The Old Napier Prison proposal
My interest lies in preserving the Old Napier Prison, built in 1861, which is New Zealand’s oldest constitutionalised prison. This proposal was recently presented to Crown Property Management, but it was turned down as a course of action to preserve these historic buildings on that hillside in Napier.
The Napier Prison holds a unique place in New Zealand’s maritime history. Our research has revealed that the Napier Lighthouse, attached to the prison in 1874, may have been the only lighthouse in the world not maintained by a lighthouse keeper but by prison guards. This historical fact is so rare that I believe the best way to save the Old Napier Prison is by constructing a replica lighthouse next to it, rectifying the mistake made in 1949 when the original Napier Lighthouse was demolished. The only other prison in the world with a lighthouse nearby was Alcatraz in the USA, but there, the lighthouse was maintained by separate lighthouse keepers with their own accommodations.
I have conducted extensive research and obtained cost estimates for this project. My proposal is to place the replica lighthouse on the left side of the prison, as shown in the attached pictures. The original site was on the right side of the prison, but the site was sold by Corrections many years ago, and now there is a swimming pool on top of this archaeological site.
I envision restoring this prison to its 1874 state when the lighthouse was first built (see Photoshop picture below). Some buildings added to the prison over the years will need to be removed. The original buildings from that time will be preserved, while toilet and shower blocks will also remain. Anything added after 1949 will be removed, including gang paintings and graffiti. Copper piping will put back, aluminium windows and doors will be replaced and the two timber domes on the roof will also be rebuilt. The prison originally had 17 cells, but additional structures have made it look cluttered. There are offices and a small private house inside the prison walls that should be removed. Also, unsightly concrete yards that could be replaced with lime stone. These are just our initial thoughts. I would like to conduct a feasibility study and involve experts in restoration, tourism, and business to determine if this proposal is viable.
In the Photoshop example above, one can see the prison and lighthouse complex that showcases our idea. A track from Marine Parade leads up to the lighthouse, with a small cafe on the left, a souvenir shop/toilets, a large flagpole, and the lighthouse itself facing Napier City and the beach. Tourists can view the prison and lighthouse from Marine Parade. All pine trees on the hillside have been removed, and the area has been replanted with native trees to stabilise the hillside. The historic 150-year-old track to the prison/lighthouse site (Footprints) has been repaired and transformed into a DOC - style track from Marine Parade (Gothic gate) which provides controlled access to the historic site with gates at the top and bottom of the track, as well as lighting at night.
The estimated cost for this project is approximately $750,000. This budget will cover the construction of a small cafe in the prison gardens, an additional structure in front of the prison that could serve as a souvenir shop, improved public toilets and sewage facilities, construction of the lighthouse tower and dome, the removal of trees on the hillside, and the construction of a DOC track from Marine Parade to the prison/lighthouse complex. This amount of funding would be sufficient to kickstart the business/project. Once money from tourists starts to come in, the restoration of the prison can then be planned and initiated. Any maintenance work will add interest, allowing visitors to see and witness the changes and repairs in the prison.
I envision getting the public and tourists behind the restoration project by displaying large Photoshop signs to show the public what the place will look like when finished, motivating them to help fix up the prison by visiting, making small donations, going to the cafe, spending money there, and purchasing souvenirs, etc. The profits generated can then be used to fund the restoration and maintenance of the lighthouse and the prison in the future.
This is a long-term project, with the prison being repaired slowly over a period of years depending on the cost and urgency of restoration. Some areas of the prison may always remain open to the public during these restorations once LINZ has repaired the inner prison walls.
As a tourist attraction in Napier, a replica lighthouse could attract tourists to support the future maintenance of the prison. The Manukau Head Lighthouse in Auckland, also a replica, receives 60,000 visitors annually, despite being a two-hour drive from Auckland. In Napier, a replica within walking distance from the town centre could potentially attract 150,000 visitors annually, offering stunning views of the port, Napier City, and Cape Kidnappers.
Below, you can see the track, flag post, and lighthouse replica that have been added in Photoshop. The trees have been removed, allowing visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of Hawke’s Bay, Napier City, and the port. There is also a cafe in the prison gardens for refreshments and food, a souvenir shop as well as the historic prison to explore. There is plenty to do at this tourist attraction.
Here tourists can see the waterfall in the centennial gardens. The picture below was taken from the original lighthouse site, just below the deck in the image. Visitors would also be more likely to visit the Centennial gardens and the waterfall when visiting the prison, making use of the site because not many people visit this place right now. This limestone mine is part of this prison history and part of the story that will be told up on that hillside.
In my opinion, this prison has great potential to be transformed into a maritime/early prison museum and a venue for various events such as school trips, accommodation, and functions. However, the lighthouse is the main attraction that initially draws people in, everyone likes to visit a lighthouse right? There is already a parking lot available on Marine Parade and Coote Road Centennial Gardens, as well as street parking. The current infrastructure can accommodate more visitor parking. The trees currently obstruct views and hide the prison from Marine Parade, making it difficult for people to see it from the road. Businesses need exposure and visibility from the road in order to attract customers. Hiding the prison and expecting visitors to find it on their own is why the previous occupier struggled to survive as a business or tourist attraction at this site.
A lighthouse would also be visible from Marine Parade. In the two historic 1878 photos, you can see the early Marine Parade and the Napier Lighthouse to the left of the prison, with a flagpole on the right side. There are no trees on the hillside in the photo. The historic track can also be seen leading up to the prison. The prison and lighthouse would become a tourist attraction again if the historic walk is repaired and opened to the public. We have the historic prison there, all that heritage with that beautiful walk or track up that hillside. The place needs to get busy so it can be maintained in the future, and this is a way of doing it. One small 30 square metre building can make all the difference to save this prison. A replica lighthouse would give Napier a new landmark and a location to visit. The hillside covered in Native bush would attract native birdlife again.
The 120-year old limestone wall (image below) that was built by prisoners on Marine Parade and Coote Road is eroding at an alarming rate. I had been quoted by Auckland Limestone Works on site, that it would cost almost 1 million dollars to repair this retaining wall. However, we believe that these repairs can be done much cheaper with the help of volunteers to save money, but there is no urgency right now to repair this wall but getting these pine trees removed is now a priority.
The pine trees depicted in the image below are 120 years old and have been planted too close to the retaining wall. The roots of these trees are now pressing against the limestone wall, causing pressure and erosion. If we delay the removal of these trees any further, parts of the retaining will blow out and the cost of removal will increase as we have been informed, and they will continue to damage the historic retaining limestone wall. It is crucial to remove these trees from the hillside soon to prevent further harm to this historic wall.
Furthermore, these trees present a danger to the public as they are currently leaning over Marine Parade. Eventually, they will fall during a storm. These trees have surpassed their natural life span and need to be promptly removed. We have contacted the Council, who directed us towards LINZ, and they, in turn, advised us to consult the Iwi regarding these trees. Currently, everyone is passing the responsibility to someone else, and these trees remain, posing a threat to public safety.
On the left is the Lyttelton 1879 Chance Brothers 4th order Fresnel Lens, which we recommend using for the Napier replica lighthouse (on loan). The Lyttelton lens is of a similar age and almost identical style to the 1874 Napier lantern, with the only difference being that the Napier lantern was only 180 degrees, while the Lyttelton lens is 360 degrees. If the dome's rear glass is facing surrounding houses, the glass can be screened off or painted to prevent light beams from impacting the houses surrounding the lighthouse. The Lyttelton lens is not currently used for maritime navigation or exhibited, but it is the most valuable Fresnel lens that Maritime New Zealand has in its inventory and perfect for this project. I have asked Maritime New Zealand if the Lyttelton lens can be loaned to Napier until the original Napier lens or another suitable 4th order 180-degree Chance Brothers lens has been located in the future. Maritime NZ replied and stated that this can be discussed. MNZ has a few lenses that would be suitable and could be rotated in a Napier replica.
https://www.teuaka.org.nz/stories/whare-built-heritage/the-return-of-the-lighthouse
This includes all of my suggestions for this project. I am aware that there is funding available for new tourism ventures in New Zealand, and we believe the Government could play a crucial role in supporting this project and preserving the unique Napier colonial and maritime history. Currently, it is sitting on a neglected hillside slowly degrading. I would appreciate it if this proposal could be reviewed by individuals who are not biased about the project, in order to receive more feedback on whether or not this proposal is feasible.
"The former prison has outstanding historical significance for reflecting the early development of New Zealand’s penal system and is the most complete example of a purpose-built prison from the provincial government era (1853 – 1876). It is of further special historical significance for including one of New Zealand’s earliest lunatic asylums. Its special aesthetic qualities and completeness, authenticity and integrity make it one of our key heritage sites for educating the public about the development of New Zealand’s penal system." https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/181/Napier-Prison-Former
The two Quotes below are about the repair of the 150-year old historic walk and removing all the pine trees from the property, something that needs to be done if the replica lighthouse is put there or not.
Bluff Hill Lighthouse LTD
My interest lies in preserving the Old Napier Prison, built in 1861, which is New Zealand’s oldest constitutionalised prison. This proposal was recently presented to Crown Property Management, but it was turned down as a course of action to preserve these historic buildings on that hillside in Napier.
The Napier Prison holds a unique place in New Zealand’s maritime history. Our research has revealed that the Napier Lighthouse, attached to the prison in 1874, may have been the only lighthouse in the world not maintained by a lighthouse keeper but by prison guards. This historical fact is so rare that I believe the best way to save the Old Napier Prison is by constructing a replica lighthouse next to it, rectifying the mistake made in 1949 when the original Napier Lighthouse was demolished. The only other prison in the world with a lighthouse nearby was Alcatraz in the USA, but there, the lighthouse was maintained by separate lighthouse keepers with their own accommodations.
I have conducted extensive research and obtained cost estimates for this project. My proposal is to place the replica lighthouse on the left side of the prison, as shown in the attached pictures. The original site was on the right side of the prison, but the site was sold by Corrections many years ago, and now there is a swimming pool on top of this archaeological site.
I envision restoring this prison to its 1874 state when the lighthouse was first built (see Photoshop picture below). Some buildings added to the prison over the years will need to be removed. The original buildings from that time will be preserved, while toilet and shower blocks will also remain. Anything added after 1949 will be removed, including gang paintings and graffiti. Copper piping will put back, aluminium windows and doors will be replaced and the two timber domes on the roof will also be rebuilt. The prison originally had 17 cells, but additional structures have made it look cluttered. There are offices and a small private house inside the prison walls that should be removed. Also, unsightly concrete yards that could be replaced with lime stone. These are just our initial thoughts. I would like to conduct a feasibility study and involve experts in restoration, tourism, and business to determine if this proposal is viable.
In the Photoshop example above, one can see the prison and lighthouse complex that showcases our idea. A track from Marine Parade leads up to the lighthouse, with a small cafe on the left, a souvenir shop/toilets, a large flagpole, and the lighthouse itself facing Napier City and the beach. Tourists can view the prison and lighthouse from Marine Parade. All pine trees on the hillside have been removed, and the area has been replanted with native trees to stabilise the hillside. The historic 150-year-old track to the prison/lighthouse site (Footprints) has been repaired and transformed into a DOC - style track from Marine Parade (Gothic gate) which provides controlled access to the historic site with gates at the top and bottom of the track, as well as lighting at night.
The estimated cost for this project is approximately $750,000. This budget will cover the construction of a small cafe in the prison gardens, an additional structure in front of the prison that could serve as a souvenir shop, improved public toilets and sewage facilities, construction of the lighthouse tower and dome, the removal of trees on the hillside, and the construction of a DOC track from Marine Parade to the prison/lighthouse complex. This amount of funding would be sufficient to kickstart the business/project. Once money from tourists starts to come in, the restoration of the prison can then be planned and initiated. Any maintenance work will add interest, allowing visitors to see and witness the changes and repairs in the prison.
I envision getting the public and tourists behind the restoration project by displaying large Photoshop signs to show the public what the place will look like when finished, motivating them to help fix up the prison by visiting, making small donations, going to the cafe, spending money there, and purchasing souvenirs, etc. The profits generated can then be used to fund the restoration and maintenance of the lighthouse and the prison in the future.
This is a long-term project, with the prison being repaired slowly over a period of years depending on the cost and urgency of restoration. Some areas of the prison may always remain open to the public during these restorations once LINZ has repaired the inner prison walls.
As a tourist attraction in Napier, a replica lighthouse could attract tourists to support the future maintenance of the prison. The Manukau Head Lighthouse in Auckland, also a replica, receives 60,000 visitors annually, despite being a two-hour drive from Auckland. In Napier, a replica within walking distance from the town centre could potentially attract 150,000 visitors annually, offering stunning views of the port, Napier City, and Cape Kidnappers.
Below, you can see the track, flag post, and lighthouse replica that have been added in Photoshop. The trees have been removed, allowing visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of Hawke’s Bay, Napier City, and the port. There is also a cafe in the prison gardens for refreshments and food, a souvenir shop as well as the historic prison to explore. There is plenty to do at this tourist attraction.
Here tourists can see the waterfall in the centennial gardens. The picture below was taken from the original lighthouse site, just below the deck in the image. Visitors would also be more likely to visit the Centennial gardens and the waterfall when visiting the prison, making use of the site because not many people visit this place right now. This limestone mine is part of this prison history and part of the story that will be told up on that hillside.
In my opinion, this prison has great potential to be transformed into a maritime/early prison museum and a venue for various events such as school trips, accommodation, and functions. However, the lighthouse is the main attraction that initially draws people in, everyone likes to visit a lighthouse right? There is already a parking lot available on Marine Parade and Coote Road Centennial Gardens, as well as street parking. The current infrastructure can accommodate more visitor parking. The trees currently obstruct views and hide the prison from Marine Parade, making it difficult for people to see it from the road. Businesses need exposure and visibility from the road in order to attract customers. Hiding the prison and expecting visitors to find it on their own is why the previous occupier struggled to survive as a business or tourist attraction at this site.
A lighthouse would also be visible from Marine Parade. In the two historic 1878 photos, you can see the early Marine Parade and the Napier Lighthouse to the left of the prison, with a flagpole on the right side. There are no trees on the hillside in the photo. The historic track can also be seen leading up to the prison. The prison and lighthouse would become a tourist attraction again if the historic walk is repaired and opened to the public. We have the historic prison there, all that heritage with that beautiful walk or track up that hillside. The place needs to get busy so it can be maintained in the future, and this is a way of doing it. One small 30 square metre building can make all the difference to save this prison. A replica lighthouse would give Napier a new landmark and a location to visit. The hillside covered in Native bush would attract native birdlife again.
The 120-year old limestone wall (image below) that was built by prisoners on Marine Parade and Coote Road is eroding at an alarming rate. I had been quoted by Auckland Limestone Works on site, that it would cost almost 1 million dollars to repair this retaining wall. However, we believe that these repairs can be done much cheaper with the help of volunteers to save money, but there is no urgency right now to repair this wall but getting these pine trees removed is now a priority.
The pine trees depicted in the image below are 120 years old and have been planted too close to the retaining wall. The roots of these trees are now pressing against the limestone wall, causing pressure and erosion. If we delay the removal of these trees any further, parts of the retaining will blow out and the cost of removal will increase as we have been informed, and they will continue to damage the historic retaining limestone wall. It is crucial to remove these trees from the hillside soon to prevent further harm to this historic wall.
Furthermore, these trees present a danger to the public as they are currently leaning over Marine Parade. Eventually, they will fall during a storm. These trees have surpassed their natural life span and need to be promptly removed. We have contacted the Council, who directed us towards LINZ, and they, in turn, advised us to consult the Iwi regarding these trees. Currently, everyone is passing the responsibility to someone else, and these trees remain, posing a threat to public safety.
On the left is the Lyttelton 1879 Chance Brothers 4th order Fresnel Lens, which we recommend using for the Napier replica lighthouse (on loan). The Lyttelton lens is of a similar age and almost identical style to the 1874 Napier lantern, with the only difference being that the Napier lantern was only 180 degrees, while the Lyttelton lens is 360 degrees. If the dome's rear glass is facing surrounding houses, the glass can be screened off or painted to prevent light beams from impacting the houses surrounding the lighthouse. The Lyttelton lens is not currently used for maritime navigation or exhibited, but it is the most valuable Fresnel lens that Maritime New Zealand has in its inventory and perfect for this project. I have asked Maritime New Zealand if the Lyttelton lens can be loaned to Napier until the original Napier lens or another suitable 4th order 180-degree Chance Brothers lens has been located in the future. Maritime NZ replied and stated that this can be discussed. MNZ has a few lenses that would be suitable and could be rotated in a Napier replica.
https://www.teuaka.org.nz/stories/whare-built-heritage/the-return-of-the-lighthouse
This includes all of my suggestions for this project. I am aware that there is funding available for new tourism ventures in New Zealand, and we believe the Government could play a crucial role in supporting this project and preserving the unique Napier colonial and maritime history. Currently, it is sitting on a neglected hillside slowly degrading. I would appreciate it if this proposal could be reviewed by individuals who are not biased about the project, in order to receive more feedback on whether or not this proposal is feasible.
"The former prison has outstanding historical significance for reflecting the early development of New Zealand’s penal system and is the most complete example of a purpose-built prison from the provincial government era (1853 – 1876). It is of further special historical significance for including one of New Zealand’s earliest lunatic asylums. Its special aesthetic qualities and completeness, authenticity and integrity make it one of our key heritage sites for educating the public about the development of New Zealand’s penal system." https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/181/Napier-Prison-Former
The two Quotes below are about the repair of the 150-year old historic walk and removing all the pine trees from the property, something that needs to be done if the replica lighthouse is put there or not.
Bluff Hill Lighthouse LTD