Cape Wanbrow (1874)
First lit on 1 December, 1874, the Cape Wanbrow lighthouse was a wooden cottage with the beacon in the window and the keepers quarters in the cottage. The lighthouse was classified as a harbour light by the Marine Department and administered by the Oamaru Harbour Board.
In 1878 the light was changed from a fixed white light to a fixed red light. Over the next 20 years the Oamaru Harbour Board and the Marine Department were to argue over the merits of Cape Wanbrow becoming a coastal lighthouse. In February of 1893 the Department suggested the Harbour Board purchase a occulting light that had been displayed at the Melbourne, Australian Exhibition for the sum of £100 to replace the fixed red light. The Harbour Board once again tried to change the lights status, but with no result, reluctantly agreed to purchase the light from Melbourne. The light was installed and went into service on 23 May, 1894. It had a range of 15 miles.
In May of 1895 the Harbour Board again requested that the Marine Department reclassify the lighthouse as a coastal light. The Marine Department declined as they considered it was not justified. Again in 1906 they requested and again they were declined.
During the World War 2 the sight was selected to house gun emplacements. See http://riv.co.nz/rnza/rf/ww2/nz2.htm. These were installed in April, 1943.
At this time a new concrete tower was constructed and a new light with a automatic acetone acetylene light and went into service on 4 February, 1944.
This light was converted to electricity at a cost of £75 and begun operation on 5 March, 1945.
The lighthouse is now abandoned.
If anyone has any information on this light please contact me. kiwimark@comcast.net
DIRECTIONS:
From the town of Oamaru, drive towards the Penguin Colony where you will find Test Street. Take Test Street till it ends at the Cape Wanbrow Reserve. Walk the dirt track for about 15 minutes until you come across some old gun emplacements. At the second gun emplacement take the track down the hill to the lighthouse.
| Island | South |
| Province | Otago |
| Location | Oamaru |
| Number | |
| Date Commissioned | 1 December, 1874 |
| Date Decommissioned | |
| Automated | 4 February, 1944 |
| Latitude | |
| Longitude | |
| Elevation Above Sea Level | |
| Height | |
| Character | |
| Range | |
| Made | |
| Construction | Concrete |
| Converted Kerosene To Diesel | |
| Converted Diesel To Mains Electricity | |
| Connected To Mains Electricity | 5 March, 1945 |
| Wattage | |
| Present Tower | Not original |
| Date Visited | 2 January, 2000 |
| Head Keeper | From | To |
| Assistant Keeper (1st) | From | To |
Text and photographs. Copyright © 1999-2005 Mark Phillips. All rights reserved.