Breaksea Island - a maritime landmark for Albany

A key landmark in Australia's early maritime history is set to become a major attraction in Western Australia's first European settlement.

The lighthouse keeper's houses on Breaksea Island, 12km south-east of Albany in King George Sound on the State's south coast, have been largely restored to their 19th Century glory through a project spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC).

Environment Minister Bill Marmion visited the lighthouse site on the island where he inspected the restoration and discussed future management issues with DEC regional staff.

"Breaksea Island contains the remains of one of only two existing convict-built lighthouses in WA, the other being at Point King on the northern side of the Princess Royal Harbour headland," Mr Marmion said.

The Minister said Breaksea was a gazetted nature reserve as it was a significant nesting and breeding site for little penguins, flesh-footed shearwaters and great-wing petrels. It was also one of the few known locations of the fern, shore spleenwort (Asplenium obtusatum), which is a threatened species. The shoreline is also visited by New Zealand fur seals and Australian sea lions.

Although Breaksea Island was a landmark in early Australian maritime history since the lighthouse was completed in 1858, active management and occupation as a lighthouse ceased in 1926, resulting in deterioration of the island's infrastructure.

In 2009, DEC received a $1,303,500 grant through the Commonwealth Jobs Fund to restore the key heritage infrastructure on the island. The scope of the project was to stabilise the 1858 lighthouse; reinstate the 1889 extensions to the lighthouse; reinstate and repair the lighthouse keeper's two houses; and repair a jetty built in 1958.

Local architectural firm Howard and Heaver was contracted to assist with the design and engineering of the restoration based on historical diagrams and a study commissioned on the buildings on the island by the Great Southern Development Commission (GSDC) who have strongly supported the restoration efforts. 

A key outcome was the creation of local jobs, both short and medium term, with 20 jobs created over the life of the project.

Mr Marmion said restoration works had recently been completed in line with the national Burra Charter that covered restoration of heritage buildings.

"A distinctive feature of the works has been the use of traditional techniques and materials to conserve the houses and the lighthouse," he said.

"These techniques have included using lime plaster for the interiors of the cottages, matching the original plaster finish; and fabricating rainwater tanks and stands based on archival drawings and photographs.

"In addition, new timber flooring has been matched and nailed in the traditional manner.  Even the design of the new windows and doors is based on templates and details collected from remains of items found on site."

The houses had been completed to lockup stage. The next phase would be to complete internal fixtures so the buildings were suitable for occupation.  The jetty had been restored. The lighthouses and extensions have been restored externally to stabilise and conserve the integrity of the structures.

The Minister said a suitable use for the buildings was essential to ensure they were maintained and the integrity of the heritage maintained. 

"A feasibility study in conjunction with the GSDC was recently undertaken on the tourism potential of the island, especially as an accommodation facility using the lighthouse keeper's houses," he said.

Photos are available on request.