Boulder Bank Lighthouse
Lighthouse in Nelson, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Boulder Bank Lighthouse is a decommissioned 19th century lighthouse[1] located near the Port Nelson end of the Boulder Bank. It was New Zealand's second permanent lighthouse.[2]
The lighthouse in 2004 | |
 | |
| Location | Boulder Bank, Nelson City, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°15′17″S 173°15′55″E |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1862  |
| Automated | 1915 |
| Height | 18 m (59 ft) |
| Light | |
| Deactivated | 1982 |
| Designated | 23 June 1983 |
| Reference no. | 41 |
Prior to its construction, the Nelson harbour entrance, with its four-metre tidal range and narrow curved channel, was a trap to unwary ship's captains.[3] The octagonal cast-iron tower was manufactured in sections by Stothert & Pitt, an engineering firm from Bath, England, in 1859 at a cost of £2,824 (equivalent to £293,595 as of 2023).[4] It was then shipped to New Zealand on board the Glenshee, and was erected in 1862.[5]
It is registered with Heritage New Zealand as a category I structure with registration number 41.[5]
The lighthouse was lit for 120 years, from 1862 until 1982. It was given a fresh coat of white paint in October 2018.[6] Its perch on the natural breakwater makes it popular with tourists.[2] Today, it stands alone, but was not always so. When it was staffed by lighthouse keepers, a number of homes, other buildings and radio mast clustered around its base.[3]
