Puysegur Point Lighthouse

Puysegur Point Lighthouse
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Place:	Southwest coast of New Zealand's South Island
Location:	Southland , New Zealand
Geographical location:	46 ° 9 '22.2 "  S , 166 ° 36' 34.1"  E Coordinates: 46 ° 9 '22.2 "  S , 166 ° 36' 34.1"  E
Height of tower base:	45  m
Fire carrier height :	5 m
Identifier :	Fl W 12s
Scope knows:	19 nm (35.2 km )
Operating mode:	1879 oil lamp 1980 automated 1990 fully automated operation
Function:	lighthouse
Construction time:	1879
Operating time:	since 1879

Puysegur Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse on the cape of Puysegur Point on the southwest coast of the Southland region in the south of the South Island of New Zealand . It is operated by Maritime New Zealand.

The first lighthouse was a wooden structure. Since the components could not be landed at the lighthouse, they had to be transported about 3 km through the bush. The route used at that time served to supply the lighthouse until the conversion to helicopters in 1977.

The tower was completed in February 1879 and put into operation in March. In 1942 the tower was destroyed by arson, whereby the fire in one of the lighthouse keeper's houses, which was also lit, was extinguished without causing much damage.

In January 1943, the only 5 m high iron head of the Godley Head lighthouse was installed on a concrete base to replace it. The oil light was replaced by an electric beacon powered by a diesel generator.

In 1980 the lighthouse was shut down and replaced by two automatic beacons on Cape Providence and Windsor Point. When the latter was shut down in 1987, the lighthouse was put back into operation. The last lighthouse keeper left the tower in 1990, making it one of the last manned lighthouses in New Zealand. Three married lighthouse keepers were temporarily stationed beforehand. From the complaints of the lighthouse keepers, it can be seen that the service here was seen as particularly tough because of the rough weather, numerous sand flies and insufficient supply of fresh food.

In 1996 the beacon was replaced by a more modern, rotating beacon whose 35 watt halogen lamp is fed by accumulators charged by solar cells. Like all other New Zealand lighthouses, the lighthouse is controlled from a control room in Wellington.

The location of the tower is open to the public, but difficult to reach. The tower itself is not accessible. In addition, only one of the buildings remains from the station.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} Puysegur Point . Maritime New Zealand , accessed October 18, 2018 .