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Category: Building

Building

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North Head Sanctuary and Tunnels

North Head Tunnels

North Head


Operated by Sydney Harbour Trust, North Head is an ex-army heritage listed site. Staffed by volunteers, the Visitor Centre is an ideal point to start your exploration of the area as they can provide you with an overview of what’s available. Our visit on a Sunday corresponded to the day that a guided tour was running for the site and underground tunnels. For a small fee a guide shows groups around while explaining the importance of each area. Importantly this is the only way to gain access to the tunnels which form a major part of the site.

Getting to North Head

Public Transport

Ferries to Manly run from Circular Quay, taking around 30 minutes for the trip. Alternately, the Manly Fast Ferry takes 20 minutes, but is more expensive. There is a Fast Ferry service to Q Station Wharf, if you want to start here instead of Manly.

From the Manly Ferry Wharf, bus 135 takes 20 minutes to drive to North Head. This bus runs every hour and connects well with the ferry arriving and departing Manly. Located outside the main entrance, bus stops are easy to find.

Walking

Taking 40 minutes, the shortest walk winds through Manly’s streets, past Q Station and onto North Head. A more scenic track runs along the shore, taking you past fantastic clifftop lookouts and historical gun emplacements, before passing Shelly Beach and ending at Manly Beach. At 4.2 km long, the scenic track takes around an hour one way, but has wonderful scenery to enjoy along the way.

Starting at Q Station, a 1.3 km track passes through bush land, passes the Third Quarantine Cemetery before ending at the North Head Sanctuary Visitors’ Centre. This well paved track is an easy 20-minute walk, with great views over Sydney Harbour.

Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery
Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery
Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery
Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery

Driving

Located outside the Visitor Centre is a pay for use car park, which makes driving yourself a convenient option

North Fort Tour


Starting with a short film on Sydney’s history of fortifications which was informative and gave us an insight into their original appearance.

View of South Head From North Head
View of South Head From North Head
View of Sydney From North Head
View of Sydney From North Head

Memorial Walk


The walking tour started with the Memorial Walk which is a paved pathway winding through Australian bush land. Many of the paving stones have been inscribed with the names of servicemen which gives a personal touch to the area.


Progressing along the path takes you to all the memorials for wars Australia has been involved in. Each of the memorials is made of Sydney sandstone and engraved with an overview of the conflict. The Gallipoli Memorial contains the only non-native species in the area, a cutting from the lone pine.

Memorial Walk
Memorial Walk
World War 1 Memorial
World War 1 Memorial
Lone Pine Gallipoli Memorial
Lone Pine Gallipoli Memorial

Fortifications


Continuing to the above ground fortifications we saw the remains of gun emplacements which now consist of concrete structures without any guns. The only remaining gun is a 9.2 inch (23.37 cm) barrel which is on display next to the forts.

9.2 Inch Gun
9.2 Inch Gun

Underground Tunnels


The highlight of the tour was the underground tunnels. These consist of the rooms and the tunnels needed to service the guns and protect the military personnel manning the forts. Our guide took us through each room, explaining their function and how each was operating when the fort was working.

In the magazine, dummy shells give an idea of the size of the projectiles used and a rack has them set up to show how it would have looked. Even the old diesel generators are in place, giving an idea of the power needed to run the fort.

Well lit with well maintained walkways, the tunnels were easy to walk through with some good photographic opportunities. Stairs in several areas are steep, but not very long, so should not be a problem for most people. Unfortunately, people with mobility issues will not be able to take the underground tour.

Dummy Shells in the Magazine
Dummy Shells in the Magazine
Underground Diesel Generator in the North Head Tunnels
Underground Diesel Generator in the North Head Tunnels
The Tunnels
The Tunnels
North Head Tunnels
North Head Tunnels

Food and Drinks

At the end of the tour, you can also walk down to the restaurant for food and beverages.

What Did We Think

North Head is a great place to visit, as it covers, Sydney’s history, with fantastic views and bush walks. Being easy to get to either by public transport or car makes it a great day out.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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North Head Quarantine Station Sydney

RMS Niagara Carving North Head Quarantine Station

North Head Quarantine Station

An important part of Sydney’s past, North Head Quarantine Station once protected the city from disease by acting as the quarantine station from early in the colonies founding until 1984.

Although now disused, and renamed Q Station, it contains accommodation and a restaurant, while preserving the historical significance of the area.


Getting to The Quarantine Station

Driving

Located outside the Visitor Centre is a car park, which makes driving yourself a convenient option.

Public Transport

From the Manly Ferry Wharf, bus 135 takes 10 minutes to drive to Q Station. This bus runs every hour and connects well with the ferry arriving and departing Manly. Located outside the main entrance, the bus stop is easy to find.

Ferries to Manly run from Circular Quay, taking around 30 minutes for the trip. Alternately, the Manly Fast Ferry takes 20 minutes, but is more expensive. There is a Fast Ferry service to Q Station Wharf, if you want to start here instead of in Manly.

Walking

Taking 30 minutes, the shortest walk winds through Manly’s streets, to the Q Station car park.

Shuttle Bus

A shuttle bus operates from the main entrance, down to the wharf area, removing the need for a steep walk. Running all day, the bus makes getting around far quicker than walking. Walking from the entrance to the wharf area takes around 10 minutes.

The Stairs Down to Q Station
The Stairs Down to Q Station
The Stairs Down to Q Station
The Stairs Down to Q Station

An interesting walk connects Q Station to North Head winding through coastal Australian bushland. This is a well structured path with lots of signs. The path also passes the third quarantine station cemetery which is an interesting place to walk around and view the old grave sites.

Guided Tours of the Quarantine Station

Tours of the historical buildings are available and can be booked online. The meeting point for the tour is near the wharf at the visitor centre. If you are not staying on site this means that you will walk though other old buildings on your way giving you a great overview of what is there (alternately, you can catch the shuttle bus).

You get to walk around the hospital, grounds, decontamination rooms, fumigation rooms and various other areas. The walk to the hospital at the top of the hill is very steep.

Starting at the wharf, the guide explained the use and history of the station before showing us the plaques carved into the rock face by ship’s passengers, many of which are quite artistic.

RMS Lusitania Carving North Head Quarantine Station
RMS Lusitania Carving
Ship Carving North Head Quarantine Station
Ship Carving
RMS Niagara Carving North Head Quarantine Station
RMS Niagara Carving

Our first stop was the decontamination rooms where patients were showered before entering the facility. We then saw the fumigation rooms where their belongings were placed in larger chambers and decontaminated. Several old suitcases and trolleys are set up to show how they were used.

Shower Cubicles
Shower Cubicles
Fumigation Chamber
Fumigation Chamber

Our last stop was the hospital at the top of the hill, where the sick were cared for.

Hospital
Hospital
Hospital Ward
Hospital Ward

Wharf Precinct

There is a little museum at the wharf, which is where you will find the ship’s plaques. This was a really interesting tour, and the guide had a lot of knowledge about the working and history of the fascility.

The area provided several magnificent views over Sydney Harbour and towards the city. Quarantine Beach sitting next to the wharf is a nice area with views back to the wharf and across the harbour to the city.

Quarantine Beach North Head Quarantine Station
Quarantine Beach
Door Decoration Q Station
Door Decoration Q Station
Door Decoration Q Station
Door Decoration Q Station

The Third Quarantine Cemetery

At the end of the guided tour, we walked to the Third Quarantine Cemetery where the headstones are still standing amongst the Australian bush with views over the harbour.

Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery
Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery
Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery
Headstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery

Our photos are available for purchase on

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Our Town Model Show Newcastle 2019

HMAS Tobruk (L 50)

Our Town Model Show

An annual event held at the Newcastle Jockey Club, Our Town Model Show  caters for a wide range of hobbies from model trains and planes to doll houses and boats. Anyone interested in models making or collecting will enjoy this event, because everyone who attends is passionate about their hobby.

Model Trains

There was a great display of trains running with amazingly well detailed dioramas. The effort that went into constructing them was outstanding, making it just as interesting as the trains were.

  • Railway Model
    Railway Model
  • Railway Model
    Diorama Railway Model
  • Railway Model
    Railway Model

Model Ships

The model boat displays were truly awesome. On static display was a range of 72 scale destroyers and other ships by Task Force 72. At around 2 m long, these huge models are amazingly detailed replicas of the original ship.

There was an indoor pond displaying remote controlled boats, which we found extremely interesting, because of the variety and detail of the ships. Many of them were zooming around, especially the tugboats which were very manoeuvrable. At 1:100 scale, these models show the dedication their owners give to their hobby to produce such great replicas.

  • HMAS Hobart by Task Force 72
    HMAS Hobart by Task Force 72
  • Indoor Pool and Remote Controlled Ships
    Indoor Pool and Remote Controlled Ships
  • HMAS Tobruk (L 50)
    HMAS Tobruk (L 50)
  • A Ship on the Inside Pool
    A Ship on the Inside Pool

Model Aircraft

Model aircraft were present in a huge array covering all eras of flight and different scales. There was a huge display showing the skills of the model builders.

Scale Model Aircraft Display at Our Town Model Fair
Scale Model Aircraft Display
  • Large Remote Controlled Tiger Tank
    Large Remote Controlled Tiger Tank

Science Fiction Models

Science fiction models from Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica and Gundam were on display, making an interesting alternative to the “real world” models elsewhere at the Our Town Model Show.

  • Gundam Models at the Our Town Model Fair Newcastle
    Gundam Models

Die Cast Models

An extensive display of Corgi and other brands of cars, buses and machinery catered for collectors of die-cast models.

  • Corgi Bus Display at Our Town Model Fair Newcastle
    Corgi Bus Display
  • Cars Models at Town Model Fair Newcastle
    Cars Models

Hobby Supplies For Sale

For anyone interested in adding to their hobby Frontline Hobbies had a huge stall with models for sale, which was great if inspiration struck you to build something as you walked around the displays.

A second had stall selling deceased estates was doing a good trade in model kits for anyone looking for some older models at a cheaper price.

Tools and accessories were available from Tinkering Tools, who had a large
range of high-quality products for sale.

If you got hungry, the NJC has its cafe operating and coffee snacks and meals were available

Parking was excellent on site and free, which was great and the walking distance to the fair was very short.

The entry fee of $10 each was good value for a few hours of entertainment and profits were donated to Benwerrin Rural Fire Service, so a good cause was supported too.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Our photos are available for purchase on