Bradleys Head Fortification Complex

The Bradleys Head Fortification Complex is near Toronga Park Zoo. This fort was part of Sydney Harbour’s protection plan. It [the fort] remembers a time when the colony of New South Wales became more aware of its isolation and wealth. The fort is on Bradleys Head Road, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia.

The main firing wall of the Bradleys Head Fortification Complex.

Gun emplacement overlooking Sydney Harbour

History

They first started work to build the fort in 1840-42. It had a gun pit (special place for the cannon to sit and fire from) and firing wall (pictured in intro) that was built out of large blocks of sandstone and carved partly from the original rock that was already there. The first part of the building process around this time was done under the watchful eye of Major George Barney, a Commanding Royal Engineer who used hired workers provided by Governor Gipps.

In 1871 the fort got an extra barracks. The barracks were made from large sandstone blocks and carved out of the rock on the headland. This addition was the work of James Barnet, a colonial architect. This most recent add-on had three gun pits and had connecting walkways for the people in the army that worked there. The upgrade of 1871 was complementary to some of the larger fortifications being constructed during the same period. The site is now part of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.

Gallery

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  The only entrance to the battery constructed in 1871.
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  A feature inside the onsite barracks.
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  One of the barrack hallways with an entry point to the innermost chamber on the right hand side.
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  The innermost chamber of the barracks
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  Trenches leading to gun emplacements and into the underground chambers on site.
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  Large gun emplacement constructed 1840-42
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  Cannon and gun emplacement constructed 1871
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  Empty gun emplacement constructed 1871