Castle Point Lighthouse
Castle Point Lighthouse, located near the village of Castlepoint in the Wellington Region of the North Island of New Zealand,[2] is the North Island's tallest lighthouse standing 52 metres above sea level and is one of only two left in New Zealand with a rotating beam. It is owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand.
New Zealand | |
Location | Castlepoint North Island New Zealand |
---|---|
Coordinates | 40°54′01.5″S 176°13′53.2″E |
Year first constructed | 1913 |
Year first lit | 1913 |
Automated | 1988 |
Construction | cast iron tower |
Tower shape | tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
Markings / pattern | white tower, gray lantern dome |
Tower height | 23 metres (75 ft) |
Focal height | 52 metres (171 ft) |
Light source | mains power |
Range | 26 nautical miles (48 km; 30 mi) |
Characteristic | Fl (3) W 30s. |
Admiralty number | K3994 |
NGA number | 4572 |
ARLHS number | NZL-016 |
Managing agent | Maritime New Zealand[1] |
History
The light was built in 1913 and was originally fueled by oil. It was officially lit for the first time on Sunday 12 January 1913, sending out a triple flash every 45 seconds that could be seen for 35 kilometres.[3] In 1954 the oil lamp was replaced with an electric one powered by a local diesel generator. This was subsequently replaced by a connection to the mains grid in 1961. The nearby Castlepoint beach is popular with holiday makers and the lighthouse itself became a popular tourist attraction, acquiring the nickname "The Holiday Light".
The light was fully automated in 1988 and is now managed from a central control room in Wellington.
References
- "Lighthouses Directory". Archived from the original on 28 October 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
- Castle Point Lighthouse profile Archived 21 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine (from the Maritime New Zealand website)
- "castlepointlighthouse.com". Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
External links
- Castle Point Lighthouse in Lighthouse Digest's Lighthouse Explorer Database
- Lighthouses of New Zealand Maritime New Zealand
- http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NA19220410.1.5&e=-------10--1----0-- "The Northern Advocate" scan from 10 April 1922
- castlepointlighthouse.com
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Castle Point Lighthouse. |