The Blackett Lighthouse was originally on the Terrace, No. 7. It was later relocated to the corner of Te Weka Street and Benvenue Ave, and then again to the Benvenue Cliffs. It is a Category II structure and the Historic Places Trust.  LEFT: The Lighthouse at its current site in 2021. Courtesy of Roselyn Fauth. RIGHT: Timaru's lighthouse being relocated 1980.  Courtesy of South Canterbury Museum 2014/107.73

The lighthouse has been at it's current location since 2010. It includes part of the land described as Pt Opukuorakaitauheke Maori Reserve 884 (Railway NZ Gazette 1874, p282). Blackett’s lighthouse stands on a coastal / railway reserve above the Benvenue Cliffs and close to the eastern terminus of Benvenue Avenue in the suburb of Maori Hill.  This is near the reserve: Te Upoko o Rakitauheke Native Reserve 884. "11 Te Weka Street, Maori Hill, Timaru." 
"This 20-acre reserve situated at Timaru was set aside as part of the Canterbury Purchase 1848. Ownership of the reserve was not confirmed until 1868 when the Native Land Court determined that ownership resided with 66 people. In 1870 a Crown Grant (7845) was issued to Tamati Tarawhata and nine others as trustees. In 1874, a portion of the reserve was acquired by the Crown as a Railway Reserve. In 1886 the Native Land Court, investigated the title under the provisions of the Native Equitable Owners Act 1886, to determine all those who held a beneficial right to the reserve. In 1914, the reserve was subdivided into 66 township sections. In 1926, the land was sold to the Timaru Borough Council to cover unpaid rates and was declared a Public Reserve in 1930. It is currently the site of the Caroline Bay Trust Aoraki Centre." - kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas

In 1926, the land was taken by the Timaru Borough Council due to unpaid rates (see DP 9031 – for conveyance to Council). The land was then declared a Public Reserve (NZ Gazette, 1930, 378).  -https://mapviewer.canterburymaps.govt.nz/?webmap=0db87348adef4595a91994a3dc85cefe

John Blackett was a government marine engineer who worked on railways as and lighthouses. He designed the new Timaru lighthouse in 1877. It was a three-story, kauri timber lighthouse with a kerosene lamp. It was lit in July 1878 with Captain Meredith as the first lighthouse-keeper, just as work was about to begin on the initial breakwater.

The original plan was to construct a concrete light house at Patiti Point, but the government only offered to pay for the construction of a wooden lighthouse. As the towns ammunition supply (including over a hundred pounds of gun powder) was stored at Patiti Point, it was decided a wooden lighthouse with a kerosene lit lamp was safer further up the coastline. It was replaced by gas in 1890 and then electricity in 1920. It was eventually decommissioned in 1970 as the main harbour navigation light. The light house was shifted from the Terrace to Te Weka St and then to the current site above the Benvenue Cliffs.

Blackett himself was opposed to the new port. He declared the Timaru breakwater work a complete fiasco. Shingle was one of the main issues as it built up on the southern side of the structure. He could see the changes to the long shore drift and coastal erosion and said the breakwater needed to be blown up to save the railway. Some of the locals protested by parading an effigy of him down the main street to the end of the breakwater, stuffing it with fireworks and blowing it up leaving fragments scattered over the bay.

Blackett’s Lighthouse is historically significant as a prominent reminder of the role that shipping and coastal transport has played in the social and economic development of New Zealand.

Before the breakwater had been constructed Captain Woolcombe recorded that over 10 year period from 1858, 14 feet (4.2m) of cliff had dropped into the sea.

Learn more about Blackett's Lighthouse at Pt Opukuorakaitauheke Maori Reserve 884 (Railway NZ Gazette 1874, p282), Canterbury Land District here: heritage.org.nz/2044

DOWNLOAD The WuHooTimaru Colourful facts sheet on the Blackett Lighthouse

A set of the original plans for construction of the Timaru lighthouse hand drawn by John Blackett circa 1877. Courtesy South Canterbury Museum 2004/070.37

John Blackett was keen to construct inexpensive and easy-to-build lighthouses in New Zealand. The lighthouse features an innovative double wall filled with rubble. This allowed cheap, easy-to-handle wood to be used while achieving the weight to ensure towers were well founded in exposed positions.

Section of the HMS Ringarooma cruiser in Timaru Harbour where you can see the Blackett Lighthouse up on Le Cren Terrace 1895-02-23 - Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections NZG-18950223-0180-01

Detail from the original plans for construction of the Timaru lighthouse hand drawn by John Blackett circa 1877. Courtesy South Canterbury Museum 2004/070.37

Keepers weren’t just there to tend to the lens only. They also had to maintain other buildings around the light station and keep things running smoothly. Courtesy RG26: ZZ, Standard Apparatus Plans; Vol. 19, Plate 98. Light Keeper’s Implements, 1862.

Lighthouse Panels to Inspire Imaginative Play Designed by Graphic Artist and CPlay volunteer Roselyn Fauth, inspired by Lighthouse impliments and Blackett's Lighthouse Plans.

A art history sign features Blackett story by the lighthouse. Michael Armstrong (1954). Blackett on the Breakwater, 2019. Acrylic on canvas. Friends of the Aigantighe Collection, Aigantighe Art Gallery, 2019.24.1

Known as the ‘cemetery of ships’, Timaru historically provided ‘no safe harbour’. The construction of a breakwater, using large concrete blocks, began in 1878 to address the problem. Known as the ‘cemetery of ships’, Timaru historically provided ‘no safe harbour’. The construction of a breakwater, using large concrete blocks, began in 1878 to address the problem. John Blackett, an engineer and lighthouse designer for the Public Works Department, wrote a progress report for the government on the new breakwater. The findings of the report recommended dismantling the breakwater, because it supposedly caused erosion to a railway viaduct in Caroline Bay. (These predictions were later found to be correct and accelerated erosion to the north affecting the local lagoons).Blackett’s report was very unpopular at the time and a public protest ensued. A mob of hundreds marched down Stafford Street with an effigy of Blackett, which they blew up at the end of the breakwater on June 2, 1880.In this painting, seated in the lower left, is Blackett with the wreck of Fairy Queen - a 214-ton brig that broke its mooring in a southeast gale, caught fire and beached on August 27, 1873. Blakett’s effigy is on the right, exploding on the breakwater, next to a reference to Anderson’s crane employed to lift the 30-ton concrete blocks used in the breakwater.

1880 Rport written by John Blackett (NZ Colonial Marine Engineer) as ti the damaged caused by building a breatwater at Timaru, and the further danamge that may accrue therefrom - paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/AJHR1880-I.2.1.6.2

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/AJHR1880-I.2.1.6.2

To accompany Mr J.H. Lowe's report of January 5th 1880. Plan illustrating Sir John. Coode's Report on TIMARU HARBOUR paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1880/I/1045

Brass Rubbing plate for Blackett Lighthouse in Timaru