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Hokitika Lighthouse


In early Winter 2 weeks ago I stopped up a side road in Hokitika to check out this icon. Named the Hokitika Lighthouse it was built in 1879 and is 1 of 14 in the country designed by John Blackett (the father of the lighthouse system). Made from Kauri it was fitted with a fifth order dioptic to burn coal from the town supply.

It is 5.4 metres high, 36.6 metres above sea level and the light is visible from 26 kilometres away. It was discontinued in 1924 as the light was dismantled and sent to Wellington. The tower was handed back to the nearby Seaview Mental Asylum's hospital department for demolition but instead was fitted out as an observation tower.

Over the years it fell into disrepair but was restored in 1999 by Heritage Hokitika Inc.

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, Ruby Tuesday, My corner of the world, Wordless Wednesday.

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Comments

At Home In New Zealand said…
How fortunate that the Asylum never dismantled it. Now it has been restored, I hope it lasts another hundred years so people can appreciate its history.
12 July 2022 at 09:19
magiceye said…
Looks beautiful! Glad it was restored.
12 July 2022 at 13:51
Tigger's Mum said…
Is it still possible to take in a view from the top?
12 July 2022 at 16:54
Veronica Lee said…
Such a beauty!

So glad it was restored.

Happy Tuesday, Amy!
12 July 2022 at 17:05
Fun60 said…
Glad to hear it was restored. It would be a real shame to lose this icon for ever.
12 July 2022 at 17:25
Morton said…
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12 July 2022 at 21:44
Tom said…
...I love lighthouses and this one is lovely. Thanks for sharing it.
12 July 2022 at 22:23
NCSue said…
What an unusual and beautiful lighthouse! Thank you for sharing it at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2022/07/a-few-things-blooming-around-homeplace.html
13 July 2022 at 00:45
Sharon said…
It sounds like it's been rescued several times and a good thing too. It is lovely.
13 July 2022 at 03:12
Bill said…
It's a beauty, glad they decided to restore it.
13 July 2022 at 06:51
Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said…
There is something so nostalgically beautiful about a lighthouse and I'm glad this one was preserved.
13 July 2022 at 12:52
Iris Flavia said…
Glad they restored it, it´s beautiful.
13 July 2022 at 16:34
Sallie (FullTime-Life) said…
I'm glad someone had the foresight to save this -- lots of history and its beautifully restored.
15 July 2022 at 08:34
William Kendall said…
Well worth preserving.
15 July 2022 at 10:48
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