[2] Barnet had visited the island in October 1877, to determine the best locations for the buildings and the sources for materials.

[2] Though construction was expected to finish by 1879, as the carving "18VR79" on the keystone over the entry doorway suggests,[4] it was first exhibited on 18 March 1880.

The original light source was a kerosene burner, the first of its kind in New South Wales, rather than the colza oil ones used by other lighthouses of that period.

[3] The light was displayed at a focal height of 192 feet (59 m) and was visible for 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi).

Due to the slopes, supplies were taken off the launch in a basket lowered by a crane, then hauled up a steep concrete path.

[3] In May 1942, during the Second World War, the lighthouse was extinguished for the only time in its life, because several vessels were torpedoed by enemy submarines near the island.

On 22 August 1975, the lighthouse was electrified, using solar power, and automated, and was officially de-manned on 28 December of that year.

[7] The old lantern was transported to the Coffs Harbour Regional Museum with a RAAF Chinook helicopter on 7 September 1977.

[5] In 2004, the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water spent $440,000 AUD restoring the buildings, making them weatherproof, secure and better protected from the elements, although not suitable for accommodation.

[8] In 2020, the crumbling cement is being restored and paintwork renewed, in a facelift by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, costing A$1.5 million.

[9] The current light source is a solar powered, 12 V 3 amp lamp with an intensity of 38,000 candela.

The tower is topped by a concrete oversailing cornice which is capped by the gallery itself, made of sixteen basalt blocks, each weighing 30 long hundredweight (3,400 lb; 1,500 kg), which were shipped from Melbourne.

[3] Also at the premises are the remains of a 13 metres (43 ft) above sea level jetty, the third to be constructed.