Bean of HMS Herald, the master of the ship that carried out the first harbour survey of the Waitematā after the founding of the township of Auckland.

[4] Bean Rock lighthouse was built c. 1870 at a cost of 3,000 pounds and was first lit on 24 July 1871, using a kerosene lamp of 350 candlepower.

[2][5] The lighthouse keeper from 1909 to 1911, James Anderson, kept in contact with his family by sending Morse code messages by torch-light to his son who lived in Devonport.

[5] At the time, the beacon had a distinctive signalling sequence and a coloured light display to indicate the correct course to shipping in the channel.

Because of this, the Auckland Harbour Board decided that the lighthouse should be replaced with a religious sculpture or other significant piece of artwork.