NEW ZEALAND LIGHTHOUSES

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. George White Bennett died June 9, 1855. Buried St Paul's Church, Molesworth Street, Thornton, Wellington.

The light was first lit 1 January 1859.

The first assistant keeper was William Lyall, with his wife Lucy. The Lyalls' came to New Zealand aboard the Mariner in 1849.  Lyall moved in the 1860's to Some Island lighthouse. He died on October 11, 1871.  Stepson Robert Buckeridge took over as keeper until his death, September 10, 1874.

William Hendle was transferred to Pencarrow in 1872 from Cape Campbell. He was to tragically lose his wife in April, 1875 when she slipped on the tower stairs and fell to her death. Hendle returned to Cape Campbell in 1878. He died of a heart attack in the lamp house on 30 March, 1881 at the age of 50. His body was transported back to Wellington for burial aboard the lighthouse tender Steller. ^b

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 and lit on June 18, 1935.  Baring Head was the second to last manned lighthouse to be built in New Zealand. It replaced the original Pencarrow lighthouse which was extinguished the same day. ¹

In 1959 designated as a historical place. ⁴

In 2009 the New Zealand Post announced a lighthouse commemorative stamp issue celebrating the 150th anniversary of New Zealand’s lighthouses. A technological first, the stamps have special glue whereas the beams from the lighthouse actually glow in the dark,. This is activated by sunlight or holding the stamp under a light for a short time. The five stamps are in different denominations, ranging from fifty cents to $2.50 and feature Pencarrow Head, Dog Island, Cape Brett, Cape Egmont and Cape Reinga.

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:

New Tower:

Sources

Additional Sources:

^a. 

^b. Friends of Mana Island  http://www.manaisland.org.nz/index.htm David Cormick Lighthouse Keepers on Mana Island

Text and photographs. Copyright © 1999-2010 Mark Phillips. All rights reserved.

If anyone has any information on this light please contact me. thekiwimark@msn.com

Last Updated: 12/27/09