Reader Head is on the northern point of Cossack, an abandoned port town in the north-west region of Western Australia. It dates back to 1863 when it was included in a map of Tien Tsin Harbour recorded in 1863.
Reader Head was the first light beacon for Cossack, running on oil or kerosene. It was a crude timber frame from which the beacon light was hung from.
A lighthouse was later built in 1888 on Jarman Island which is more centralised in Butcher’s Inlet. It was the 7th lighthouse along the Western Australia coastline. The lighthouse was built with prison labour and used preformed cast iron sections from England.
Jarman Island is named after Captain Jarman of the barque Tien Tsin, carrying the first settlers to Cossack in 1863. A plaque is at the lookout, along the Emma Withnell Heritage Trail 
, of Harman Island and Readers Head Lookout.
Reader Head Lookout is located north of the township and at the northern end of Nullagine River which flows into Butcher’s Inlet. The views from the lookout include Settlers Beach beside it, the nearby Jarman Island,
You can also see the towns of Cape Lambert, Roebourne, and the town that replaced Cossack as the main port and eventuated in its abandonment, Point Samson.
Facilities are basic at the lookout with an information board at the parking area and a short walk up a concrete path to a shelter at the highest point. The shelter has some seating but there is no picnic table.
To get there:
From the northern end of Roebourne along North West Coastal Hwy (Cleaverville Rd), turn into Point Samson-Roebourne Rd at the brown sign for Cossack. Follow Point Samson-Roebourne Rd for 8.2km and turn right into Cossack Rd at the brown sign. Follow Cossack Rd for 5.2km to reach the Cossack Historic Town. Turn left into Pearl St, then after 100m turn right into Perseverance St. Follow Perseverance St for 1.4km to the end for the parking area for Reader Head Lookout.
