Flat Top Island Light

Flat Top Island Light is an inactive lighthouse located on Flat Top Island, a small island off the entrance to Mackay harbor in Queensland, Australia. The lighthouse was built in 1878 and officially lit on December 27, 1879. It was constructed with a stone and concrete tower, featuring a timber frame clad with galvanized iron and standing at a height of 32 feet with a focal height of 174 feet. The lighthouse's distinctive conical shape and white tower with a red lantern dome made it a prominent landmark for shipping and navigation.

During its operational years, the Flat Top Island Light marked the entrance to Mackay harbor and highlighted nearby shoals and a reef off Hay Point. The light was automated around 1920 and remained in service until its deactivation in 2007. The lighthouse is notable for being the shortest of Queensland's timber-framed iron-clad lighthouses, standing at 6 meters from the ground to the lantern floor.

The construction of the lighthouse began in December 1877, and it was complete in May 1878. However, the permanent light apparatus was not available at the time, and a temporary one was used until the official lighting on December 27, 1879. The lighthouse has a rich history, and its original plans and construction details provide valuable insights into the maritime heritage of Queensland.

Light and tower

It has a conical tower. The tower is built of timber frame [[cladding (construction)|clad]] with galvanized iron. Its daymark is white tower, red lantern dome. Its light characteristic is Fl (4) WR 20s. (defunct). It carries a 4th order lens. It was first lit in 1879. It was automated in 1920.