Historic Carkeek Observatory in South Featherston is having a weather-proof covering built over it to protect what remains of the 158-year-old star-gazing facility from further degradation.
Built by pioneer astronomer Stephen Carkeek in 1867-68, the old totara construction is New Zealand’s only surviving 19th-century stand-alone astronomical observatory.
It is also a rare example of ‘Romsey-style’ observatory surviving world-wide though in what Heritage NZ has called a “ruined” state.
Carkeek (1815–1878) was a Welsh-born astronomer who arrived in New Zealand in 1841 and held various senior government roles, including in Customs, before retiring to sheep farming. Although Carkeek’s records of the building, his telescopes and his astronomical observations have never surfaced, his work gained international recognition, particularly ahead of the 1874 transit of Venus.
The observatory’s existence, unknown for many years while the building was used to store stock feed and farm equipment, was “rediscovered” by Royal Astronomical Society members Sid Cretney and Tony Dodson in 1987. Within years it had been “lost” again, then found once more about the time the Wairarapa Dark Sky Association was formed in 2018.
Carkeek Observatory was granted Category One historical status by Heritage NZ in 2020, leaving it to South Wairarapa District Council to preserve, protect and ensure it is retained as part of local history.
Council in 2023 ring-fenced $100,000 for work to halt the degradation of the totara planks and other materials making up the “ruin.”
“The first step towards restoring the remains is a protective structure, designed by architects and built by local contractors,” SWDC said in a recent statement.
Located on a working farm and while not yet publicly accessible, there are plans for an existing “paper road” to be used to reach the site.
“We are working with iwi, community stakeholders and Carkeek’s descendants to protect the site from further damage,” the council said.
One reason for the old totara plank building’s survival is a walnut tree which grew in the middle of the frame and held up several of its walls so they didn’t collapse into wet grass and soil.
Pruning work was needed to allow the protective silo to be built, but the tree stump has been retained to hold the ruins upright.
Carkeek descendants from throughout New Zealand have expressed delight at photos showing the protection work under way.
SWDC noted the silo installation work should be completed this month after 158 years in the rain, wind, sun and dark skies.
The observatory is a key support for South Wairarapa being officially certified (along with Carterton District) as the Wairarapa International Dark Sky Reserve.
