since 2019. 

The condition (and trend in condition) of Commonwealth heritage values are assessed against the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act) criteria (processes, rarity, research, characteristic value, aesthetic characteristics, technical achievement, and Indigenous tradition). Not all places are included for all criteria; only the relevant places are assessed (and noted) against each criterion.

Photograph of a white and red lighthouse, taken from the beach. There is coastal vegetation in the foreground eithers side of the lighthouse.
Commonwealth Heritage listed lighthouse at North Reef Island. © Commonwealth of Australia (Reef Authority). Photographer: Alicia Moisel 2024

Since 2019, annual inspections of the Region’s historic heritage values were completed on all three Commonwealth islands.38,72,1067,1139 The management strategy for Commonwealth heritage listed places and properties was updated in 2022, as a requirement under the EPBC Act.1140 An independent assessment of management effectiveness for the Region’s historic heritage value is discussed in Chapter 7.

Historic heritage values were inspected annually on all three Commonwealth islands

Low Island and Low Islets lightstation: The lightstation on Low Island is about 15 kilometres north-east of Port Douglas. As well as the lightstation structures, the island is included on the Commonwealth Heritage List because of its significance to the Kuku Yalanji and Yirrganydji Traditional Owner groups as part of their Dreamings. No new evidence is available regarding the condition of the island’s Indigenous heritage values.1141 The current condition of the lightstation has been monitored by managers through an annual monitoring and maintenance program. Between 2021 and 2023, infrastructure works were completed on the residence on Low Island (of the former assistant lighthouse keeper) 1067 and exterior works on the ‘boat shed’ and historic diesel fuel tank. In 2022, temporary works protected the historic gravesite that became vulnerable to the significant threat of erosion. Works to relocate the gravesite commenced in late 2023. Managers continue to prepare the first management plan for the listed place required under the EPBC Act. Published long-term condition data remains a gap.

Dent Island lightstation is located on Dent Island in the Whitsundays. The Lady Elliot Island lightstation is located on Lady Elliot Island, 75 kilometres north-east of Bundaberg. Managers are confident the condition of the historic heritage value of these place’s remain good and improving, but published data are limited. The management plan for the Dent Island heritage place is under review, with publication delayed until later in 2024.1141 

Figure 4.4
Historic lightstations and lighthouses in the World Heritage Area

The historic lightstations and lighthouses in the World Heritage Area demonstrate a phase in the evolution of maritime travel through the treacherous waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Few lighthouses remain in situ in the Region; many have been relocated to the mainland for the preservation and display. This figure identifies a portion of the known places in the Catchment that are related to maritime navigation. Source: Adapted from the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (2023),1143 the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation 1144,2023 and Lighthouses of Australia (2023).1145

A map of the Queensland coast identifying the historic lightstations in the World Heritage area with coloured dots. Red dots with a yellow halo are Commonwealth heritage listed lightstations and four are identified: Low Isles 1878, Dent Island 1879, North Reef 1878 and Lady Elliot 1873. The green dot identifies other lighthouses or lightstations, and only one is listed at Pine Islet 1885. The orange dots identify three lighthouses or lightstations no longer in situ: Wharton Reef 1915, Bay Rock 1886, Cape Bo

North Reef lightstation: North Reef is located about 77 kilometres north-east of Curtis Island off Gladstone. This lightstation is managed and maintained by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) as an operational aid for navigation. In 2022, the ground floor of the North Reef tower was refurbished and the structure was repainted.1142 The AMSA North Reef Lightstation Heritage Management Plan, as required under the EPBC Act, is currently under review with publication anticipated in late 2024. As management plans do not report on condition, published long-term condition data remains a data gap. 

Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area: This Commonwealth heritage place reflects the boundaries and values of the Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area Ramsar wetland and the military training area owned by the Australian Department of Defence. The place spans marine and terrestrial ecosystems and is partly within the Region. While condition data for the heritage place is not published, the Department of Defence maintains a presence in the Region throughout the year, conducting ongoing environmental management and monitoring activities. The biennial Talisman Sabre military exercises (Section 5.3) also generate unpublished condition data. The assessment of the value relies on the assessment of the Region’s biodiversity in Chapter 2.

Shoalwater Bay is an important habitat for several iconic marine species of conservation interest, including humpback whales, dugongs, and green, hawksbill and loggerhead marine turtles. The condition (and trends in condition) of these species vary. For instance, the east coast humpback whale subpopulation continues to increase (Sections 2.4.14 and 8.3.7), whereas southern dugong populations are experiencing long-term decline (Sections 2.4.16 and 8.3.6). 

Seagrass meadows and seagrass are associated habitat of these marine species. In 2022–23, seagrass abundance in Shoalwater Bay declined to its lowest levels in 8 years.149 This decline is linked to regional water quality conditions  (Sections 2.3.4 and 2.4.2).149 The seagrass abundance score decreased in 2021–22 to the lowest level on record, reaching very poor for the first time in the Fitzroy region, then recovering slightly to poor in 2022–23.149

  • 38. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland Government 2022, Reef Joint Field Management Program: Annual report summary 2021-2022, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville.
  • 149. McKenzie, L.J., Collier, C.J., Langlois, L.A., Yoshida, R.L. 2024, Marine Monitoring Program: Annual report for inshore seagrass monitoring 2022–23. Report for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville.
  • 1067. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service 2021, Reef Joint Field Management Program: Annual Report Summary 2020-21, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville.
  • 1140. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 2021, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Commonwealth Heritage Listed Places and Properties Heritage Strategy 2022-25, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville.
  • 1141. Commonwealth of Australia 2022, Legislation (Lightstation Heritage Management Instruments) Sunset‑altering Declaration 2022.
  • 1142. Lakshman, S.J. 2023, Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Personal communication).
  • 1143. Department of Climate Change Energy the Environment and Water 2023, Australian Heritage Database, Commonwealth of Australia, <http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl>.
  • 1144. Department of Environment Science and Innovation 2023, Queensland Heritage Register, State of Queensland, <https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/>.
  • 1145. Lighthouses of Australia Inc 2024, Lighthouses map, <https://lighthouses.org.au/lighthouse-map/>.