Lyttelton Timeball Station New Zealand

The historical Lyttelton Timeball Station stands atop a hill overlooking the scenic Lyttelton Harbour of Christchurch and can be viewed from any side of the harbor. This edifice is one of the five timeballs in the world that are still functional and has withstood the ravages of time. Lyttelton Timeball Station is a significant example Victorian network of time signals and mechanical engineering around the world. It is the only surviving time station in the country of New Zealand and is regarded as the principal landmark for Lyttelton, serving as the town's historical identity.

This magnificent castle- like structure was erected in 1876 by the Canterbury Provincial Council to enclose the time-ball. It was that epoch when this region was only connected to the external world by the means of sea and the Timeball stations became a significant part of many harbors during the nineteenth century. The erection of the timeball station reflects the favorable economic state of Canterbury.
For more than fifty years, the Timeball have been signaling the Greenwich Mean Time to all ships navigating in the busy harbor. By following the signal of the time ball, the captains and the wool clippers of the vessels were able to calculate longitudes and note the error of the chronometers. Thus nautical safety was ensured.
The astronomical clock and the machinery of the time ball were ordered from Britain. The time ball and the necessary apparatus was provided by Siemens Brothers, a German Firm renowned as clockmakers for Big Ben.

The castle-like edifice within the time station was designed by Thomas Cane (1830-1905), the Provincial architect of Canterbury and the prisoners of the close by jail worked as the laborers. Towards the end of December 1876, at 1p.m the timeball was dropped everyday. Until 1934, time signals using the zinc ball persisted and later it was replaced by radio signals.

Other Information
Admission Costs: Adults NZD2.50; free entry for children
Timings: 10am-5pm daily

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