Hastings Clock Tower, Art Deco clock tower in Hastings Central, New Zealand
The Hastings Clock Tower is an Art Deco clock tower standing at the center of Hastings Central's business district. It features geometric patterns and decorative details typical of 1930s design, with seating areas around its base where people gather and rest.
The tower was built in 1935 following the Hawke's Bay earthquake of 1931 that destroyed much of the city. Its construction incorporated chimes salvaged from the destroyed Hastings Post Office, making it part of the city's recovery.
The tower's front door carries the Borough of Hastings coat of arms beneath a semi-circular verandah, with the year 1935 incised above it. Two brass plaques added in 1995 list alphabetically the 98 people who died in the 3 February 1931 earthquake, and memorial services are held at the tower each 3 February.
The tower stands at a busy street intersection in Hastings Central and is easy to reach on foot. The surrounding seating areas make it a comfortable place to rest and get oriented in the city.
The clock mechanism was made by W. Littlejohns and Co. Ltd. from Wellington and still plays the original quarter-hour chimes from the destroyed Post Office. These preserved bell sounds form a direct link to the city's destroyed past.
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