History of The Signalman's House

Takarunga

The Michael King Writers’ Centre is based in the historic Signalman’s House on Mt Victoria in Devonport.

Mt Victoria, one of Auckland's volcanic cones, has a long Maori history. It also played an important role in the development of the port of Auckland, after Pakeha settlement.

In Maori, the mountain on which the house stands is known as Takarunga or "hill standing above". It was once fortified and occupied by successive iwi over several centuries.

There is archaeological evidence of Maori fortification in its terraces. On the northern and north-eastern slopes, terraces and pits associated with dwelling areas and kumara storage can still be seen.

Flagstaff Hill

A signal station to assist the passage of shipping was established on the summit in 1842, and the new colonists named the mountain Flagstaff Hill.

Its sweeping views of the Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf made it an ideal location. Ships in those early days could take as long as three days to tack into Auckland after first being sighted, and the signal station played an important role in the life of the young city of Auckland. Signals hoisted on the flagstaff not only guided ships into port, but were followed closely by residents and merchants who lived in the city. Different flags were used to identify different vessels, giving inhabitants information about the ships that were due to arrive.

Flagstaff Hill was renamed Mt Victoria in the 1840s, and declared a public reserve in 1880.

The Signalman’s House

The first signalmen lived in tents or a raupo hut. They complained about the cold and the difficult conditions. The first signalman’s house was located near the summit of Mt Victoria, but in 1898 the Auckland Harbour Board decided to build a new signalman’s house further down the slopes.

The house was designed by the noted architect, Edward Bartley, and was built at a cost of ₤491. It is in the style of a New Zealand Victorian “corner bay” villa, with some significant variations. The roof has an unusually steep pitch, showing the fine slate roof with terra cotta ridge capping to advantage. Of the three original chimneys, only one remains intact (but has lost its decorative brick capping). In many of its details, the house could be described as “transitional” and in its decorative features it anticipates the spindle work and bracketing of the Edwardian era, some 10 years later. 

Edward Bartley (1839 – 1919)

Edward Bartley was born in the Channel Islands in 1839 and emigrated to New Zealand with his family in 1854. Trained as a carpenter and joiner, he worked as a builder when he arrived in the colony. In 1872, he went into partnership with another builder, forming Matthews & Bartley, Builders.

He moved to the North Shore in 1872, later building his own home in Victoria Road, Devonport. He became a prominent Devonport resident and was active in local politics.

His interest in architecture grew and he took on more architectural work.

During his long career he served as architect to the Anglican Church, the Auckland Savings Bank and the Auckland Hospital & Charitable Aid Board.

By the time he was asked to supervise the construction of St Matthew's in the City in 1901, he had already designed more than 20 churches for various denominations. These included Holy Trinity Church in Devonport. He also built houses and commercial buildings. Today his most familiar designs are the Jewish Synagogue (Princes Street), St John’s in Ponsonby, the ASB in Queen Street and the Blind Institute Building in Parnell. His work is found from Whangarei to Cambridge.

The Signalmen

The very first signalman was a naval officer, Lieutenant Robert Snow of the Colonial Stores Department. He and his family were later murdered in 1847 in their home on the Devonport waterfront. A famous trial took place and the murderer was executed on the same spot.

The first signalman to live in the house was J. Fisher. Of those who followed, one of the best known was Thomas Duder, whose family still lives in Devonport. He was in the position until a few days before his death in 1875.

The last signalman to occupy the house was Arthur W. East, who was appointed in 1935. He died in 1943, but his widow lived in the house until 1968. For some years after that, the house was occupied by a number of people not associated with the signal station. The house eventually passed into the ownership of the North Shore City Council.

Mt Victoria today

In January 1930, the signal station on Mt Victoria was discontinued for reasons of economy. The function was moved to King’s Wharf, although the flagstaff remained in position. In 1934 King’s Wharf was dismantled and Mt Victoria again became the main centre for signalling operations. As technology changed, a new signal station tower was constructed on the summit in 1954. By 1970 radar with a range of 45 miles had been installed. In June 2000 the signal station became fully-automated, with the radar monitored on screen from the Ports of Auckland operations centre on the Axis Fergusson container terminal.  

The whole of Takarunga is registered under the Historic Places Act 1993 as an archaeological site, which protects it from modification, damage or destruction.

Find out more

Auckland Library Heritage Centre
Devonport Museum
Auckland Museum
NZ Maritime Museum (Flash required)
NZ Navy Museum
Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
New Zealand History Online