Fort Scratchley

Fort Scratchley
Newcastle East, New South Wales

Fort Scratchley (on hilltop) viewed from Nobbys Beach
Location within New South Wales
Type Coastal defence installation
Coordinates
Built 1882 (1882)
Height 30 m (98 ft)
In use 1882–1972
Current
condition
Restored
Current
owner
Newcastle City Council
Open to
the public
Wednesday - Monday (closed Tuesday)
(10am - 4pm)
Controlled by Australia
Battles/wars Shelling of Newcastle 1942

Fort Scratchley is a former coastal defence installation and now museum, located in Newcastle East, a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. It was built in 1882 to defend the city against a possible Russian attack. However, its guns were not fired in anger until 8 June 1942, during the shelling of Newcastle. After the Australian Army left the site in 1972 it became a museum.

Contents

Background information

Fort Scratchley is situated atop Flagstaff Hill, overlooking the Tasman Sea and the Hunter River, less than 1 km (0.6 mi) from the Newcastle Central Business District. It is accessed from Nobbys Road. It is directly between Newcastle and Nobbys beaches. Originally built as a Coastal Defense Fort, it is located in a command position guarding the Hunter River estuary. The site went through extensive renovation at the turn of the 20th century, which has affected the way it looks and shows how military technology changed during the period of its occupation.

In 2004 the site was closed for renovation which the city hoped would make the fort a major tourist attraction. Unfortunately, as costs rose due to vandalism and an increase in necessary decontamination to the site, the progress stalled. The Australian Government funded the project after reaching an agreement with the Newcastle City Council in 2004, and decided to increase its funding from an estimated A$5.5 million to almost $10 million after reaching a second agreement in 2007. The government wanted to ensure that the site was repaired correctly as it sees it as a special place in Australia’s military history. The site re-opened in June 2008 and a museum on the site was operational by 2009.

History

Founding

Flagstaff Hill is the location where coal was discovered in the late 18th century. Lieutenant John Shortland had come upon the land looking for rogue criminals, but his pursuits were unsuccessful and instead he found fragments of coal at the base of the hill. Flagstaff Hill continued to be the home of coal exportation throughout the early 19th century, until the army claimed the land in 1843. Plans for a complete fort were not made until after 1870, when alarm of an attack by Russian began spreading throughout Newcastle due to the increased hostility between England and Russia. The fort was finally finished in 1882 the Russians were no longer a threat as the Japanese became the new enemy.

Beginnings

A battery of two 32 pounder SB cannons were placed upon Allans Hill in 1866, then two 68 pounders replaced the 32 pounders in 1874. On 1 April 1878, preparations began for the installation of a battery of four 80 pounder cannons upon Allans Hill and on 19 April it was completed.

Design

The fort was completed on 2 April 1882. It was designed by Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Scratchley, after whom the fort was named and included three 9-in Rifle Muzzle Loader (RML) guns and a casemated battery of four 80 pounder cannons. In 1889 three BL 6 inch and one 8-in BL disappearing guns were installed.

The 80 pounder cannons were replaced with quick-firing Nordenfelt machine guns in 1898. Two 6-in BL Mark VII guns replaced the four disappearing guns in 1911.

World War I

During World War I, the fort was upgraded with the provision of a Battery Observation Post constructed in 1914.

World War II

During World War II, the fort was further upgraded with the extension of the Battery Observation Post and provision of Searchlight Directing Station and blast walls were constructed in 1942. The two 6-in BL Mark VII guns fired at Japanese submarine I-21, which shelled the city on 8 June 1942.

Post World War II

After World War II the fort was home to 13 Medium Coast Battery RAA, a unit of the National Service Scheme, which was renamed 113 Coast Battery RAA in the 1960s. The army left the site on November 1972.

The 6-in BL Mark VII guns were relocated to King Edward Park, 1.3 km (0.8 mi) away, as a memorial. However, after extensive lobbying they were returned to Fort Scratchley in 1978.

In the first decade of the 21st century the site underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and reopened as a museum.

Cannon disposals

Two 68 pounder cannons are now located at Stroud, New South Wales. A 8-in disappearing gun was sent to North Head Artillery School for training purposes. A Signal cannon was relocated to Georges Heights, Sydney, and then was relocated to Puckapunyal, Army Barracks in Victoria.

See also

References