Mana Island (1865)
Mana Island is situated off the west coast of the Wellington/Porirua area.
The cast iron tower, lens and lantern were shipped from London in March 1864 and were erected on the northern side of the island. The light was first lit on February, 1st, 1865 and along with Pencarrow Head and Nelson were the only lights serving the Cook Strait area.
Unfortunately the light displayed the same characteristics as Pencarrow Head lighthouse at the entrance to Wellington Harbour and this may have caused the the loss of two ships, with their masters confusing the two lights. Therefore in 1876 a lighthouse was built on The Brothers a rocky inlet in Cook Strait. This light was first lit in September, 1877 and the light at Mana Island was extinguished.
Four year later the lighthouse was removed and shipped to Cape Egmont, aboard the lighthouse tender Hinimoa.
DIRECTIONS:
The lighthouse has been decommissioned and removed.
| Island | North |
| Province | Wellington |
| Location | Wellington/Porirua |
| Number | |
| Date Commissioned | 1 February, 1865 |
| Date Decommissioned | September, 1877 |
| Automated | |
| Latitude | |
| Longitude | |
| Elevation Above Sea Level | |
| Height | |
| Character | |
| Range | |
| Made | |
| Construction | |
| Converted Kerosene To Diesel | |
| Converted Diesel To Mains Electricity | |
| Wattage | |
| Present Tower | |
| Date Visited |
| Head Keeper | From | To |
| William Hendie | 1 February, 1865 | July, 1870 |
| Assistant Keeper (1st) | From | To |
Text and photographs. Copyright © 1999-2005 Mark Phillips. All rights reserved.