NEW ZEALAND LIGHTHOUSES

 

 

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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

 

     
     
     

 

 

 

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Text and photographs. Copyright © 1999-2005 Mark Phillips. All rights reserved.