1912: Opening of wireless station on Tinakori Hill

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 Wellington wireless station on the opening day, with a 70-mile gale blowing
“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
Opening ceremony at the radiotelegraph station on Mt Etako (Tinakori Hill) in Wellington, 1912
Opening ceremony at the radiotelegraph station on Mt Etako (Tinakori Hill) in Wellington, 1912.
Photo: Sydney Charles Smith, Alexander Turnbull Library

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

1912 news story on opening of Wellington Radio's new station on Tinakori Hill

Three ‘generations’ of Postmasters-General: group at the opening of the Wellington wireless station
“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

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 October 1912, p 8

Etako wireless station opens in Wellington, 15 Oct 1912

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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