Description of Historic Place

The Queensport Lighthouse combines a lighthouse and keepers’ dwelling, a popular design for lighthouses in remote areas. The two-storey, wood frame residence is surmounted by a square lantern which is accessible from the second floor of the dwelling. Built in 1936, the lighthouse stands 12.5 metres (41 feet) high and is located on Rook Island, a small island off the shore of Queensport harbour, in Chedebucto Bay.

Heritage Value

The Queensport Lighthouse is a heritage lighthouse because of its historical, architectural, and community values.

Historical values
The Queensport Lighthouse is a very good example of the efforts by the federal government to make marine navigation safer for coastal communities. The first lighthouse on Rook Island was built in 1882 in response to the booming fishery that operated out of Queensport harbour. In 1936 the fifty-year old lighthouse was replaced with a more modern design. In the 21st century the lighthouse continues to serve fishing vessels as well as recreational boaters.
The construction of the Queensport Lighthouse reflected the economic importance of the Atlantic fishery to small communities like Queensport. A lighthouse has supported the Queensport fishing industry since its beginning in the late-19th century.

Architectural values
The Queensport Lighthouse is a very good example of a simple and pragmatic lighthouse design. The Queensport Lighthouse is marked by pleasing proportions and a vernacular simplicity of form, which contribute to its picturesque qualities. No additions or major modifications have been made to the lighthouse, allowing it to retain its original aesthetic qualities.
The design of the Queensport Lighthouse, which combines the lighthouse and residence, was a functional adaptation to the harsh conditions found on the coast of Nova Scotia. Its continued use as a lighthouse and home from its construction through to the 1960s speaks to its utility in terms of layout as well as the durability of its materials. The challenging weather conditions of the site and the need for easy access to the light make the combination of lighthouse and residence a very good design choice.

Community values
The Queensport Lighthouse establishes the maritime and historic character of Chedebucto Bay and nearby Queensport. As the only building on Rook Island, the lighthouse is highly visible from the mainland and all points in the harbour. The Queensport Lighthouse emerges from the horizon and announces its maritime function with its red-and-white colour scheme that vividly contrasts with the blue of the sea and the rocky terrain of Rook Island.
The Queensport Lighthouse is highly valued by the local communities of Queensport and the Municipality of the District of Guysborough. The distinctive profile of the lighthouse is used locally as a symbol of the Queensport community. The lighthouse is closely linked to the history of Queensport because many local families had ancestors who were light keepers on Rook Island.

Related buildings
There are no related buildings included in the designation.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements of the Queensport Lighthouse should be respected:
— its prominent location as a coastal light in Queensport harbour, on Chedebucto Bay;
— its intact, as-built structural form, height, and balanced proportions;
— its distinctive profile, consisting of a two-storey, cubic wood frame building sheathed in cedar shingles and surmounted by a wooden lantern;
— its square, wooden lantern with a pyramidal roof topped by a vent, which extends from the apex of the hipped roof;
— its gallery and railing;
— its pyramidal, hipped roof;
— the concrete foundation of the cubic building;
— its functional interior layout, which allows access to the light via the second floor lamp room;
— its 16 irregularly spaced, double-hung sash windows;
— its wood shed attached at the back of the building;
— its wood-framed verandah which runs across the front façade of the building;
— its traditional colour scheme, consisting of white for the dwelling, and red for the trim, the roof, and the lantern; and,
— its visual prominence in relation to the water and landscape.