Nugget Point (1870)
Photograph of the signal mast and the storage shed, Nugget Point, South Otago.
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 supplies being landed at Nugget Point, South Otago.
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.
Nugget Point, with path leading up to 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.
Port Molyneux situated at the mouth of the Clutha river was a bustling port between the 1860s and 1870s making Nugget Point with its reefs and rocks a necessary place for a lighthouse. Originally a 3 keeper light it was automated in 1982.
With the formation of the Marine Board of New Zealand in 1865 (renamed The Marine Department in 1866) who took of operations of all lighthouses, James Balfour was appointed the Marine Engineer and Inspector of Steamers on October 11, 1866. 10
Balfour designed the lighthouse but before the lighthouse could be lit, Balfour was drowned in a boating accident in Timaru Harbour in December, 1869. c
In 1901 the light station was established as a Post Office, the 3rd of about 15 light stations around the country. 4
If anyone has any information on this light please contact me. thekiwimark@msn.com
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DIRECTIONS:
A good way to see both Nugget Point and Waipapa Point lighthouses is to follow the "Southern Scenic Route" and "Heritage Trails" from Balclutha to Invercargill through the Catlins area.
From Balclutha, drive to Kaka Point. From there a gravel road leads to Nugget Point. A 15 minute walk takes you out along a spectacular track to the lighthouse.
Sea animals to look out for are a Fur Seal colony and the rare Yellow-eyed Penquins.
| Island | South |
| Province | Otago |
| Location | Catlins |
| Number | K4380 |
| Date Commissioned | 4 July,1870 |
| Date Decommissioned | |
| Automated | 1989 |
| Latitude | 46° 27' South |
| Longitude | 169° 49' East |
| Elevation Above Sea Level | 76m |
| Height | 9.4m |
| Character | Flashes twice every 12 seconds |
| Range | 19 N. miles (35 km) |
| Made | |
| Construction | Stone, quarried on site |
| Converted Kerosene To Diesel | 1949 |
| Converted Diesel To Mains Electricity | |
| Wattage | |
| Present Tower | Original |
| Authority | |
| Date Visited | 4 January, 2000 |
| Head Keeper | From | To |
| George Gwynne | ||
| Alexander McKinlay | October, 1885 | July, 1890 |
| Mr. Voyle | July, 1897 | |
| John Frederick Rayner | July 1, 1897 | June, 1902 |
| Mr. Bowden | 1910's |
| Assistant Keeper (1st) | From | To |
| T (Tom) B Smith | During 1909 | |
Additional Sources:
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b.
Text and photographs. Copyright © 1999-2009 Mark Phillips. All rights reserved.