THE JAMES COOK OBSERVATORY - Kaiti Hill, Gisborne, New Zealand

The James Cook Observatory, Kaiti Hill, Gisborne. Longitude: d m s Latitude:d ' ", Altitude: 120metres

The Cook Observatory on Kaiti Hill, Gisborne, New Zealand holds the distinction of being the World's Easternmost Observatory. It also has a very historical past. The northern third was originally an observation post used by the home-guard during World War Two. Below the observation post and towards the road was a gun emplacement which housed an anti submarine gun. Apparantly only one shot was ever fired from it - a test shot!

In the late 1960's members of the newly formed Gisborne Astronomical Society asked the Gisborne City Council for a possible observatory site. The observation post was extended and modified and a 5 metre dome placed atop the building. On October 1970 the Right Honourable ??? opened the James Cook Observatory...