Reflecting on hope what do you see in this WW1 Memorial Beacon? This beacon stands as New Zealand’s earliest monument to the Great War. It was erected in 1915. Imagine this memorial as a beacon of hope. Think of it as a safe return home for soldiers.
This WW1 Memorial Beacon served a practical purpose too. It guided ferries to the city wharves. Ferries navigated through fog and dark skies. Lighting was limited 107 years ago. The beacon provided much-needed illumination.
The Auckland Harbour Board installed it for £250. That is approximately $750000 today. Engineer W.H. Hamer designed the monument. It featured a Coromandel granite obelisk. A decorative ironwork spire and an electric glass lamp topped it. Much of the country was just switching to electricity then.
Interestingly the base was made uncomfortable. This design discouraged loafers from sitting around. The WW1 Memorial Beacon commemorated Auckland Harbour Board employees. These employees had enlisted. Other memorials tended to remember only those who died.
First lit on 17 December 1915 it became a beacon of hope. Troops were leaving for Gallipoli. When the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 the monument was draped in lights.
But its fortunes dimmed. Foreshore reclamation led to its relocation. In the late 1960s or early 70s it was dismantled. It was put into storage to make way for the downtown shopping center. Commemorations of war and sacrifice were becoming marginalized. The Auckland Harbour Board needed money. It needed money to extend its own operations.
In 1999 the obelisk was rediscovered. It was in a Ports of Auckland storage shed. The ironwork and orb were missing. An anonymous Jewish-German immigrant funded its restoration.
In 2000 Auckland City Council put the memorial back in public view. The spire and orb were missing. It stood beside the Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum. This was about 150 metres from its original site.
Later the WW1 Memorial Beacon was relocated. In 2021 it was placed on Quay Street. It stands next to Te Wānanga. Contemporary craftspeople recreated the spire and glass orb. They studied grainy black-and-white photos. They researched techniques from the early 20th century. They used 3D scale models to guide them.
Glass artists in Taupo recreated the 500mm red orb. They combined two colours of liquid glass. Steel artisans in Devonport recreated the spire. They used 3D technology to model the steelwork. They superimposed heritage photos. They embarked on bronze turning and casting.
Brent Withers from DPA Architects oversaw the work. He was in awe of the original artisans. In late 2022 the spire and orb were placed atop the restored beacon. Engineers architects artisans and contractors supported the process.
Auckland Council helped return the monument to its former glory. It is now in its original location. This WW1 Memorial Beacon stands as a symbol of remembrance. It represents unity and the enduring spirit of Auckland.
Remember this WW1 Memorial Beacon. Consider it a tribute to those who served. Its light shines as a reminder of hope and sacrifice.