Montague celebrated at Narooma Lighthouse Museum

ast weekend’s Narooma talks on Montague’s Lighthouse and lighthouses in general was a great success. Narooma Historical Society organised the talks to mark International Lighthouse Weekend.

“We were delighted to celebrate not only lighthouses but also the recently reopened Lighthouse Museum with Montague’s original light mechanism which is the Museum’s extraordinary feature exhibit,” said Narooma Historical Society President Laurelle Pacey. “We had a ‘full house’ on both days.”

Three National Parks & Wildlife Service’s volunteer guides for Montague Tours – Annabelle Cassells, Kotti Sallai and Rob Patzk – shared their passion for Barungubu-Montague’s rich heritage and for the role lighthouses have played in increasing maritime safety, and the ‘unseen light’ that guides shipping today.

The Island has State significance with its rich natural, Aboriginal and lightstation heritage. The lighthouse is also listed on the Commonwealth Heritage Register. Barungubu-Montague is Narooma’s unique point of difference to other beautiful tourist destinations along the NSW coast.

Narooma Visitors Centre which houses the Lighthouse Museum recently reopened with new tenant Southbound Escapes after being closed for over 12 months.

Narooma Historical Society members hope to host more talks in the Museum in the future, in association with Southbound Escapes, to highlight Narooma’s and Barunguba-Montague’s maritime heritage.

Google NPWS Montague Island Nature Reserve for information about island visits and accommodation.

Above: Former NPWS employee Paul Bourke, left, shared some of his stories from working on Montague with volunteer Tour guides Annabelle Cassells, Kotti Sallai and Rob Patzk at Narooma Historical Society’s talks at the weekend.