As a child in the 1950s myself and a few adventurous friends would sometimes catch a train to Lyttelton to enjoy the port.

Of special interest to us were tunnels we discovered partway up the cliff and scree face on Windy Point below the Time Ball Station. Cashin Quay, which was opened in 1963, lies below. The tunnel entrance had a concrete portal and was big enough to accommodate a truck. Inside was a substantial network of tunnels with a Y fork and side galleries all big enough for a vehicle. They went some hundred of metres into the hillside.

I now understand the entrance was covered over some years ago because of a few other adventurers getting into difficulties on the goat track access.

In recent years I have tried to obtain information about the establishment of the tunnels, who by, and what for. Despite digging for information from the Lyttelton Historical Museum, National Archives and Canterbury Libraries I have been able to glean very little. Most recently conversations with Lyttleton Historic Museum Curator Baden Norris have only served to add his witnessing of the tunnels being built under extreme secrecy, but having no further information.

The crux of what I have discovered is that they were built under a veil of secrecy during WWII apparently by private contractors. They were never fully completed and never put to any use. Their intended use has never been disclosed, but some locals surmised they were to provide a safe fuel storage for the air force, or alternatively for shipping.

Perhaps someone with a long memory might now be prepared to dismantle the secrecy and inform a curious public with more details.

ENDS

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