Castle Point Lighthouse
 Castle Point Lighthouse | |
 | |
| Location | Castlepoint North Island New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°54′S 176°12′E / 40.9°S 176.2°E |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1913 |
| Construction | cast iron tower |
| Automated | 1988 |
| Height | 23 metres (75 ft) |
| Shape | tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings | white tower, gray lantern dome |
| Power source | mains electricity  |
| Operator | Maritime New Zealand[1] |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1913 |
| Focal height | 52 metres (171 ft) |
| Lens | second order Fresnel lens |
| Light source | mains power |
| Range | 26 nautical miles (48 km; 30 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (3) W 30s. |
Castle Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse near the village of Castlepoint in the Wellington Region of the North Island of New Zealand.[2] It is owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand.
History
The light was built in 1913 and was originally fueled by oil. 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.
Ghost
The lighthouse keepers house (which has recently been demolished) is supposedly haunted by the ghost of a lighthouse keeper that fell to his death in April 8th 1922. The lighthouse keeper Alexander Duncan, 51, was killed on Saturday evening whilst fixing a telephone wire, he fractured his skull and was found an hour later.
See also
References
- ^ Lighthouses Directory
- ^ Castle Point Lighthouse Profile (from the Maritime New Zealand website)
External links
- 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 April 10th 1922
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