Lyttelton Timeball Station

Timeballs, to ensure a ship's chronometer was accurate, were once a feature of many ports. This was the only survivor in New Zealand. As befitted its importance at the time (1876), the building was designed by the Provincial Architect. The mechanism provided a classic example of Victorian technology.

The Timeball station was badly damaged in the February 2011 earthquake, After five years of discussion it was decided that the tower, but not the adjoining residence would be rebuilt. The mechanism inside the tower was so badly damaged that it was decided to send the remaining parts to a museum, and replace the mechanism with a new digital device.

Rebuilding began in July 2017, a year later than planned, thanks to road repairs taking priority.Money eventually came from Landmark Incorporated, Lottery Grants Board, Holcim, Stout Trust and Parkinson Memorial Park Trust. In the middle of 2018, a milestone was reached with the ball returning to the tower and the station reopened in November. The site can be visited but there is no access to the tower.

The Press have an amazing series of photographs of the restoration process.