[3][4][5] Many ships were wrecked in the approach to Port Darwin in the 1880s, and the Marine Board recommended in 1888 that lights should be erected at Capes Fourcroy and Don and Points Emery and Charles.

[6] The 92 feet (28 m)[6] tower was constructed of wrought iron, and consisted of a central tube almost 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in diameter, with struts and braces.

[6] The focal height was 36 metres (118 ft), and the light was visible for 17 nautical miles (31 km; 20 mi), including from Darwin.

On Christmas Eve 1974, Cyclone Tracy devastated the area, causing extensive damage to the Radio Australia masts.

[9] After that, the facility was leased by the Department of Finance and Administration to the Christian Voice Broadcasting Service (CVC), which fenced the area in 2003 and prevented public access to the site.

[3][10] CVC's lease expired in June 2010,[11] and as of November 2010[update], road access to the lighthouse is available via existing agreements with the indigenous land holders.

[citation needed] The light is operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority,[12] which accesses the site by helicopter.