Built as one of a complex of installations to protect the Marlborough Sounds, Blumine Island Battery sits in the middle of Queen Charlotte Sound and its guns cover the northern entrance. The Battery was built by the Public Works Department, with a scow delivering the cement directly from the Tarakohe Cement Works to the site. After World War II the island was farmed until the 1960s. The historic area encompasses the northern half of Blumine Island where the northern battery and associated features were concentrated. The battery can be divided into four distinct components: 1) Wharf and associated accommodation camp; 2) Number One Gun Emplacement and associated buildings and features (comprising magazine, observation post, concrete water tank and the gun emplacement with a short entry tunnel on the western side; 3) Number Two Gun Emplacement and associated buildings and features (comprising observation post, gun emplacement with entry tunnel in the eastern side and magazine); and 4) Second accommodation camp comprising approximately 217 concrete steps, 20-30 concrete foundations of accommodation and ablution buildings, and two large water tanks) This part of the island was included in the lower island Scenic Reserve in 1950 and again in 1985. The whole area is owned by the Crown and actively managed by the Department of Conservation
Location
List Entry Information
Overview
Detailed List Entry
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Area
Access
Able to Visit
List Number
7529
Date Entered
12th December 2003
Date of Effect
12th December 2003
City/District Council
Marlborough District
Region
Marlborough Region
Extent of List Entry
The historic area encompasses the northern half of Blumine Island where the northern battery and associated features were concentrated. The battery can be divided into four distinct components: 1) Wharf and associated accommodation camp; 2) Number One Gun Emplacement and associated buildings and features (comprising magazine, observation post, concrete water tank and the gun emplacement with a short entry tunnel on the western side; 3) Number Two Gun Emplacement and associated buildings and features (comprising observation post, gun emplacement with entry tunnel in the eastern side and magazine); and 4) Second accommodation camp comprising approximately 217 concrete steps, 20-30 concrete foundations of accommodation and ablution buildings, and two large water tanks).
Legal description
Pt of Sec 45, Blk XIV, Gore SD, Area 40.4686 ha. Sec 128, Blk XIV, Gore SD, Area 17.4015 ha. Pt Sec 139, Bk XIV, Gore SD, Area 217.3162 ha, all Marlborough Land District
Location Description
Blumine Island is in Queen Charlotte Sound