Ever since white Europeans arrived in Sydney there has been a constant fear that other white people will arrive on boats and claim the land for themselves.
With the threat of the Spanish, the French, the Russians, and then the Japanese sailing into Sydney Harbour, a number of forts were constructed around the headlands to defend our city.
Whilst now decommissioned, self and guided tours of these historic spaces provide a glimpse into Australia’s military past, the scandals and the hidden secrets. The city is brimming with abandoned military forts to discover.
Scattered across the Sydney headlands, these forts, bunkers and tunnels are quite interesting to explore with the kids and provide a segway to discussing Australian history, or even Australian movie history with a number of these sites as the backdrop to many big movies.
The Most Impressive Military Fortifications to Visit in Sydney
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North Head Fortifications
The North Head Fortifications were established in 1936 at North Head Sanctuary in Manly. Built on the northern entrance of Sydney Harbour, the fortifications formed part of a 300km defence system that ran along the NSW coastline during World War II. It is an incredible Sydney abandoned military fort to explore.
In use until 1952, the North Fort Battery feature two 9.2 inch calibre guns which were serviced by a network of underground tunnels. They were capable of firing a distance of 26.4 kilometres with the target coordinates relayed from the nearby Plotting Room.
The Plotting Room was built 8 metres underground and was both concrete reinforces and bomb proof. Confusingly, it consisted of two rooms: the Fortress Plotting Room (FPR) and the smaller Battery Plotting Room (BPR).
The best way to explore the North Head Fortifications is via the Defense of Sydney tour where you will be guided through the tunnels and to the many spaces.
Middle Head Fortifications
The Middle Head Fortifications were first established in 1801 as a gun emplacement in response to the Napoleonic Wars, and the last batteries were constructed in 1942.
Today, the fortifications consist of the Outer Middle Head Battery which is located at the end of Old Fort Road, the Inner Middle Head Battery which is located at the end of Governors Road, and the Obelisk batteries which can be reached by a path from the corner of Middle Head Road and Chowder Bay Road.
The entire complex is linked by underground tunnels and ancillary rooms. The gun pits and tiger cages were used as training space for those heading to Vietnam to resist torture.
Whilst you can explore Middle Head Fortifications by yourself you will only be able to tour the underground tunnels via a tour. Tours are limited between June and September because the tunnels are occupied by bent-wing bats that hibernate there.
Head to National Parks NSW to book your tour.
Bradleys Head Fortifications
It is said that back in 1839, four American warships arrived in Sydney Harbour undetected prompting the construction of Bradleys Head Fortifications by convicts. A circular parapet was added to ease Sydney’s protection.
The mast from the HMAS Sydney was later installed as a monument to the WWI warship. There’s also a s stone column from the original General Post Office in Sydney which marks a distance of one nautical mile from Fort Denison.
A firing wall and a single cannon mount were built in the 1840s by Governor Gipps without British Government approval (naughty, naughty). These are located alongside the HMAS Sydney mast.
Further along, the hill towards the Taronga Zoo entrance are the fortifications that were built in the 1870s. These comprise a series of tunnels, a powder magazine, gun emplacements including three mounted cannons, and a second firing wall.
You will find the Bradleys Head Fortifications just south of Taronga Zoo.
Georges Head Beehive Casemate
Construction of the Georges Head Beehive Casemate commenced in 1871 under the supervision of colonial architect James Barnet.
The fortification contains three domed chambers, used as gun emplacements, each featuring a small opening or window for the gun to fire through with each window looking out towards the Sydney Heads. The underground chambers were made of brick and mortar and were built into the excavated cavities in the sandstone bedrock.
South Head Fortifications
We discovered the South Head Fortifications when exploring the Hornby Lighthouse. Construction on these fortifications commenced in 1841, and was completed in 1854, accelerated by the threats of the Crimean War.
During World War II, a number of tunnels were built to link HMAS Watson to a wharf used to offload military supplies at Camp Cove. These tunnels are quite deep and rather labyrinthine, their entrances today are blocked by steel doors.
Regular public tours are available where you can explore the tunnels carved out of the sandstone (1.8 kilometres). Head to the South Head Fortifications tour webpage for full details.
Bare Island Fort
The Bare Island Fort was constructed in the early 1880s to protect Sydney. It continued to be operational up until 1908 when it was turned into Australia’s very first war veteran’s home.
Bare Island is featured in Mission Impossible.
Public Tours of the Bare Island Fort occur each Sunday. Head to the Bare Island guided tour webpage to book.
Other Military Forts, Bunkers and Tunnels to Explore
Steel Point Battery | Fort Denison | Cape Banks Fortifications | Signal Hill Fortifications | Ben Buckler Gun Battery | Dawes Point Battery | Fort Banks | Henry Head Battery | Malabar Battery
Make sure to visit Parramatta’s Lancer Barracks!
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