Cooktown was established in October 1873 to accommodate for the Palmer River Gold Rush, and became a thriving port in the 1880s.

In 1883 and 1884, George Poynter Heath, Portmaster of Queensland and Chairman of the Queensland Marine Board at that time, made two reports to the parliament, recommending that the temporary light be replaced with a permanent building and a proper apparatus.

It was only in 1927 the lighthouse was finally automated, the light source was changed to an acetylene gas burner, and the station was demanned.

An imitation lighthouse keeper's cottage was constructed for camouflage purposes,[4] and the defensive installations surrounded the station.

[1] Control of the lighthouse remained in the hands of the Commonwealth until November 1987, when it was transferred back to the Queensland government, with the Department of Transport operating the light, Cook Shire Council as trustees for the reserve, and local volunteers maintaining the tower.

[1] The lighthouse is conical in form, about 6 metres (20 ft) high, constructed of timber clad with corrugated iron sheets, on a concrete base.

Entrance is through a small entry on the western side, with timber-framing, convex corrugated iron roof, and timber double doors.