The first public jetty in 'Governors Bay'...

Who would know, when wading out through squelchy mud in Sandy Bay, that there was once a jetty right in the middle of the beach...

In December 1858 soon-to-be local resident Thomas Potts and the Provincial Engineer Edward Dobson inspected the Dyers Bay (later Governors Bay) waterfront to determine the site for a public jetty. They settled on ‘that portion of the beach almost contiguous to Mr Perceval’s [sic] garden’ – what we now know as Sandy Bay beach. In 1859 the Canterbury Provincial Council voted the sum of £100 for the construction of the jetty, and a further £100 was spent during 1862 to secure road access.

Westby Percival, well known as a somewhat litigious character, put his adjacent land on the market even before the jetty was built and was still advertising the land well after construction.

To be sold, 23 acres of land for 10 pounds an acre cash. The above is freehold with a frontage to the Beach and Governor's Bay Roads of more than half a mile and adjoining the jetty at Dyer's Bay lately erected. There is running water on the land, and bush available for firewood in the immediate neighbourhood. (Lyttelton Times, 2 April, 1862)

However this jetty soon proved unsatisfactory.

Governor’s Bay

Aug 18 1863

Sir

I beg to draw your attention to the state of the public jetty in Governor’s Bay. A small sum of money expended on it now, would in all probability prevent its destruction as at high tides the sea now washes over it – I do not write on behalf of the Road Board more than for the inhabitants generally and as I am not aware that any official has inspected it. I beg to draw your attention to the subject to save future expense.

I am Sir

Your obed Sevt

Thomas H Potts

Chairman

A lithograph made by Nathaniel Wolfe and dated April 1866 shows (I think) what may be the remains of this jetty or, more likely, the remains of an adjacent breakwater?? But I'm happy to be challenged on this.

Charles Decimus Barraud’s 1877 painting (which was probably painted earlier since 1877 is the date of its London publication as a lithograph), View of Lyttelton Harbour from Governor’s Bay, Banks Peninsula, clearly shows a jetty on the beach at Sandy Bay. There are figures on the jetty and a yacht tied up. Interestingly there is also a horse and cart and a horse and rider making their way up the slope above Sandy Bay (I have the advantage of being able to enlarge the image!). Even although the road is well-formed, it looks like a long, slow haul to Lyttelton. No wonder sea transport was favoured. 

Governors Bay, Nathaniel Wolfe, 1866, Alexander Turnbull Library

Lyttelton Harbour, Charles Decimus Barraud, 1877,
Alexander Turnbull Library