The construction of both lighthouses was recommended by Commander George Poynter Heath, the Chairman of the Queensland Marine Board, in February 1878.

[4] However, following personal difficulties,[4] the contracts were transferred to John Clark and James Wiseman who completed the construction of both stations in December 1879.

Due to its short height (36 feet (11 m)) the mechanism had to be wound every 75 minutes, which was a big strain on the lighthouse keepers.

During World War II the lighthouse served as an observation post for the nearby Townsville which was a large allied base.

Red flashes, with an intensity of 10,170 cd, visible for 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi), are shown on 259°-286° (over Four Foot Rock).

[9] Unlike other stations, the Cape Cleveland Light structures are built in a nonlinear fashion, to fit the contours of the site.

[9] It is built of an internal timber frame, clad with riveted galvanized iron plates, painted white.

The hip roofs are clad with corrugated fibro cement with stainless steel gutters and downpipes.

Other structures include the old and new power houses, a garage, a workshop/store, a helipad, a flagpole, rainwater tanks, a solar powerhouse for hot water, weather recording equipment in a Stevenson screen, and remnants of a Tramway and a winch house for the now removed flying fox.

[4] The old World War II powerhouse is a bunker-like structure, built of reinforced concrete with a small extension to the east, which was at some point used as a henhouse.