Pencarrow, old (1859) new (1906)
Lighthouse at Pencarrow Head, Wellington.
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.
Lighthouse at Pencarrow Head, Wellington.
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.
Petre, F fl 1940s? View of Pencarrow Head, Wellington.
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.
The site of New Zealand's first lighthouse Pencarrow Head marks the eastern entrance to Wellington Harbour. Initially in 1841, two wooden markers were built in but these blew away. A make shift beacon was then built and was tended by George Bennett and his wife Mary.
In June 1858 the iron tower arrived from England and was landed on Pencarrow beach then assembled on the cliffs above. Unfortunately by the time it was built George Bennett had drowned in a boating accident (1855) so his wife Mary became New Zealand's first official lighthouse keeper.
The light was first lit 1 January 1859.
The light was often shrouded by low fog so a new tower was constructed on the beach in 1906. Originally the tower was a open steel frame but it was incased in concrete and increased in height in the 1930's.
Both lights burned together for 30 years until Bearing Head lighthouse was built in 1935 and the original light was decommissioned.
DIRECTIONS:
The light is viewable from the Cook Strait ferry.
From Wellington drive east to Petone, then drive south around the bay to the end of the road at Burdens Gate. There is a walking track to the light (3 hours 30 minutes return). The drive from Petone is about 14 km.
Original Tower:
| Island | North |
| Province | Wellington |
| Location | Wellington Heads |
| Number | |
| Date Commissioned | 1 January 1859 |
| Date Decommissioned | 1935 |
| Automated | |
| Latitude | |
| Longitude | |
| Elevation Above Sea Level | 98m |
| Height | 10m |
| Character | |
| Range | |
| Made | England |
| Construction | Cast iron |
| Converted Kerosene To Diesel | |
| Converted Diesel To Mains Electricity | |
| Wattage | |
| Present Tower | Not in use |
| Date Visited | 21 January, 2000 |
New Tower:
| Island | North |
| Province | Wellington |
| Location | Wellington Heads |
| Number | K4006 |
| Date Commissioned | 1906 |
| Date Decommissioned | |
| Automated | 1960 |
| Latitude | 41° 22' South |
| Longitude | 174° 51' East |
| Elevation Above Sea Level | 18m |
| Height | 17m |
| Character | Flashes 3 times, white and red sectors every 12 seconds |
| Range | (White) 12-16 N. miles. (Red) 10-13 N. miles |
| Made | |
| Construction | Steel frame later incased in concrete, white |
| Converted Kerosene To Diesel | |
| Converted Diesel To Mains Electricity | |
| Wattage | |
| Present Tower | Original |
| Authority | |
| Date Visited | 21 January, 2000 |
| Head Keeper | From | To |
| Assistant Keeper (1st) | From | To |
Text and photographs. Copyright © 1999-2005 Mark Phillips. All rights reserved.