Nelson Boulder Bank (1862)
Nelson lighthouse and keepers' residences.
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mätauraga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
Photograph of the Kidson family outside a Nelson lighthouse.
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mätauraga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
Nelson lighthouse, surrounding buildings and a radio mast, Boulder Bank, Nelson.
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mätauraga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
As early as January 1842, a beacon had been erected on the Nelson Harbour boulder bank to aid shipping in the port. By August, 1848, a lantern with reflector was installed with a recorded range of 12 miles. Little else is known about these early beacons, until 1861 when the official lighthouse was built.
Lit on August 4, 1862, Nelson Boulder Bank became New Zealand's second lighthouse. The octagonal cast iron tower was contracted by Stothart and Pitt of Bath, England and was erected on a boulder bank protecting the port of Nelson. The light cast a beam 12 nautical miles out to sea, however the sector facing the port was obscured. Built by the Nelson Provincial Government, early residents were able to see the light on two occasions in the first year when the authorities arranged for the light to shine over the town.
The lighthouse was sold in 1864 to the newly formed Marine Board. But later was transferred back to the Nelson Council when it was not classified as a costal light.
In December 1915 the keepers were withdrawn, the old cottages destroyed and the light converted to acetylene gas.
The light was decommissioned in 1982 after a new automatic light was installed elsewhere in the harbour. The light remains fully operable and is managed by Port Nelson Limited.
In 1983 the New Zealand Historical Places Trust gave the lighthouse an "A" classification.
DIRECTIONS:
Inaccessible to the public.
| Island | South |
| Province | Nelson |
| Location | Port of Nelson |
| Number | |
| Date Commissioned | August 4, 1862 |
| Date Decommissioned | August 4, 1982 |
| Automated | December, 1915 |
| Latitude | |
| Longitude | |
| Elevation Above Sea Level | 20 m |
| Height | 18 m |
| Character | |
| Range | 12 N. miles |
| Made | Stothart and Pitt, Bath, England |
| Construction | Cast iron |
| Converted Kerosene To Diesel | |
| Converted Diesel To Mains Electricity | |
| Wattage | |
| Present Tower | Not in use |
| Authority | Port Nelson Ltd |
| Date Visited |
| Head Keeper | From | To |
| William Edward Cross | August 4, 1862 | |
| John Kidson | 27 years | |
| Assistant Keeper (1st) | From | To |
Text and photographs. Copyright © 1999-2005 Mark Phillips. All rights reserved.