Observation Point facts for kids
Observation Point, also known as Flagstaff Lookout or Flagstaff Hill, is a large hill in central Port Chalmers, a town in New Zealand's South Island. As its name suggests, this spot offers amazing views of the town, its busy deep-water port, and the beautiful Otago Harbour. A road called Aurora Terrace goes almost to the top, making it easy for everyone to visit.
Contents
History of Observation Point
Early Surveys
In 1860, the crew of a ship called HMS Acheron used Observation Point to create the very first detailed maps of Otago Harbour. These maps were super important for ships navigating the area. You can find a special plaque near the flagstaff that tells this story.
The Flagstaff
A tall flagstaff was put up on Observation Point in 1864. This flagstaff was actually the old mizzen mast (a type of sail pole) from a ship called the "Cincinnati." Over time, the original wooden flagstaff started to rot, so a new, stronger "ironbark" flagstaff replaced it in June 1910. In 1970, the flagstaff was fixed up and moved a little closer to Port Chalmers, but it stayed on Observation Point.
The Time Ball
In June 1867, a special time ball was added to the flagstaff. This time ball was used to help ships set their clocks accurately. It would drop at 1 pm every day except Sundays. This service stopped in October 1877, but after many ship captains asked for it, the service started again in April 1882, but only once a week. The time-keeping service ended in 1910, but the ball was still used until 1931 as a warning signal. It was taken down in 1970, but a new time ball was put back in place in 2020.
Hotere Garden Oputae
In 1993, the port's facilities were expanded. This meant that an area where famous artist Ralph Hotere had his studio was removed. Many people in the town were upset about this. Later, in 2005, a new area near Aurora Terrace was turned into the Hotere Garden Oputae. This garden was created by the Hotere Foundation Trust with help from the Otago Harbour Board. It features amazing sculptures by Ralph Hotere and other well-known New Zealand artists. These sculptures were once displayed at Hotere’s studio.
Sculptures in the Garden
- Black Phoenix II by Ralph Hotere. This sculpture uses parts of a fishing boat that burned in 1984.
- Brick Column by Russell Moses. This artwork is made from a kiln (a special oven for pottery) that was once used by potter Barry Brickell. The iron bar in the sculpture was recycled from the port.
- They do cut down the poles that hold up the sky by Shona Rapira Davies.
- Aramoana by Chris Booth. This sculpture was first made in 1982 and decorated with things found on the beach. The name "Aramoana" refers to a beachside settlement south of Port Chalmers. This artwork was created as a protest against plans to build an aluminum smelter there.
In 2008, the company Design and Garden Landscapes Ltd won several awards for their work on the Hotere Garden Oputae. They received a top award for using native plants, a gold award for how they grew the plants, and a silver award for the garden's design.
Art from the Site
After the demolition of part of Observation Point, artist Russell Moses used the clay from the site in 1995 to create large rosaries and paintings. He also used woodchips from the wharf to make bark paintings and sculptures.
Images for kids
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Observation Point is clearly visible behind the container crane, centre left in this panorama of Port Chalmers.
