The light's early history was closely related to the dredging of the Brisbane River.

After much debate and a select committee of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, it was decided to continue with the path suggested by Francis.

It was hexagonal in form, containing six rooms of equal dimensions housing three persons, and had a total height of 98 feet (30 m).

[6] The apparatus was a 4th order dioptric lens and it was displayed at 44 feet (13 m) above high-water mark, at the top of the structure.

[7] The different colours were changed manually, by lowering glass cylinders over the lanterns, which could be done from inside the structure.

Anticipating the need, tenders for the construction of the superstructure were published in January 1912[9] and were accepted by March of that year.

[10] On February 11, 1913, the old lighthouse was discontinued, though a small light was attached to the remaining platform[11] which was eventually destroyed in the 1960s.

The reinforced concrete foundation piles were driven 41 feet (12 m) into the mud, and the structure was bolted to them.

[13] On 3 March 1945, the pile light was badly damaged when hit by a US refrigerated barge towed by a tug.

The three light keepers were thrown overboard and rescued by a lifeboat from the Wave Protector.