Baring Head Lighthouse (1935)
Courtesy MSA
Reference Number: EP-Transport-Shipping-Lighthouses-02
View of Baring Head Lighthouse under construction. Photographed by an Evening post staff photographer in March 1934.
http://mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=45689
Reference Number: EP-Transport-Shipping-Lighthouses-01
Baring Head, Wellington, showing the lighthouse and cottages in which the keepers live, flanked by two steel masts. Photographed 17 August 1937 by an unidentified Evening Post staff photographer.
http://mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=45654
View of new LED beacon mounted on the balcony.
Google has a satellite map
Baring Head was named after Baring the director of the New Zealand Association, the forebear to the New Zealand Company who bought settlers to the New Zealand. Baring Head is situated on the southern headland of Port Nicholson (Wellington Harbour).
In 1929 the Marine Department discussed moving the old Pencarrow lighthouse to a new site at Baring Head. The idea was deferred while tests were made on new revolving light equipment at Egmont lighthouse.
In 1931 they decided to build a new lighthouse which would serve both as an approach light for Wellington harbour and a coastal light for Cook Strait. The contract was let, but due to economics the contract was then deferred. The land was donated by Mr. Eric Riddiford in 1932 and in 1934 work begun. At the time Baring Head was so inaccessible by road, the Marine Department considered shipping construction materials there. a
First lit on June 18, 1935, Baring Head was the second to last manned lighthouse to be built in New Zealand. It replaced the first New Zealand light, the original Pencarrow lighthouse which was extinguished the same day and later designated as a historical place. The light was the first to run on electricity from the onset and was initially run with a diesel powered generator. This meant the keepers no longer had a night watch and an alarm system in the keeper's house would warn of any failures.1
One of the more accessible lighthouses, the keepers were able to pick up their supplies in Wellington or the suburbs and the keeper's children also attended school there. 1
Originally a two keeper station, it later reduced to one. 1
During the Second World War the lighthouse grounds were used by the New Zealand Navy as a radar and signal station. 1
In 1950 the light station was connected to the main electrical grid and the diesel generators were used as a backup. 1
In 1956 the light's character was changed from flashing three times every 15 seconds to the present character due to a nearby Harbour Board automatic light having a similar character. The lens does not revolve, the bulb flashes on and off instead. 4
The radio beacon, which guided ships up to 100 nautical miles away, was removed in 1981. a
The lighthouse was automated in 1989. 1
In February, 2005, the original light was replaced with a new LED beacon which is mounted on the lantern room balcony. The new light is powered by mains electricity with a battery back up. 1
POSTAGE STAMPS:
The Baring Head lighthouse has along with others been featured on New Zealand postal stamps issued by the Government Life Insurance Office.
Part of the lighthouse series that was released in 1969 when New Zealand changed to decimal currency, the Baring Head stamp had a value of 3 cents.
Stamp Web Sites
http://100megsfree3.com/glaw/lighthouse/
http://www.newzeal.com/theme/LH/lighthouses.htm
DIRECTIONS:
The lighthouse is inaccessible to the public. 1
The light is viewable from the Cook Strait ferry.
From Wellington drive east to Wainuiomata, then follow the Coast Road south to the beach where there is parking. From there I walked along the beach for views of the light. You will need to cross a river which can be swift and deep as you walk up the beach for closer views of the light.
The drive from Wellington is about 40 km.
| Island | North |
| Province | Wellington |
| Location | Wellington Heads |
| Number | K4004 |
| Date Commissioned | 18 June, 1935 1 |
| Date Decommissioned | |
| Automated | 1989 1 |
| Latitude | 41° 25' South 1 |
| Longitude | 174° 52' East 1 |
| Elevation Above Sea Level | 87m 1 |
| Height | 12.2m 1 |
| Character | Oscillating white light on for 9 seconds off for 6 seconds. 1 |
| Range | 19 N. miles (35 km) 10 N miles (18km) 1 Possibly new beacon installed 2005 |
| Made | Built on site 1 |
| Construction | Concrete hexagonal tower 1 |
| Converted Kerosene To Diesel | Always used a diesel generator 1 |
| Converted Diesel To Mains Electricity | Built with a diesel generator. Connected to mains electricity in 1950 1 |
| Wattage | |
| Present Tower | Original |
| Authority | Owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand |
| Date Visited | 20 February, 2000 |
| Head Keeper | From | To |
| June 18 1935 | ||
| R. S. Wilson | Stationed during 1942 | |
| Steve O'Neill | 1989 (Automated) |
| Assistant Keeper (1st) | From | To |
Additional Sources:
a. New Zealand Archives
b.
Text and photographs. Copyright © 1999-2010 Mark Phillips. All rights reserved.
If anyone has any information on this light please contact me. thekiwimark@msn.com
Last Updated: November, 27 2009.