Wellington Harbour Board, Beacon Hill Signal Station Log Books

Descriptive Data

Archives IdentifierAC032Date Range1888-1990DescriptionThis series gives a daily account of vessels arriving at and departing from “The Heads” as viewed from the Signal Station at Beacon Hill. Signal operators recorded arrivals and departures, signals received by the station and the prevailing weather conditions over the course of each day.

The Wellington Harbour Board took over responsibility for the Pilot Stations, Signal Stations and role of Harbour Master from the General Government in 1880. The Harbour Master’s Department was responsible for operating the Signal Station. In 1984 the Harbour and Traffic Departments were amalgamated to form the Operations Department, which retained responsibility for the station. In 1988 the Operations Department was separated off to become part of the Port of Wellington Ltd, but the Signal Station remained under the control of the Harbour Board until it was transferred to the Wellington Regional Council following the dissolution of the Board in 1989.

The signal operators would alert the Harbour Master via Morse code, using coloured lights, and eventually telephone, of any vessels requiring assistance in the form of Piloting. Messages were also relayed regarding which wharf and berth the ship would occupy. They would also note any vessels they saw out in the Cook Strait and which direction they were heading.

Volumes 1-6: Information recorded under the following headings: Date Name (of person ‘On Duty’ recording the information) On Duty (information was recorded every two hours, for e.g. 12 – 2 a.m.) Wind Direction Wind Force Weather Barometer Thermometer ( in Degrees F) Sea ( e.g. Smooth, Rough etc) On the adjacent page, the arrivals and departures are listed, as well as ‘Remarks’.

Volumes 7-136: Information recorded under the following headings: Arrivals Departures (giving the name of ship and time) Time (information below was recorded at 2 hour intervals) Wind (direction) Force (of wind) Visibility Weather (in alpha code, no key given. e.g. BZ, or CZ or C) Barometer Thermometer Sea (condition of) Swell Signalman Messages and Instructions (to and from signalmen) Remarks There are no controlling indexes and access to the information is by date only.

There is a large gap between 1929 and 1949; these volumes have not been sighted since the WHB Appraisal was done in 1985, where they were listed as 'not sighted.' The volumes covering 8 Feb 1959 – 22 Nov 1961 and 11 Feb 1968-16 Apr 1968 are also missing.Quantity (Linear Metres)5.79MediumBound VolumeSystem of ArrangementChronologicalCollection TypeWellington Museums Trust

Access Information

Restriction StatusOpen

Related Agencies

Controlling or Creating AgencyWellington Harbour BoardRelationship Date Range1880-1990

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Wellington Harbour Board, Beacon Hill Signal Station Log Books