AdBlock Detected

It looks like you're using an ad-blocker!

Our team work realy hard to produce quality content on this website and we noticed you have ad-blocking enabled.

Category: Memorial

Posted on

Fort Scratchley Newcastle

6-inch Nark VII guns Fort Scratchley

Fort Scratchley Newcastle

No longer used by the military, Fort Scratchley is now a memorial to the servicemen and women who served there. During World War Two, the Japanese submarine I-21 attempted to shell Newcastle and the BHP Steel Works. Fortunately most of the shells missed or failed to explode with no-one hurt and only minor damage caused. Fort Scratcheley returned fire but failed to hit the submarine. In doing so, it became the only Australian fort to fire on an enemy ship.

Regularly fired by volunteers, two of the original guns are still in place. Most of the original buildings and tunnels are intact and can be viewed, with guided tours of the tunnels also available.

Now a heritage site, the fort’s buildings and guns from World War Two are still intact. Still operational, the guns are fired each day by volunteers. The upperworks and buildings are free to walk around, but a tour of the tunnels require a ticket as it is a guided tour.

As well as the fortifications, the views over Newcastle and the nearby beaches are fantastic.

Fort Exterior Displays

On entering the fort, you are free to enter all areas apart from the underground tunnels. As the tunnel tours are timed, we booked one and then went exploring the remainder of the fort. At the top of the hill, the 6-inch guns that fired on the I-21 can be seen and you are able to get close to them.

Older muzzle loading guns have been returned to the fort and re-sited where they used to be. The size of the 80-pound cannon really has to be seen to understand how massive it is.

Outside wall of Fort Scratchley
Outside wall of Fort Scratchley
The fort's buildings on the upper level Fort Scratchley
The fort’s buildings on the upper level
80 Pound muzzle Loading cannon over looking the harbour Fort Scratchley
80 Pound muzzle Loading cannon over looking the harbour
6-inch Nark VII guns Fort Scratchley
6-inch Nark VII guns
View over Nobbys Beach to the Harbour entrance
View over Nobbys Beach to the Harbour entrance

Display Rooms

Rooms that used to house soldiers now serve as display rooms showing the history of the fort. A full room is dedicated to Sir Peter Scratcheley who the fort is named after. Another room has a model of the I-21 and some of the shells fired that night.

Display of Sir Peter Scratchley
Display of Sir Peter Scratchley
Weapons display Fort Scratchley
Weapons display
Uniform Display Fort Scratchley
Uniform Display
Women's uniform display
Women’s uniform display
Star shell fired by I-21 on 8 June 1942
Star shell fired by I-21 on 8 June 1942
Model of the Japanese submarine I-21 Fort Scratchley
Model of the Japanese submarine I-21
The fort's gaol
The fort’s gaol

The Tunnels

The highlight of the trip was the tunnel tour which takes you under the fort and into its working areas. The guide was great and full of information about the fort’s past and how it worked. From the magazines that used to store the fort’s ammunition to the gun emplacements it was a comprehensive tour. We were able to get close to most of the guns to get a detailed look.

One of the tunnels, a safety light and stairs leading out
One of the tunnels, a safety light and stairs leading out
One of the fort's tunnels Fort Scratchley
One of the fort’s tunnels
Nordenfelt 1 1/2 inch gun
Nordenfelt 1 1/2 inch gun
The disappearing gun's pit. Now covered
The disappearing gun’s pit. Now covered
80 pounder muzzle loading cannon Fort Scratchley
80 pounder muzzle loading cannon
Shells in the magazine Fort Scratchley
Shells in the magazine
8 Inch breach loading gun
8 Inch breach loading gun
How the disappearing guns worked Fort Scratchley
How the disappearing guns worked

What Did We Think?

This was a great place to visit, because it’s full of local history and amazingly restored guns and displays. Well worth the visit.

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

Posted on

Gunnedah Water Tower Museum

Water Tower mural

Gunnedah Water Tower Museum

Located near the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Statue, the Gunnedah Water Tower Museum is a must see if visiting the area. Parking is easy because of the car park near the memorial, or on the road outside.

Only open on Saturday from 10 until 2 you need to time your visit ti go inside.

The art work by Jenny McCracken depicts soldiers of 7RAR waiting for Huey Helicopters, while the rear of the tower shows soldiers paying their respects beside the Long Tan Cross.

Water Tower mural
Water Tower mural: Soldiers of 7RAR waiting to be picked up by Huey Helicopters by Jenny McCracken
Water Tower mural
Water Tower mural: soldiers paying their respects beside the Long Tan Cross by Jenny McCracken

Inside the Tower

Penny Farthing Gunnedah Water Tower Museum
Penny Farthing
Military exhibit Gunnedah
Military exhibit
Museum Display Gunnedah
Museum Display
Display on upper level Gunnedah Water Tower Museum
Display on upper level
Display on upper level Gunnedah
Display on upper level

The Rosewarne Memorial

Situated on the Quia Road, Rosewarne was a small community near Gunnedah. The residents erected this memorial to remember members of the Public School and other local servicemen of World War One. The memorial became forgotten and rarely visited because of the town’s closure. Relocated in 1998 the memorial now sits behind the water tower.

An information board next to the memorial describes its history and the men behind the names on the plaque. If you visit the water tower, take a few minutes to visit the site out the back, because this is something we should all remember.

Rosewarne Memorial
Rosewarne Memorial

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

Posted on

Aberdeen New South Wales Australia

Lions Club Memorial Aberdeen NSW

Aberdeen New South Wales Australia

Famous for its annual Highland Games festival, Aberdeen, New South Wales Australia (not to be confused with the one in Scotland) is surrounded by some of the richest horse studs in Australia.

Apart from the Highland Games, we hadn’t stopped here before, because we are usually driving through on our way to something else. With a population of under 2,000, we weren’t expecting too much, but were please with the few things we found.

Lion’s Park has some lion sculptures and several plaques detailing the early town of Aberdeen. There are some tables with shade next to the sculptures , which makes this a good place to stop for a break.

In the centre of town, on the New England Highway, Taylor Park has memorials, and a cairn, raised by the Highland Games, dedicated to the sons and daughters of Scotland who made the district their home. Several other nearby towns have Scottish names, most notably Scone which is only 10 minutes away.

The park also has an anchor on display, but there is not plaque detailing where it’s from or what it commemorates.

The local Men’s Shed is colourfully decorated and can be found at the entrance to the local sporting field.

So overall, not a huge amount to see but interesting if you have a few minutes to spare on your drive through.

Lions Club Memorial Aberdeen NSW
Lions Club Memorial
Lions Club Memorial
Lions Club Memorial
Sons & Daughters of Scotland Aberdeen NSW
Sons & Daughters of Scotland
Taylor Park
Plaque in Taylor Park
Taylor Park
Taylor Park
Anchor in Taylor Park Aberdeen NSW
Anchor in Taylor Park
Anchor in Taylor Park
Anchor in Taylor Park
Men's Shed Aberdeen NSW
Men’s Shed

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.