NEW ZEALAND LIGHTHOUSES

Cape Foulwind (1876) (1926)

Creative Commons photo  2007                                                                                                                                               Photos (2000)

 Light at dusk showing replacement light.                     Photos (2000)

Group at lighthouse, Cape Foulwind, [ca 1910s]  

Photograph of a group visiting the lighthouse at Cape Foulwind, 

taken circa 1910s by an unidentified photographer.

http://mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=44582            

Google has a satellite view

Originally called by the Maori Cape Tauranga meaning "sheltered anchorage", the cape is situated on the west coast of the South Island just south of the town of Westport. The first European Dutch explorer Able Tasman who sailed past in December of 1642, named the cape Clyppygen Hoek (Rocky Point), but it was Captain James Cook who was to give the cape it's current name Cape Foulwind when he encountered a huge storm while in the area in March of 1770 and hence the name foul wind. Major European settlement began in the 1860’s when the settlers established flax (harakeke) and timber mills. ¹³

Cape Foulwind was selected as a lighthouse site by John Blackett, Marine Engineer and Captain Robert Johnson, Nautical Advisor during the lighthouse survey of 1874 aboard the Luna. Unable to land from seaward they landed inland up the Buller River and cut a track out to the cape from the Westport/Charleston Road to survey the land. Arrangements were made with the District Engineer Mr. Dobson to have some men make a clearing in the bush for the  lighthouse site and to avoid intercepting the proposed lights arc. ^a

When the Luna later returned Captain Johnson found the bush to be cleared sufficiently for him to select the exact site for the light. The site was 190 feet above sea level and to clear the surrounding cliffs he proposed a tower 36 feet in height which would illuminate an arc extending S. round by N. 68deg E. ^a

In December, 1874 the lighting apparatus was ordered from England with the plans for the light being drawn up by Messrs Stevenson. ^a

By March 1875, the lanterns for both Cape Foulwind and Tory Chanel has arrived, shipped aboard the Soukar. ^b  The timber for the tower was to be shipped from Sydney, Australia aboard the Easby and to be landed at Westport, thereafter tenders for construction would be called. ^b  As a lighthouse was planned for The Brothers, the lantern shipped for Tory Chanel would be made available for a similar location. ^b

Tenders were called for the construction on August 9, 1875. ^c

The tower was constructed from locally cut Rimu  ¹  timber and the bricks that were imported from Melbourne, Australia.  The tower was a lattice wood design, 53' in height. ^d  

The light was first lit on September 1, 1876. ¹   The light was a 2nd order revolving white light, flashes every 30 seconds and could be seen for 19.5 N. miles. ^d

The cost to build the lighthouse was  £6955. ^e

In 1924 the wooden tower was found to be suffering from rot and was replaced with the current concrete tower. ¹   A new lens was ordered from Birmingham, England and an automatic light from the UK Aga Company. ¹⁸  The new automated light ran on acetone gas  ¹ acetylene ¹⁶  which only needed refueling twice a year. The lens was a 800mm Fresnel drum lens. ¹⁶  The new light was lit in 1926 and the 2 keepers were withdrawn. ¹

The original lantern was relocated to Kaipara North Head in 1947, it has also been reported the old lantern was sent to Godley Head. I'm not of the source of this, but maybe it was in 1924 when the new tower was built. ¹⁸

In the mid 1950s the acetone light was converted to electricity. ¹

The original light has now been replaced with an LED Vega 250 ¹⁶  flashing beacon mounted on the tower balcony and powered from battery banks charged by solar panels. ¹

The old automatic light is displayed at the Coaltown Museum in Westport. ^f 

There has not been many wrecks at the cape. In 1846, the most famous wreck was sighted by two early explorers, Heavy & Brunner. It is concluded the wreck was the Rifleman, which in 1825 sailed from Hobart, Australia for England loaded with wool but was never heard of again. ¹

In 1970 a farmer digging drains near the cape, dug up what appeared to be a ship well above the present high water mark. Timbers from the ship have been identified as European larch or spruce. ¹

The foundations for the original tower are still visible, along with other remains of the keepers houses. ¹

Registered with the New Zealand Historical Trust

DIRECTIONS:

The lighthouse is 11km from Westport on Hwy 67a which branches off Hwy 67 just south of town. Take the right hand road at the Star Hotel and 1 km further on is a car park. The light is 10 minutes walk. In the grass round the light you may see the New Zealand native bird the Weka.

A Department of Conservation walking track goes on further to a seal colony at Tauranga Bay.  Doc site

(1876-1926)