Sat, Jul 06, 2013
Structure Was Precariously Perched On A Cliff After 2011 Earthquakes
New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC) began undertaking work Friday to rescue an historic lighthouse teetering on the cliff edge at Godley Head, near Christchurch.
“This beautiful old structure had an extremely lucky escape and was left clinging to the cliff by its ‘toenails’ after the February and June earthquakes in 2011,” says DOC project manager Grant Campbell. “DOC is extremely pleased to be able to save another piece of Christchurch’s quake-damaged heritage. As with moving Scott’s Hutt to the area earlier this year, this complicated operation has required some fairly creative thinking and enthusiasm to get the job done from all those involved.”
The plan called for professional abseilers to rappel down and remove the copper dome and outer glass housing from the lighthouse base about 150 feet down the cliff face below Godley Head. A helicopter was scheduled to transport the unit to the DOC compound nearby, where it will be stored. The prism glass, prism housing and light mechanism were to be securely crated and also flown there.
The original Godley Head lighthouse was built from locally quarried stone and was first lit in April 1865. The lantern was designed and built in England. Along with the tower, a double stone house was built with a slate roof. This dwelling housed both the head and assistant keepers and their families.
Due to its strategic vantage point, Godley Head was taken over in 1851 as a Defense Reserve for military purposes. During the Second World War, fortifications were built around the lighthouse and a battery of six-inch guns was installed. As the lighthouse was in the direct line of fire of the guns, the old tower and lighthouse keepers’ cottage was demolished and the lighthouse moved further down the cliff face.
The lighthouse was automated in 1976 and handed over to the Lyttelton Harbour Board. After being damaged in the earthquakes, the buildings and tower were gifted to DOC for possible removal.
“The structure and operating mechanisms are of significant historic importance. Once safely moved, our aim will be to restore the lantern house on a new concrete base but for the time being it will be kept in safe storage,” said Grant.
(Image courtesy New Zealand Department of Conservation.)
More News
Airbus Racer Demonstrator Makes Inaugural Flight Airbus Helicopters' ambitious Racer demonstrator has achieved its inaugural flight as part of the Clean Sky 2 initiative, a corners>[...]
A little Bit Quieter, Said Testers, But in the End it's Still a DA40 Diamond Aircraft recently completed a little pilot project with Lufthansa Aviation Training, putting a pair of >[...]
Line Up And Wait (LUAW) Used by ATC to inform a pilot to taxi onto the departure runway to line up and wait. It is not authorization for takeoff. It is used when takeoff clearance >[...]
Contributing To The Accident Was The Pilot’s Use Of Methamphetamine... Analysis: The pilot departed on a local flight to perform low-altitude maneuvers in a nearby desert val>[...]
From 2015 (YouTube Version): Overcoming Obstacles To Achieve Their Dreams… At EAA AirVenture 2015, FedEx arrived with one of their Airbus freight-hauling aircraft and placed>[...]
Airbus Racer Helicopter Demonstrator First Flight Part of Clean Sky 2 Initiative
See All