Story: Streets and lighting

Gas lighting

Gas lighting

By the 1860s many towns and cities had some gas street lighting. Lamps were initially installed at strategic places, including bridge entrances and prominent intersections. This is illustrated in this early 20th-century view of Wanganui’s Victoria Avenue. The lamp on the right is on City Bridge. In the distant centre is Watt’s Fountain, which is mounted by a lamp.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Price Collection
Reference: 1/2-000601; G
Photograph by William Archer Price

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Adrian Humphris, 'Streets and lighting - Street lighting', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/24496/gas-lighting (accessed 16 May 2024)

Story by Adrian Humphris, published 11 Mar 2010