Cape Borda Lighthouse

Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), Saturday 24 July 1858, page 5

CAPE BORDA LIGHTHOUSE, KANGAROO ISLAND.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

The Master and Wardens of the Trinity House of South Australia hereby give notice that the light on Cape Borda was first exhibited on the evening of the 13th July, 1859, and will continue to be exhibited every night from sunset to sunrise.

Cape Borda lies in lat. 35° 45'20'S., long. 136° 38' 0" E., and is a bold cliffy headland 480 feet above the sea level.

The lighthouse is a square stone tower, and stands thirty (30) feet from the ground, on the summit of a small mound, about five hundred (600) yards from the edge of the cliffs. The total height of the lantern is therefore five hundred and ten (510) feet above the level of the sea.

The light, which is on the catoptric principle, exhibits a bright and red flash alternately every half minute (½-minute), and may be seen on an arc extending from N. 60° to S. 35° W. (round by west.) The bright flash may be seen at a distance of thirty (30) miles in clear weather; but the red light will not be visible more than about half that distance; therefore, when the red light is not distinguishable, the bright light only will appear at intervals of one minute.  

Vessels approaching Cape Borda from the south west should keep the light well open of the high land to the southward of the Cape to avoid the reef off Cape Bedout, the western extremity of the island. Vessels bound up Investigator's Straits, after having rounded Cape Borda, should keep the Cape Borda light quite clear of the high land to the eastward of it, on a S.W. by W. bearing, until Cape Forbin is passed, when it may be shut in with the high land. Vessels bound down Investigator's Straits should not bring the light to bear to the westward of S.W. by W. The above bearings are magnetic, the variation being 5° E.

Schooling at Cape Borda

1872 records show that there were 8 children who were regularly instructed for some time by an unknown female teacher
1872- 1877 unknown if school was open
1877 Teacher: J Belcher
1878 Teacher: A. Baldock- 8 children [still teaching in 1881 - UniSA]

- Geoffrey Chapman

Burials

WOODWARD Capt. G 1858 1st Head keeper (infection of eye injury)

From Chris Ward: 

• James L. FRANKS  29 September 1882  20 days 21/380

• Lily JENNESON  14 July 1884  9 days    Marked

• Infant daughter JOHNSON  19 July  1862 1 month  Marked

• Irene R. KOPP  17 September 1895   9 months  229/264  Marked

• Edward KERR 29 October 1895  54 years 231/169  Marked

• Alexander E. KOPP  1 January 1894  3 months  215/470

• Jane E. KOPP  13 April 1903  41 years 293/432   Marked

• William T. MAIN   9 May 1875  7 years  Marked

• Arthur R. MAIN   30 November 1877  3 years  84/108

• Rupert J. MAIN  11 January 1879   9 years  92/280

• Ethel M MCARTHUR   13 October 1880  3 years  106/49

• Elbertha SMITH  30 May 1902  22 years   286/273 

• Thomas WELLS    5 January 1873  Stillborn  Marked 

• Augusta WILLS    22 August 1884    34 years  140/425  Marked

• G.W. WOODWARD  13 September 1858  Marked

• Davide CINZIO   11 November 2007     68 years  Bronze Plaque on a boulder (ashes scattered)

• On 15 August 1868 a young child of one of the keepers believed to be 18 months old went missing.  A search went on for 3 months but nothing was found.  The child’s identity has not been established.

There are at least four Cape Borda residents who died on the mainland.

17 Feb 1876 A winding track across very high ground conducts the visitor to the Cape Borda Lighthouse, or rather the Flinders Lighthouse, for that is its real name. He is able, as he proceeds, to obtain some extensive views of the island, which is everywhere thickly covered with scrub of a luxuriant character. We were told that a few miles away, in a locality known as the Ravine, there was a considerable quantity of very fine timber, and the land over which we travelled was covered with wild flowers, mostly white, which had a very pretty appearance. Limestone crops up through the soil very frequently, and where the light- house stands the ground appears to be composed almost entirely of this stone. Situated on the south-west corner of the island, the lighthouse, a square structure, is a very prominent object, and commands a comprehensive view of the ocean, with land visible at various points on the horizon. Although the tower itself is only 60 feet in height, the light is 510 feet above high-water level. It is a revolving light, which flashes every half minute, alternately white and red, the bright light being visible 30 miles away, and the red for 15 miles. The principle is what is knows as the catoptric, which signifies that the light is intensified by means of reflectors placed behind it; while in the case of a light on the dioptric principle, such as that at the Cape Jaffa Lighthouse, its brilliancy is focalised by the use of lenses arranged in front of it. The Flinders Lighthouse was established in 1858. The Head Keeper (Mr. Main) has a very neat detached cottage, and the other keepers, of whom there are two, have also commodious houses. These, with a schoolroom and a substantial stable and storehouse under one roof, make up the whole of the buildings in the settlement, which confessedly has a bleak and cold appearance, notwithstanding the air of comfort which prevails in the dwellings ; and if this was so on a sunshiny day, what must it be in winter, when nature generally must look as dreary as the dark and dismal rocks of the coastline ?Lighthouse-keepers generally, and especially those at Cape Borda, do not occupy an enviable position. Shut up to themselves, they are often only brought into association with the outside world by means of their light. Sometimes it happens that months elapse without Cape Borda being visited. It is not always that a visit is possible. But life is made endurable by leave of absence being frequently granted, and thus the tedium of what must be a very monotonous existence is to some extent relieved. The three families include nine children, for whose education nothing is now being done; but the Cape will soon be connected with the main land by means of the telegraph, and it is likely that the person appointed to represent the Telegraph Department will combine the duties of operator, which will be light, consisting almost exclusively of transmitting to Adelaide the names of passing vessels, with those of school teacher. Although Cape Borda is a very healthy place, it is true here, as elsewhere, "There is no flock, however watched and tended, But one dead lamb is there." We saw in a sheltered situation the plot of ground, neatly enclosed and carefully kept, where the remains of departed ones find a resting place.

23 May 1876 Dr Hardy attended Head Keeper [sic] [should read assistant keeper]  Mr Carter [sic] [Donald McArthur] for surgery. McArthur died 12 July 1895 as Head Keeper Cape Northumberland].

3 Jan 1877  The Second Keeper of the Cape Borda Lighthouse complained of the conduct of the Head Keeper (Mr. Main) towards him, and requested to be removed. It was resolved that on receipt of any further complaints Mr. Main would be removed.

4 May 1877 The second keeper at Cape Borda, who had been repeatedly charged with misbehaviour, was removed, and had to pay the expenses of his transfer to another lighthouse. 

19 May 1877 George Main Head Keeper; J. M. Belcher Station master [wreck of the Emily Smith]

13 March 1895 News has now come to hand of the illness of the third keeper of Cape Borda Lighthouse, Mr. Kerr. This is a station at which it is very difficult to get medical attendance, and prescriptions have sometimes to be dispatched by means of the telegraph. In this case, however, it has been found necessary to send the launch Mermaid to Cape Borda for the invalided keeper. Even now delay and tossing about must be experienced before proper treatment can be administered. Mr. Kerr was formerly master of the Glenrosa, which was lost on this coast.17 Sep 1895 Death of Irene Rosa Kopp, aged 9 months - Source: SAGHS. 

23 Oct 1895 Death of Captain Edward Kerr. Informant was son E. J. Kerr. - Source: SAGHS.

31 Jan 1896 Charles H. West to be second keeper.

24 Apr 1899 [wreck of the Loch Sloy] Head Keeper John Kopp; 2nd Keeper Walter T. Smith ; telegraph operator E. J. Foord [source "Windjammer" by Paul W. Simpson].

Images source http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54578121

1901 South Neptune Island lighthouse exhibited [ opposite Cape Borda]

10 April 1901 Gertrude Mary Foord, Assistant, Cape Borda

15 Nov 1901 Postmasters and Postmistresses. Edward Brewer Squire, Operator, Adelaide, 6th Class, to 

be Postmaster, &c., Cape Borda, 6th Class, 1st April, 1901, vice E. J. Foord, transferred.

30 May 1902 death of Elbertha Smith, 22, daughter of Walter Thomas Smith

20 Sep 1902 A severe earthquake destroyed the light at Troubridge, but the Cape Borda light was unaffected.

13 Apr 1903  Death of Jane Elizabeth Kopp (wife of the Head Keeper), aged 41. [SAGHS 'Memorial Inscriptions' Database states 19 April 1903]17 Nov 1903  2nd keeper of Cape Borda will officiate at Althorpes as a result of the reshuffle of keepers after the death of McLeod at Cape Willoughby.

15 Dec 1904 George Luckett third keeper.

7 Jul 1905 Ornithologists interested in the records kept by the keepers of the birds "air fauna' that strike the lantern.

22 Jul 1905 Office. Abolished. Postmaster, Cape Borda. 

10 Oct 1905 Discussion on the need for another light on K.I. at Cape Couedic.

7 Jul 1906 Alleged irregularities at Cape Borda lighthouse which will result in some transfers.

20 Jul 1906 Mr. J. J. G. Kopp, who was head keeper at Cape Borda, has been transferred to Corney [retired 30 Jun 1914 see biography]

Point. Mr. W. T. Smith, head keeper at Port Adelaide lighthouse, has taken Mr. Kopp's place.

23 Aug 1907  Correspondence between the Marine Board and the Commonwealth Government concerning the suitability of funding wireless telecommunications to Cape Borda, and to repair the cable to Allthorpe Islands.

31 Aug 1916 Deduction of rent for quarters W. Thomson, Cape Borda, £9.  W. A. Lyall, Cape Borda, £8. 

31 Aug 1916 J. S. Davidson appointed

23 Sep 1916 Walter Clark third keeper transferred.

9 Nov 1916 The promotion of William Osborne Wood as Head Lightkeeper, Cape Borda, with increase in salary from £200 to £210 per annum, as from 1st May, 1916, has been cancelled. The deduction at the rate of £10 per annum to be made from the salary of W. O. Wood, as rent for quarters occupied by him for the purpose of residence at Cape Borda, has been cancelled. A deduction at the rate of 10 per centum, excluding portions of a pound, to be made from the salary of H. N. Beare as rent for quarters occupied by him for the purpose of residence as Cape Borda j to take effect from 1st November, 1916. Henry Netherton Beare as Head Lightkeeper, Grade V., Cape Borda, with increase in salary from £174 to £198 per annum, vice H. S. Christie transferred; to take effect from 1st November, 1916.