The Low Head Progress Association was formed in 1952 at a meeting of residents held at the Anzac Hotel, Paterson Street, Launceston. It was apparent that there was a necessity for such an organisation, as outside interest were intruding. The objective of the Association was to work in harmony with the local Council for the retention and orderly progression of Low Head as a residential & holiday area. The first office bearers of the Association were F.J Gunn Snr as President & D.V Gunn as Secretary/Treasurer. Patron was George Perrin Esq. & Vice-Patron was R.A Ferrall Esq.

An emblem bearing our well known lighthouse was designed for the Association & Professor Walter Sutherland, the City of Launceston librarian, was consulted to translate the wording into Latin. The wording “caput inferior, frons superior” literally means ‘Low Head, high brow’ or ‘Low Head but high ideals’

Mrs George Perrin, owner of the local farm of 550 acres had ensured that homes built on land sold by her were of good quality and subject to restrictive covenants – further subdivision, no liquor licenses, and residential use only. These covenants still remain on land under control of the Low Head Company. Early in 1964 the FJ Gunn and PR Clemons became aware of the existence of plans for a subdivision of the Peninsular. Believing that this should be secured as a recreational & heritage area, The Low Head Company was formed to purchase the land. 

Possibly the greatest achievement of the Association has been the securing of an adequate water supply. The president at the time was Dr. J.L Grove, who pressed the case strongly, on the grounds of community health.

At Lagoon Bay, The Association assisted in the design and rendering of the public lavatories and shelter shed. It repaired the existing jetty, later demolished by the Port Authority. At Pilots Bay, the cable fence was constructed to protect the beach from vehicular traffic. Seaweed and other growth has been removed and replaced by fresh sand. Seating has been provided in the form of two solid park benches & bins for litter & recycling have been installed. At the request of the member’s dog waste management stations were established in 2006.

The Association designed and helped build the Pilot Station entrance gateway, opened by the Governor, Sir James Plimsoll A.C, C.B.E on November 2nd 1985. It commemorated the 150th Anniversary of the oldest existing building and the 180th year of continuous manning of the station. The Association was instrumental in restoring the Hebe Reef Buoy, the picket fences around the station cottages (since removed), the building of two chimneys on the NW cottage, and the rendering of the stone walls and two garage buildings.

In February 1987, the Bell Buoy was recovered from the beach between Three Mile Bluff and Four Mile Bluff where it had washed ashore after breaking away from its moorings in a storm many years earlier. It was placed on display at the Pilot Station where it fell into further disrepair. In 1999 it was removed from the station and completely restored by the present owner, John Gunn.

Extensive work was undertaken by LHPHA members Terence Terry, Bruce Findlay and Peter Clemons to restore the foghorn, a type “G” diaphone manufactured by Chance Brothers of Birmingham, England. Inquiries made by Bruce Findlay at Trinity House have revealed that this instillation is unique in being the only one in the world of its type that could be made operational again. It had not been used since 1973, when it was rendered superfluous by advances in electronic navigation technology. This unique relic is now sounded every Sunday at noon.

With the assistance of Association member Horace Tregaskis, who secured disused equipment from the Launceston Fire Brigade, a Rural Fire Brigade was formed and a quarter shares paid in the purchase of a four wheel drive tanker. The brigade was disbanded in the early 1980’s and all equipment returned to the Tasmanian Fire Service in Hobart.

Low Head’s Church of Christ has been constantly maintained over the years by members of the Association. Special mention must be made of the late Mr John Gunn’s input in this regards, and to the maintenance fund he set up for the church. Interest from this fund was a major contribution to the amount required when the Association purchased the fire sprinkler system in 2002. Other maintenance has included provision of new carpet, new roofing, replacement of the original picket fence, cleaning of the pews and provision of kneelers, enlarging the vestry and repainting of the building inside & out.  A new belfry was constructed and set in place and the front was repaired. The grass and hedges are cut regularly by the Gunn family.

A concrete cricket pitch was laid down in 1956. It has an all weather covering and is set out on a full sized found which is regularly mown. A pavilion has been built, with a shower and lavatory. In 1982 it was named “The Harold Gee Pavilion” after this well-loved former Association member. A hard surfaced tennis court was constructed and is maintained by the Association. In 1993 the Association resurfaced the court on a dollar for dollar basis in conjunction with the Low Head Tennis Ball Committee. 

On New Years Day 1973, Robert Gunn, Andrew Gunn ,FJ Gunn Graeme Peel and Peter Clemons set out the golf course. Well known golfer Laurie Thyne inspected the layout and made minor adjustments. The LHPA constructed and LHPHA members continue to maintain the 3 stroke short hole golf course. Adjacent to the golf course is a community hall (“The Chapel”). This building was purchased by the LHPA from the Catholic Church in 1979 and relocated by the Association from previous location at the Nunnery. It is now nestled amongst the macrocarpas with magnificent views to Bass Strait. A generator for lighting purchased  from Flinders Island and lavatories were also constructed at the rear of the chapel. In 2006 a garden was cleared (later named Molly's Beer Garden) for outdoor gatherings, and extensive work was done to upgrade the Chapel. Decking was replaced at the front and a machinery shed built at the rear of the building. Roller doors were installed, allowing the building to be used for larger numbers of people.

Further north, on the eastern side of the peninsular, is another of the gardens used in the early nineteenth century by the Pilot Station Staff as a site for their vegetable gardens. It is here that the LHPHA has constructed a columbarium enclosed by the dry stone wall rebuilt in 1997/98 by Torquill Canning, a Hobart based landscape designer. It has a well kept and watered garden and lawn and is maintained by the Association. Paul Verdun, a Launceston stone mason built the Millennium Seat in 1999. It features a sandstone centrepiece of the Associations emblem, commissioned and carved by local sculptor Peter Hjort. A wall built of local stone surrounds the Federation Garden. The Columbarium has filled a long-felt need. This is evidenced by the sell out of all 149 plots in the first stage. Stage II was commenced in 2005 and during 2006 its first plaques were set in place. The Association is compiling a history of the Low Head identities that are remembered here.