The lighthouse was built to the design and engineering of Thomas Stevenson and David Stevenson.

[3] The lighthouse was manned with keepers cottages onsite.

During the 20th century, supplies and the keepers were taken by boat from Portree to the Rona quay.

[7] By 1930, only the lighthouse keepers remained on Rona as all other residents had relocated to the mainland.

[3] The records of the manned lighthouse, including the shipwreck return book, stores and visitor books were transferred to the National Records of Scotland.