The foundation stone of the Invercargill Water Tower was laid in December 1888. Retiring Mayor Mr E A Tapper said at the time “instead of a huge iron skeleton, we will now have an ornamental and useful structure from the summit of which we can show visitors a view which would gladden their hearts”. The original cupola was removed in 1934 and replaced in 1988 with the assistance of New Zealand Aluminium Smelters. The tower contains 200,000 common bricks, 80,000 red pressed bricks, 10,000 to 15,000 pressed yellow bricks and 4,000 pressed black bricks.
*From heritage trail brochure
