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Category: Military

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Bare Island

The external walls of the fortified island

Bare Island

In the 1860s Britain removed its garrison troops from its Australian colonies, which resulted in a rapid examination of the colonies’ defenses. Britain’s war with Russia escalated fears of an invasion (not sure how Russia was going to send an invasion force all the way to Australia). As a result two Imperial Engineers arrived (Scratchley who also designed Fort Scratchley in Newcastle and Jervois). Between them and with the assistance of colonial architects they devised a series of forts to defend the coastline and major centres. One of these was Bare Island.

With excellent views over the entrance to Botany Bay, Bare Island was perfectly placed to guard against an overland attack of Sydney. Manned by around 70 soldiers it served as a fort from it’s completion in 1886 until the early 1900s. With changing technology, the fort became a war veterans’ home until 1942 when the military again took up residence.

Bare Island Fort Today

Unfortunately during the 1930s all but the two largest guns were sold for scrap. The largest guns remain only because they were too heavy to move. In 1967, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) were given control of the now gazetted historical site. In 1989, the fort opened to the public.

Getting There

We drove to La Perouse and parked in the foreshore parking area. From here we walked over the pedestrian bridge to Bare Island.

The Tour

NPWS conduct guided tours of the island, which can be booked online. Joining a tour at the entrance gate is possible, but only if there is room. Book onlie to avoid disappointment.

Access to the island is via a pedestrian bridge. Your guide will meet you at the far end of the bridge and let you through the gates. From here, the tour takes you through the gun pits, tunnels and rooms of the fort. The guide provides a narration throughout the tour, so you receive the full history of the island.

From the top of the island, you get amazing views of Botany Bay, while being able to appreciate the importance of the fort as it overlooks the bay’s entrance.

What Did We Think of Bare Island?

This was a great tour, full of history and interesting things to see. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, providing us with lots of information on the Island’s history. Especially good was the group size, which was no so large that you missed out on seeing things.

The external walls of the fortified island
The external walls of the fortified island Bare Island
External walls Bare Island
External walls
The connecting bridge Bare Island
The connecting bridge
Rifle slots in the walls
Rifle slots in the walls
Verandah of the Barracks
Verandah of the Barracks
Connecting tunnel between gun pits Bare Island
Connecting tunnel between gun pits
underground gun, firing through a concealed gunport Bare Island
underground gun, firing through a concealed gunport
Connecting tunnel and magazine access
Connecting tunnel and magazine access
One of the gun pits
One of the gun pits
Gun mounted on one of the gun platforms. Not the original gun.
Gun mounted on one of the gun platforms.
Disappearing gun pit Bare Island
Disappearing gun pit
This shows the commanding field of fire the gun had to the entrance to Port Botany.
This shows the commanding field of fire the gun had to the entrance to Port Botany.
Gun pit with a view of the connecting bridge to Bare Island
Gun pit with a view of the connecting bridge to the island
View from Bare Island to the mainland. Aboriginal, Australian and NSW flags.
View from Bare Island to the mainland. Aboriginal, Australian and NSW flags.

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

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Fighter World Williamtown NSW

Fighter World Williamtown

Fighter World Williamtown Aviation Heritage

Getting to Fighter World

Fighter World located adjacent to the Williamtown RAAF base has an excellent display of jet fighters operated by the RAAF. Fighter world is very easy to find due to its location and parking is easy, because the museum has its own large car park.

The Collection

Main Hanger

Housed in an old hanger the collection illustrates the evolution of the jet fighter in Australian service from its beginnings with the Meteor to high tech aircraft like the F-111 and Mirage III. Also displayed are Winjeel and PC-9 forward air control aircraft because they marked targets for the fast jets.

All aircraft can be approached closely so it is possible to get a great close-up view.  Many also have stairs to enable a view of the cockpit and top of the aircraft, which also gives you great views around the display hall.

If you have kids or like the interactive side of museums there is a Mirage cockpit that you can sit in, which gives you a hands-on feel for the aircraft.

Aircraft armaments are displayed around the hanger ranging from Matra R.530 missiles for the Mirage to Bomb ejector racks for the F111.

Dassault Mirage IIIO A3-3 Fighter World
Dassault Mirage IIIO A3-3
CAC Winjeel A85-428 Fighter World
CAC Winjeel A85-428
Aermacchi MB326H
Aermacchi MB326H
Sopwith Camel replica Fighter World
Sopwith Camel replica
Boeing Stearman replica 1/3 scale Fighter World
Boeing Stearman replica 1/3 scale
Fokker Dr.I Triplane replica
Fokker Dr.I Triplane replica
Bristol Bloodhound anti-aircraft missile Fighter World
Bristol Bloodhound anti-aircraft missile

Second Hanger

Containing the first RAAF jets, a small hanger houses a Vampire, Meteor and CAC Sabre. Also housed here are two replica Spitfires, one only consists of the fuselage, but the other is full size. Several early jet engines, the Ghost, Goblin and Nene, show how they worked, with cut-away sections revealing their interiors.

In addition to the aircraft displays is the Norm Forrester Collection. Displayed in cabinets this large collection of model aircraft covers most RAAF, British and US subjects.

Gloster Meteor F.8
Gloster Meteor F.8
de Havilland Vampire A79-1 Fighter World Williamtown NSW Australia
de Havilland Vampire A79-1
CAC CA-27 Sabre Fighter World
CAC CA-27 Sabre
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII Replica Fighter World
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII Replica
Rolls-Royce Nene Jet Engine
Rolls-Royce Nene Jet Engine
Model Aircraft Display Fighter World
A small section of the Model Aircraft Display

Outside Displays

Located between the two hangers is a Pilatus PC-9 used until recently by the RAAF for Forward Air Control.

In front of the museum a CAC Sabre stands as a gate guardian along with a radar dish and a Jindivk target drone.

Pilatus PC-9
Pilatus PC-9
CAC CA-27 Sabre A94-959 North American Sabre F-86 Fighter World Williamtown NSW Australia
CAC CA-27 Sabre A94-959
GAF Jindivik drone
GAF Jindivik drone
Radar Antenna at Fighter World Williamtown
Radar Antenna at Fighter World

Viewing Platform

A stairway leads to a viewing platform where the active Williamtown RAAF base and its aircraft movements can be observed. The Williamtown base is currently home to F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters (operated by No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, No. 3 Squadron and No. 77 Squadron), BAE Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighters (operated by No. 76 Squadron), E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft (operated by No. 2 Squadron) and Pilatus PC-21 forward air control aircraft (operated by No. 4 Squadron).

Because the base also has the Newcastle Airport located opposite, you can see commercial planes coming and going as well.

What Did We Think?

A great museum showcasing Australia’s jet fighter aircraft from the 1940s to the present. Located close to Newcastle NSW, this is a fantastic place to visit if you have an interest in aircraft.

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

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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.