The 60-foot-tall (18 m) structure, overlooking North Creek, was completed by British architect Alexander Gordon in 1852 to alert sailors of the shallow reef.

Brighter kerosene lamps and a more powerful Fresnel lens were added by the Chance brothers in 1943 and remained in use until 1972 when the lighthouse was electrified.

It initially had eight small Argand oil lamps, with reflectors magnifying the light by 450 times, driven by weights and machinery.

[8] Brighter kerosene lamps and a more powerful Fresnel lens were added by the Chance Brothers of Birmingham, England[3] in 1943 which improved the situation.

This house has small windows, likely designed to restrict light entering the building so that the guard could sleep more peacefully during full daylight.