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Transit of Venus observation site
Description
NameTransit of Venus observation site
DescriptionThe transit of Venus instrument piers stand on a grassed historic reserve within the confines
of Burnham Military Camp. The reserve is located on the south side of Burdons Road,
between Robin Road to the east and Avery Road to the west. The scheduled setting
encompasses the land parcel on which the instrument piers are located. The historic reserve
is not accessible to the public.
HISTORY
In 1874 the transit of Venus was observed at Burnham, on a site located behind the
Industrial School and owned by the Canterbury Provincial Government (CPG). Major HS
Palmer of the British Astronomical Department, selected the site and oversaw the works by
the CPG in October 1874. Wires were laid connecting the Observatory station with the
Burnham telegraph office, which was at the local railway station. This allowed for
communication between the other New Zealand stations and the American Observatory at
Queenstown. Huts were prefabricated in England and installed at Burnham to house the
necessary instrumentation, which was mounted on brick and concrete piers. In the event,
weather conditions made the whole enterprise a complete failure, with only partial
observations made at Burnham and none made at any of the other New Zealand stations.
The site was successfully used, however, on 7 December 1882; at which time Palmer’s huts
and mounts were once again used. Different instruments were installed, the 1874 equipment
having been returned to England. The site of the Transit Observatory at Burnham was
declared a historic reserve in 1920 in order to recognise its historic significance and preserve
the survey reference points upon it.
HISTORIC AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE
The transit of Venus instrument piers have considerable historic significance for their
association with the international effort to observe the transit of Venus on two occasions in
the later 19th century, in order to better calculate the distance of the earth from the sun. The
Burnham observatory was the only British station in New Zealand in 1874, out of five
positioned internationally. In addition to providing vital information for international scientific
purposes, the two 19th century transit observations also prompted the development of
astronomy in New Zealand.
CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE
The transit of Venus instrument piers have cultural value as they are esteemed by the
astronomical community and were recognised in 1920 as having historic and scientific
importance to New Zealand.
ARCHITECTURAL AND AESTHETIC SIGNIFICANCE
The transit of Venus instrument piers have minimal aesthetic value as utilitarian structures
designed to hold sensitive scientific equipment.
TECHNOLOGICAL AND CRAFTSMANSHIP SIGNIFICANCE
The transit of Venus instrument piers have technological and craftsmanship value for the
quality of their construction which was required to provide robust and stable mounts for
astronomical equipment.
CONTEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE
The transit of Venus instrument piers have contextual value as a local feature within the
setting of Burnham Camp.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE
As the piers pre-date 1900, their site has potential archaeological significance relating to the
construction of the observatory station in 1874 and its reuse in 1882. According to Orchiston,
‘the 1874 transit of Venus … marked a milestone in New Zealand astronomy as it was the
first time that this nation was party to a major astronomical venture’ (Orchiston, p. 151).
SUMMARY OF HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE
The transit of Venus instrument piers have overall heritage significance to Burnham and to
the district of Selwyn as a whole. The piers have considerable historical significance for their
association with the international effort to observe the transit of Venus in 1874 and 1882 and
cultural value for the esteem in which they are held by the astronomical community. The
transit of Venus instrument piers have aesthetic and craftsmanship value for their fit for
purpose design and construction. The transit of Venus instrument piers have contextual value
as a local feature within the Burnham Camp.
REFERENCES
• Lyttelton Times 10 December 1874, p. 3; 19 June 1878, p. 3; 7 December 1882, p. 5;
12 December 1882, p. 5.
• Evening Star 5 October 1918, p. 3.
• Marlborough Express 16 November 1882, p. 2.
• New Zealand Times 29 December 1882, p. 3.
• New Zealand Herald 5 January 1943, p. 4.
• West Coast Times 2 December 1874, p. 2.
• Star 3 October 1874, p. 2; 26 October 1874, p. 2.
• http://tobin.fr/ToV.html
• http://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2012/poised-to-mark-transit-of-venushistory/
• https://christscollege.com/assets/InBlackAndWhite/32_BW.pdf
• GB Airy Account of observations of the transit of Venus, 1874, December 8: made
under the authority of the British government: and of the reduction of the
observations Great Britain, 1892.
• W Orchiston ‘The 1874 transit of Venus: New Zealand’s first foray into international
astronomy Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 2012, 42:2, pp. 145-152.
• ‘Transit of Venus – Reports and inventory. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington.
• https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/burnham-camp-cairn
• W Tobin ‘A transit of Venus primer’ Southern Stars March 2012, Vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 3-
18.
• Jessica Ratcliff The transit of Venus enterprise in Victorian Britain London, 2008.
• Transit of Venue – Reports and inventory, 1874. Alexander Turnbull Library, National
Library of NZ, Wellington.Date Established1874
DescriptionThe transit of Venus instrument piers stand on a grassed historic reserve within the confinesof Burnham Military Camp. The reserve is located on the south side of Burdons Road,
between Robin Road to the east and Avery Road to the west. The scheduled setting
encompasses the land parcel on which the instrument piers are located. The historic reserve
is not accessible to the public.
HISTORY
In 1874 the transit of Venus was observed at Burnham, on a site located behind the
Industrial School and owned by the Canterbury Provincial Government (CPG). Major HS
Palmer of the British Astronomical Department, selected the site and oversaw the works by
the CPG in October 1874. Wires were laid connecting the Observatory station with the
Burnham telegraph office, which was at the local railway station. This allowed for
communication between the other New Zealand stations and the American Observatory at
Queenstown. Huts were prefabricated in England and installed at Burnham to house the
necessary instrumentation, which was mounted on brick and concrete piers. In the event,
weather conditions made the whole enterprise a complete failure, with only partial
observations made at Burnham and none made at any of the other New Zealand stations.
The site was successfully used, however, on 7 December 1882; at which time Palmer’s huts
and mounts were once again used. Different instruments were installed, the 1874 equipment
having been returned to England. The site of the Transit Observatory at Burnham was
declared a historic reserve in 1920 in order to recognise its historic significance and preserve
the survey reference points upon it.
HISTORIC AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE
The transit of Venus instrument piers have considerable historic significance for their
association with the international effort to observe the transit of Venus on two occasions in
the later 19th century, in order to better calculate the distance of the earth from the sun. The
Burnham observatory was the only British station in New Zealand in 1874, out of five
positioned internationally. In addition to providing vital information for international scientific
purposes, the two 19th century transit observations also prompted the development of
astronomy in New Zealand.
CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE
The transit of Venus instrument piers have cultural value as they are esteemed by the
astronomical community and were recognised in 1920 as having historic and scientific
importance to New Zealand.
ARCHITECTURAL AND AESTHETIC SIGNIFICANCE
The transit of Venus instrument piers have minimal aesthetic value as utilitarian structures
designed to hold sensitive scientific equipment.
TECHNOLOGICAL AND CRAFTSMANSHIP SIGNIFICANCE
The transit of Venus instrument piers have technological and craftsmanship value for the
quality of their construction which was required to provide robust and stable mounts for
astronomical equipment.
CONTEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE
The transit of Venus instrument piers have contextual value as a local feature within the
setting of Burnham Camp.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE
As the piers pre-date 1900, their site has potential archaeological significance relating to the
construction of the observatory station in 1874 and its reuse in 1882. According to Orchiston,
‘the 1874 transit of Venus … marked a milestone in New Zealand astronomy as it was the
first time that this nation was party to a major astronomical venture’ (Orchiston, p. 151).
SUMMARY OF HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE
The transit of Venus instrument piers have overall heritage significance to Burnham and to
the district of Selwyn as a whole. The piers have considerable historical significance for their
association with the international effort to observe the transit of Venus in 1874 and 1882 and
cultural value for the esteem in which they are held by the astronomical community. The
transit of Venus instrument piers have aesthetic and craftsmanship value for their fit for
purpose design and construction. The transit of Venus instrument piers have contextual value
as a local feature within the Burnham Camp.
REFERENCES
• Lyttelton Times 10 December 1874, p. 3; 19 June 1878, p. 3; 7 December 1882, p. 5;
12 December 1882, p. 5.
• Evening Star 5 October 1918, p. 3.
• Marlborough Express 16 November 1882, p. 2.
• New Zealand Times 29 December 1882, p. 3.
• New Zealand Herald 5 January 1943, p. 4.
• West Coast Times 2 December 1874, p. 2.
• Star 3 October 1874, p. 2; 26 October 1874, p. 2.
• http://tobin.fr/ToV.html
• http://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2012/poised-to-mark-transit-of-venushistory/
• https://christscollege.com/assets/InBlackAndWhite/32_BW.pdf
• GB Airy Account of observations of the transit of Venus, 1874, December 8: made
under the authority of the British government: and of the reduction of the
observations Great Britain, 1892.
• W Orchiston ‘The 1874 transit of Venus: New Zealand’s first foray into international
astronomy Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 2012, 42:2, pp. 145-152.
• ‘Transit of Venus – Reports and inventory. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington.
• https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/burnham-camp-cairn
• W Tobin ‘A transit of Venus primer’ Southern Stars March 2012, Vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 3-
18.
• Jessica Ratcliff The transit of Venus enterprise in Victorian Britain London, 2008.
• Transit of Venue – Reports and inventory, 1874. Alexander Turnbull Library, National
Library of NZ, Wellington.
Date Established1874Image
Connections
PlaceTiore Burnham More InformationDistrict Plan Record
More InformationDistrict Plan RecordAttribution
Written ByDr Ann McEwanDate Written27 January 2018
Date Written27 January 2018loading google map....
Transit of Venus observation site. Selwyn Stories, accessed 26/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6130