Hokitika Town Clock

The Hokitika Town Clock, also known as the Memorial Clock Tower, is a historic landmark located in Hokitika, New Zealand.

The tower was built in 1902-1903 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and to function as a town clock. Designed by William Parkinson and constructed by local builders, the clock itself was manufactured by Gillett & Johnston in Croydon, England, and installed by Alfred Bartlett of Auckland. The clock tower is a four-faced structure that stands at 33 meters tall. The tower is made of brick and stone, with a copper dome and a decorative finial at the top. The clock faces are made of opal glass and are illuminated at night, making the tower visible from a distance. The clock mechanism is wound by hand and is still in operation today.

The Hokitika Town Clock is a unique structure in that it combines the commemoration of a war memorial with the utility of providing a town clock, which is unusual in New Zealand. The clock tower has been registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now known as Heritage New Zealand) as a Category II heritage structure with registration number 5054. Visitors to Hokitika can easily view the clock tower as it is a prominent landmark in the town. The tower is located in the center of town, near the intersection of Weld and Tancred Streets.

The clock tower is also within walking distance of other popular attractions in Hokitika, such as Hokitika Beach, the West Coast Treetop Walkway, and the Hokitika Gorge. In summary, the Hokitika Town Clock is a historic landmark that serves as a unique combination of a war memorial and a town clock. The clock tower was built in 1902-1903 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and is still in operation today. Visitors to Hokitika can easily view the clock tower as it is a prominent landmark in the town, and it is located near other popular attractions.