After two years of having its lights eclipsed by COVID, the beacon at Norah Head Light House is set to shine brighter with an injection of funding and some big, bold plans.
The Norah Head landmark ceased operations almost two years ago owing to COVID safety measures, however, as visitors return to the reserve, and thanks to a million-dollar boost, the future for the lighthouse is bright.
Between Crown Lands’ and the State government, Norah Head Reserve received more than $1M in 2020 and 2021 to be spent on specific, designated projects – among them a proposed café, museum, shop and covered outdoor seating area.
Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve (NHLR) President, Neil Rose, explained that the Board will spend $16,000 of its funding on preliminary investigations for the café, museum and shop.
“We are in the process of getting plans drawn up, organizing a development application to gain approval from Council, getting Heritage approval, plus getting the site investigated for any impact on vegetation,” he confirmed.
Rose said the proposed café, museum and gift shop at the entry will give the site a focal point of arrival, while giving visitors the opportunity to sit, relax, have something to eat and overlook the lighthouse and the ocean.
“This is about giving the community a better offer and to raise more funds to keep the reserve going.
“The project will ultimately be in the order of $300K, plus.
“The idea is that we are entirely self-sufficient,” he said.
Last year, NHLR lost $150,000 in income owing to its inability to operate during COVID – during 2021, the lighthouse reserve had no income at all.
Expenses include having a full-time site manager, a private pumped sewer system, turf management, electricity costs and waste disposal.
These are covered in several ways including making available the lighthouse keeper’s quarters for holiday rentals, the shop and guided tours of the reserve and the lighthouse, plus concerts.
Rose stressed that the grants and stimulus that have been given to NHLR, including those from Crown Lands, must be used on specific projects that have already been scoped out.
“We were successful in gaining funds for all four of the four items requested from Crown Lands,” he explained.
This resulted in $233,404.00 being provided for infrastructure projects including controlling condensation and mould in quarters, repainting the exterior of the quarters, the provision of a security gate, and scoping of café, museum, shop and outdoor seating project.
The State stimulus package will be directed to, among other things, air-conditioning, a new shed for volunteers and equipment, and an upgrade to the electricity supply on the site.
Rose explained that NHLR intends to stage three concerts over the next 18 months.
“We work with promoters in Newcastle.
“The company always books top-quality recording artists – we’ve had Missy Higgins and Xavier Rudd here before.
“But they always have to hire a generator because we simply don’t have the power capacity here,” he said.
Rose said all of the projects will provide ample employment opportunities for locals.
“We will require 40 people to upgrade the power supply and systems here,” he said.
He also confirmed that the current steps leading from the reserve will be repaired and that pathways will be replaced to make the reserve more accessible for people with disabilities.
“The steps are narrow, uneven, and in places they are starting to wear away and we’re looking at replacing them – there’s $150K or $200K, just to do that,” he said.
Some of the new projects are already underway.
At the end of January, a new concrete slab was laid for a new workshop – the former workshop was housed in old stable buildings that will be restored for public viewing.
“It’s a lot of work,” said Rose, “and we’re all volunteers.”
Rose explained that, prior to COVID, there were 30 volunteers helping but after being forced to close for two years, they lost contact with some volunteers.
“We have 15 guides now. It’s a juggling act managing those and the small shop with that many,” he said.
“We need to send out the message that we require some help and some new volunteers – they must be reasonably fit, there are 94 steps up to the lighthouse.
“But it’s incredibly rewarding work – the team is close, they are all friends, and you get to meet some fantastic people,” he said.
In the meantime, NHLR is undertaking one project that does not include building work.
An historical research project is underway to develop a clear and comprehensive history of the lighthouse and reserve that can be taught to the guides and passed on to the visitors.
“Over time people like to embellish things and sometimes those embellishments get picked up by other people as fact,” Rose laughed.
“We’re reviewing our historical information (as) we want to make sure that every tiny detail we say is 100 per cent accurate.”
Nicola Riches