Cape Campbell

Marlborough Online

08/03/2005

Cape Campbell lighthouse on a drizzly morning © C.Cookson

Cape Campbell is located 18km south east of Seddon, and marks the south eastern entrance to Cook Straight. The Cape is named after Vice Admiral John Campbell, who circumnavigated the world with Anson. Campbell was later appointed Governor of Newfoundland. Local Maori know the Cape as Te Karaka.

The original lighthouse was built in 1870 to warn vessels of the treacherous coastline, reefs and unusual tides. Among those vessels wrecked off the Cape were the New Bedford whaler Alexander and the schooner Riflemen on which Te Kooti earlier escaped exile on the Chathams. The Rifleman lost all hands when it sank in 1871.

The wooden lighthouse was replaced by a more sturdy metal structure in 1905 and was manned by a keeper until 1986 when it became fully automated.
The light has a range of approximately 43km and a radio beacon is also provided for shipping and air traffic to Blenheim, Nelson, and Wellington.

The original vegetation of the area was dry coastal forest and herbfield, of which, some of the latter still remains.

Looking northwest to Clifford Bay from Cape Campbell © C.Cookson