That would be the perfect world but despite stabilisation work being undertaken on the lantern, Mr Clifford said work on the tower was still in a “state of limbo” and the structure’s future “uncertain”.

There is a great interest in lighthouses, as shown by the turnout at the recent International Lighthouse Heritage Weekend, which attracted big crowds to the Point Perpendicular Lighthouse.

“The lantern, which was the original lantern from the decommissioned Cape St George Lighthouse, on the southern side of Jervis Bay, has been taken to Unanderra for stabilisation work to attempt to stop any further deterioration from corrosion,” Mr Clifford said.

“The tower itself is in a state of limbo, no one has come up with a workable plan for its preservation, despite lots of meetings by a working committee, Shoalhaven City Council and the Department of Lands, which are custodians of the land. 

“The committee investigated many options and in the end no practical cost effective solution was possible,” he said.

“It would be great to be able to save and preserve the building and restore it to working order.

“But the location creates a number of challenges. 

“Despite some clearing and path restoration work by inmates of the South Coast Correctional Centre, the Crookhaven headland is a remote area that has no power. The regrowth of native vegetation obscures the lighthouse and unfortunately opens it up to vandalism.

“We have to try and make the site harder for vandalism to occur.”

Mr Clifford said despite numerous suggestions, including relocating the lighthouse closer to the nearby marine rescue centre, which would be a costly exercise, nothing had happened.

“Personally, I would like to see it preserved where it is but I don’t know how that is going to happen,” he said.

Despite the disbanding of the council-organised working committee, a group of Culburra residents are still determined to preserve the historic structure.

A Save Crookhaven Heads Lighthouse Facebook page has been established and information about any future plans is available there.