Bay of Exploits is a large bay off the northeast coast of Newfoundland that extends from the mouth of Exploits River to Notre Dame Bay to the north. In the bay are found over thirty islands, the largest of which is New World Island.

One of these islands is Thwart Island, which is situated just north of the settlement of Brown’s Arm. Cabbage Harbour is a rectangular shaped harbour located on the northern shore of the island, and in 1911, a light was established on Cabbage Harbour Head, on the northwest side of the entrance to the harbour.

A Notice to Mariners announced the establishment of Cabbage Harbour Head Light:

On November 1, 1911, an Intermittent white light every 7 ½ seconds, thus, light 6 ¼ seconds, eclipsed 1 ¼ seconds, was established on Cabbage Harbor Head, Thwart Island, Bay of Exploits, northeast coast of Newfoundland.

The light is exhibited from a circular iron tower connected with a dwelling by a short covered way, the whole painted white. A small storehouse, painted red, stands on the cliff about 30 feet below the lighthouse.

Cabbage Harbour Head Light was established on the same date as Upper Black Island Light, which is located eleven kilometres to the northeast in the Bay of Exploits.

Harry Hutchings was appointed the first keeper of the light, and he was still looking after the light at the time of the census a decade later. The 1921 census shows that fifty-year-old Keeper Hutchings was living at Cabbage Head with his wife and six children, who ranged in age from twenty-two down to five. The two oldest sons living with Keeper Hutchings were working as fishermen in the cod fishery.

Cabbage Harbour Head Light first appeared as being unwatched on the annual List of Lights in 1933.

The circular iron tower was in use through at least 1960. In 2021, a triangular, skeletal tower was displaying a flashing white light with a period of six seconds from Cabbage Harbour Head.

Keepers: Harry Hutchings (1911 – at least 1921).

The light is best seen from the water.

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