Wildcare - Branches - Friends of Tasman Island

Our members are a very dedicated group of volunteers and supporters who are interested in the conservation of both the cultural and natural environment on Tasman Island. We work in partnership with the Parks and Wildlife Service fundraising for, and implementing conservation plans for the heritage-listed buildings on the island. We also support environmental and wildlife programs on the island.

Branch Files

Tasman Island lightstation,

Tasman Island Lightstation,

Aerial delivery Tasman Island

Tasman Island tank sling load

FoTI working bee at Tasman Island

Quarters 3 - Assistant's quarters Tasman Island, 2005

Lightkeeper's Quarters No 3 after restoration of verandah & sunroom, 2019

2nd Assistant's Quarters, Tasman Island, 2005

Lightkeepers's Quarters No 2 verandah & sunroom completed, 2017

Quarters 1, Head Keeper's quarters, 2005

Tasman Island's spectacular views

Tasman Landing & Haulage

FoTI volunteers Tasman Island, 2006

Tasman Island, viewed from the Blade on Cape Pillar

Aerial view Tasman Island & lighthouse

Tasman Island

Mowing a firebreak

Yellow-tailed black-cockatoos Tasman Is

White-bellied sea eagle at Tasman Is

Pittosporum bicolour

Cyathodes juniperina Pink berry

Californian Thistle, Tasman Island

Volunteer Cook-Chef Glenda

Vollunteer bricklayer repairs the fabric of Quarters No 3

Silvereye

Forest Raven

Cape Pillar from TasmanIsland

Mowing & brushcutting are one of the main tasks e

Writing up the day's work e

Spectacular views of Cape Pillar & the Blade e

Supplies ready for transport by helicopter

The Tasman Twins Q2 & Q3, 2019

Volunteer reflooring in Q2

Lightkeepers' Quarters No 2, Tasman Island, 2018

Reflooring, lightkeeper's quarters No 2Q2

Tracks on Tasman Island

Friends of Tasman Island working bee

FoTI volunteers restore Quarters 2 sunroom e

Beautiful Firetails, Stagonopleura bella,

Occelated Skink - Carinascincus ocellatus

Appleberry, Tasman Island

Sooty Oystercatcher

Turquoise berry, Tasman Island

Allocasuarina crassa (Cape Pillar Sheoak)

Dolerite columns, Tasman Island

Fog Tasman Island

Tasman Passage & the Blade

Manufacturing a new vent

Another vent pipe replacement

Metalic skink (Niveoscincus metallicus)

Rainbow over Quarters 1, Tasman Island

Banksia marginata, Tasman Island

Who we are

Wildcare volunteer group, Friends of Tasman Island (FoTI), was formed in 2005. Working in partnership with the Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife Service we have a membership of very dedicated volunteers and supporters who are working towards the restoration of both the cultural and natural environment of Tasman Island.

Tasman Island & Cape Pillar
Photo Tim Kingston

The narrow Tasman Passage separates Tasman Island from the Blade & Cape Pillar Photo Erika Shankley

Where we work

Spectacular Tasman Island is the site of the highest operating lighthouse in Australia. One of the most isolated light stations, the island is now part of the Tasman National Park. Separated from Cape Pillar by the narrow Tasman Passage, the island’s formidable appearance is enhanced by some of the highest sea cliffs in Australia.

Construction of a landing and haulage in late 1904 preceded erection of the lighthouse and keepers’ quarters with building materials weighing up to 13 cwt (660 kg) taking up to eight hours to reach the site. Keepers already had vegetable gardens growing by the time the light was officially opened on 2^nd April 1906.

Tasman Island Lightstation - from left - Lighthouse, Lightkeepers' Quarters No 3 & 2 with the Head Keepers' Quarters No 1 in the distance.

Tasman Island lighthouse &: from left – Lightkeepers’ Quarters No 3, 2 &, in the distance, Quarters No 1 Photo Erika Shankley

Tasman Island is now part of the Tasman National Park.

Automation of the lighthouse in 1976 signalled the end of light keeping as a way of life with keepers withdrawn in May 1977. Since that time there has been no permanent human presence on the island with time and the elements causing deterioration of the island’s historic heritage.

FoTI volunteers on the newly restored verandah at Lightkeepers’ Quarters No 3, 2019 Photo Amanda Thomson

What we do

First lit in 1906, the lighthouse celebrated its 100^th birthday in April 2006 when FoTI volunteers held their first working bee on the island. Since that time, 30 ten-day working bees have been held, with volunteers completing an impressive range of work.

FoTI volunteers have:

Developed a strategic plan for the preservation of the cultural and natural environment on Tasman Island;
Carried out conservation, restoration and maintenance work on the three keepers’ quarters and oil store;
Produced a management plan for the natural environment which aims to eradicate introduced weeds with the corresponding regeneration of the natural environment;
Developed a fauna and flora survey plan;
Established biosecurity measures as an important aspect of our work on Tasman Island.

FoTI meets each month to plan future work on Tasman Island. Volunteers with an interest in the conservation and preservation of the natural and cultural elements of Tasman Island are welcome to join us. You can also donate to our cause at https://legacy.wildcaretas.org.au/product/branch-fundraising-friends-of-tasman-island/

Follow us on:

https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfTasmanIsland

https://legacy.wildcaretas.org.au/branches/friends-of-tasman-island/

https://twitter.com/TasmanIsland1

https://www.instagram.com/tasmanisland/

www.tasmanisland.org.au

External Links

Facebook

Tasman Island blogspot