Dual Commonwealth Heritage Listing for Low Isles

The idyllic Low Isles and its 130 year old lighthouse have both been added to Australia’s Commonwealth Heritage List in recognition of their place in Australia’s cultural and Indigenous heritage.

This is a first for the Great Barrier Reef, and is very significant as it is the first time one location has received a dual listing for both Indigenous history and Australian cultural heritage.

Quicksilver has been sailing to Low Isles since 1979 and we have always known it is a special island. On our daily Wavedancer cruise, our Marine Biologists conduct the only guided heritage walk of Low Isles, as well as a guided snorkel tour to share the secrets of the Great Barrier Reef and bring to life the island’s history.

A little bit of island history...

• In 1770 Captain James Cook described Low Isles as a “small low island” and was officially called Low Isles in 1819.
• Low Isles is a small coral cay and the Aboriginal people know these islands as Wungkun. It is an important Indigenous and cultural site for the KuKu Yalanji and Yiragandi people as the sea country for both groups overlaps at Low Isles.
• Weather data has been gathered from the island since 1887 and in 1928 it was the base for the first scientific study of a coral reef anywhere in the world.
• Quicksilver commenced the first daily cruises to Low Isles in 1979. In 2000, the Low Isles Heritage Walk was officially opened.

About the lighthouse...

• The lighthouse was completed in 1878 and for the past 130 years has guided ships through the main shipping channel between Port Douglas and Cairns.
• The lighthouse was constructed on a timber frame with a galvanised sheath and interestingly, the Low Isles lighthouse was the first in Queensland to have porthole windows. A timber staircase leads to the lantern room.
• Originally oil burners were used to light the way, but over the years with new technology the lighthouse continued to be upgraded and in 1993 solar conversion made it into a self contained beacon.
• The original 1878 lens for the light can today be seen on display in the Court House Museum, Port Douglas.

Come and experience this very special island with Quicksilver’s Wavedancer.