TIMEBALL STATION, LYTTELTON
This is the Timeball Station in Lyttelton Harbour, Canterbury, New Zealand.
This is about the best angle I could get today.
Visual signals were important features of any port, necessary for communication between ship and shore, in pre-radio times.
Daily from 1876-1934, the dropping of the Lyttelton timeball signalled Greenwich time to shipping in the harbour. This enabled navigators to check their chronometers and so calculate accurately their position of longitude once back at sea.
While Lyttelton's timeball was one of many constructed as part of a vast Victorian network of time signals around the globe, it is one of few to have survived in working order and the only one still standing in New Zealand.
It is a rare piece of maritime history, fabulously restored and boasting spectacular views over Lyttelton Harbour.
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Mary-Jane Polson 03/12/2008 3:00
Hey Rob... this is a gorgeous pic and my, my ... isn't your photography just coming along! Very professional. This particular pic is sooooo interesting to me and I will be showing my mother. Her grandmother (my great grandma... then again i better check, it could be HER great grandmother) was born there!! We still have family connections in Lyttelton.I like it a lot! see you in 2 weeks! mj xoxox
Theo Weijmer 30/11/2008 14:23
Excellent capture Rob of this historical building and great info about the meaning of this building!!!Greetings Theo
Fons van Swaal 30/11/2008 10:46
Beautiful shot of this old fortress like building....Greetings...Fons
ps.
Excellent info......