The wireless station on the Tinakori Hills (Mt Etako) overlooking Wellington was officially opened on 14 October 1912.
The site was some 300m above sea level, and, occupying about 8 hectares of Maori land, had to have a special access built for it. The radio aerial was supported by two masts of Oregon pine, 45m high and 90m apart.1
“The new wireless station on the opening day, with a 70-mile gale blowing at the time.” Photo: Sydney Charles Smith, NZ Graphic, 23 Oct 1912. Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZG-19121023-22-1
Opening ceremony at the radiotelegraph station on Mt Etako (Tinakori Hill) in Wellington, 1912. Photo: Sydney Charles Smith
This page has two original news reports of the opening of Wellington Radio’s station on Tinakori Hill (Mt Etako) – the first from a local newspaper, and the second from the Press Association.
Evening Post, 14 October 1912, p 8
“Three ‘generations’ of Postmasters-General: group at the opening of the Wellington wireless station.” Schaef Photo, Auckland Weekly News, 24 Oct 1912. Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19121024-16-3
Wanganui Chronicle, 15 October 1912, p 8
Notes
1 Wilson, A.C. (1994). Wire and wireless: A history of telecommunications in New Zealand 1890-1987, (p 96), Palmerston North, New Zealand: Dunmore Press.
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