Officially opened on May 1, 1862, the lighthouse located on Fingal Island has a fascinating history that has been best captured in Fingal Bay historian and author John 'Stinker' Clarke's book titled The Outer Light.

The milestone birthday celebrations will feature two boat trips to the island including a tour of the lighthouse, a comprehensive photo exhibition and a Step Back In Time festival with live music to take place on Saturday, May 7.

"The May 1 Moonshadow-TQC Cruise to the island has been booked out, however the trip organised for May 2 - with the same historical presentations and climb to the top of the light - are available," Clarke said.

"For those who are interested in local history, Cellars Cafe in Market Street has organised two presentations on the history of Fingal Bay, the lighthouse and the light keepers on May 1 at 4.30pm and May 5 at 4pm.

"A display by the Tomaree Museum Association will also be on show at the cafe throughout the week. Local musicians will bring the week of celebrations to a close on Saturday, May 7, from 2pm-5pm.

"Bring a folding chair and your dancing shoes."

In his book published in 2018, Clarke probes the hidden story of the keepers and their families who manned the remote lighthouse nightly for more than 111 years.

Today, the lights are operated electronically.

Prior to 1845, Fingal Bay was known as False Bay because it had proved to a trap for ships sailing up the coast. The entrance was described as "a dangerous dead end through which it was impossible to pass".

In order to protect the ships - there had been 24 shipwrecks prior to the commissioning of the Outer Light - a lighthouse was constructed off Fingal Bay, which first shone in 1862.

Alongside the lighthouse a residence for the keeper was built in 1865.

The magnificent structure, manufactured with sandstone blocks, was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1991 and only remnants of the designer-built home remain.

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Living on an island, the light keepers and their families became increasingly self-sufficient with a milking cow, horse, vegetable gardens, orchard and chickens.

Wells kept a constant fresh water supply. Fresh fish and lobsters were plentiful, making an appointment to Point Stephens lighthouse a high priority among light keepers.

"Horses were a valuable means of transport around the island from the earliest days," said Clarke.

"Government Hole on the northern face of the island was vital to the lightkeepers supply line of necessities and passengers. Clatterbang was Fingal's first powered boat owned and operated for lobsters by the oldest resident Ken Barry.

"Many of the mullet netted in Fingal Bay were used as lobster bait by the local fishermen. Salted and dried in the sun the mullet would last until the following season."

Stinker Clarke said that his book involved a lot of research and interviewing.

"I was also able to source some of the rarest photographs of the Fingal Bay Lighthouse ever published."

He says his books were not meant for the best sellers' list, but merely to provide readers with some rare insight and historical facts about Port Stephens, blended with his own touch of light-hearted entertainment.

"The Outer Light was self-written, self-edited and self-published. It is a fascinating story and one worthy of retelling for anyone interested in the history of the Lighthouse and Fingal Bay."

To find out more about the celebrations and the cruise see the Moonshadow-TQC website or phone Cellar Cafe Fingal Bay on (02) 4981 2608.

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