Cape Campbell (1870)
Viewed from Lake Grassmere Road
Photo courtesy of MSA.
Cape Campbell is situated on the eastern coast of the South Island near the approaches to Cook Strait and was named by Captain James Cook after Vice Admiral John Campbell who circumnavigated the world with Anson. The local Maori had named the cape Te Karaka.
Cape Campbell claimed a number of ship wrecks over the years, the notable being the New Bedford whaler Alexander which wrecked three years before the lighthouse was built and was a total loss.
Construction begun in 1869 on a wooden lighthouse and was first lit on 1 August, 1870. Unfortunately another wreck occurred in 1871. The Rifleman en-route from Lyttleton to Havelock was lost with all hands.
The first lighthouse keeper was William Hendle who was transferred from Mana Island where he had also been the first keeper. Hendle was transferred to Pencarrow Head lighthouse in 1872 but was to return to Cape Campbell in 1878. He died of a heart attack in the lamp house on 30 March, 1881 at the age of 50. His body was transported back to Wellington for burial aboard the lighthouse tender Steller.
The new lighthouse did not hold up well, and after two years had to be shored up. By 1898 the old wooden tower was found to be decaying and a new cast iron tower was manufactured in Thames and erected on the site. This light was first lit in October, 1905. The original foundations for the old wooden tower can still be found near the new tower.
Cape Campbell, along with Cape Palliser and Dog Island are the only lights in New Zealand painted with strips so they stand out from the surrounding area.
The light was automated in 1986 and the last keeper withdrawn.
DIRECTIONS:
Take Hwy 1. 35-40km south from Blenheim. Just south of Lake Grassmere turn onto Marfells Beach Road. Drive about 9km to the campground/beach area. Walk around the headland to the light depending on the tides.
Views of the light can also be obtained from Lake Grassmere Road, which is north of the lake.
| Island | South |
| Province | Marlborough |
| Location | Marlborough |
| Number | K4274 |
| Date Commissioned | 1 August, 1870 |
| Date Decommissioned | |
| Automated | 1986 |
| Latitude | 41 44' South |
| Longitude | 174 17' East |
| Elevation Above Sea Level | 47m |
| Height | 22m |
| Character | White flash every 15 seconds |
| Range | 27 N. miles (50 km) |
| Made | Judd Engineering Works, Thames, N.Z. |
| Construction | Original wooden, replacement white cast iron tower with black bands. |
| Converted Kerosene To Diesel | July 1938 |
| Converted Diesel To Mains Electricity | 1960's |
| Wattage | |
| Present Tower | Not original |
| Authority | MSA |
| Date Visited | 21 January, 2000 |
| Head Keeper | From | To |
| William Hendle | 1 August, 1870 | 1872 |
| William Hendle | April, 1878 | 30 March, 1881 |
| Assistant Keeper (1st) | From | To |
Text and photographs. Copyright © 1999-2005 Mark Phillips. All rights reserved.