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Category: Army

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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.

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Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

German 150mm Field Gun

Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

Perched on top of a hill, the Rocky Hill War Memorial and its associated Museum is very different from most memorials we have seen around Australia. Overlooking Goulburn in New South Wales, this 10.5m tall tower was opening in 1925 to commemorate all those who served in the First World War.

War Memorial

On entering the tower, you see a large marble memorial engraved with the names of service personnel from the Goulburn region who served in World War One. A spiral staircase decorated with photos from the war leads up to the viewing platform. We loved the way the photos told a story of the war and what the soldiers endured.

Rocky Hill War Memorial
Rocky Hill War Memorial
Memorial to the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Flying Corps Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum
Memorial to the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Flying Corps
Memorial to those who served from Goulburn in WW1. Those killed are marked with *
Memorial to those who served from Goulburn in WW1. Those killed are marked with *
Photos lining the walls of the interior staircase
Photos lining the walls of the interior staircase

Museum

Outside the museum, two 150mm German Field Guns stand guard. Donated to the town following the war and installed here following the new museum’s completion 2020. This new state of the art museum replaced an older one in the old caretaker’s cottage.

The displays inside the museum are very good, included some World War one body armour, which we had not seen before. An impressive collection of rifles from different armies and trench warfare weaponry are also worth seeing.

Illustrated in a poster is a sombre reminder of the cost of World War One with the number of dead and wounded Australians shown in relation to the size of the countries’ population. Interestingly, this poster also shows how the war trophies were divided up to the towns and cities depending on their population.

This was a great place to visit, both for the memorial and museum showing the impact of the war so far away from the local community.

German 150mm Field Gun
German 150mm Field Gun
Weapons on Display Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum
Weapons on Display
German Mauser, Turkish Mauser, Siamese Mauser Japanese Arisaka and British Lee Enfield rifles
German Mauser, Turkish Mauser, Siamese Mauser Japanese Arisaka and British Lee Enfield rifles
Australian Army Uniforms Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum
Shell casing and a cartridge carrier from World War One
Shell casing and a cartridge carrier from World War One
First World War Body Armour
First World War Body Armour
Gas mask and horse gear. Including a horse's gas mask Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum
Gas mask and horse gear. Including a horse’s gas mask
Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

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

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Australian War Memorial Canberra

One of the Walls of Remembrance covered in poppies Australian War Memorial

Australian War Memorial

Canberra’s most popular attraction, the Australian War Memorial is an outstanding tribute to the men and women who have served in the Australian Defence Forces since federation. Access to some galleries is currently limited (2022) because the Memorial is undertaking a major renovation. During this period some exhibits are in storage. However, there is still a lot to see here, and a visit is highly recommended.

Outside and the Sculpture Garden

We arrived before opening time, so took the opportunity to look around the Sculpture Garden. There are two distinct areas. a grassed area with memorials and an area closer to the buildings with large military equipment on display.

Armoured vehicles used by the Australian Army on display include a Centurion tank from the Vietnam War, a Bushmaster and LAV armoured personnel carrier. Captured German guns from World War One are nearby.

Not far from here the old bridge of HMAS Brisbane is visible, along with its deck gun. The bridge can be accessed inside the memorial, where you can walk around the interior.

The sculpture garden has memorials to all branches of the Australian Defence Force from most conflicts. There are even memorials to the animals used by the armed forces. One is a memorial to all animals, having hoof and paw prints while another memorialises explosive detection dogs. Located near Poppies Restaurant this last one was our favourite.

LAV-25 Light Armoured Vehicle Australian War Memorial
LAV-25 Light Armoured Vehicle
Centurion Tank
Centurion Tank
"Lest we Forget" Memorial originally from Camp Russell in Afghanistan
“Lest we Forget” Memorial originally from Camp Russell in Afghanistan
Australian Merchant Seaman Memorial "Survivors" Australian War Memorial
Australian Merchant Seaman Memorial “Survivors”
Animals in War Memorial. with hoof and paw prints
Animals in War Memorial. with hoof and paw prints
"Australian Serviceman"
“Australian Serviceman”
Bomber Command Memorial dedicated to Australian who flew in RAF Bomber Command during WW2
Bomber Command Memorial dedicated to Australian who flew in RAF Bomber Command during WW2
Bronze sculpture "War" Australian War Memorial
Bronze sculpture “War”
"Elevation of the senses" Explosives detection dog
“Elevation of the senses” Explosives detection dog
Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop Australian War Memorial
Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop

Shrine of Remembrance

Central to the whole memorial is the Shrine of Remembrance containing the eternal flame and tomb of the unknown soldier. The cloisters leading to the shrine contain panels engraved with the names of all those who have died fighting for Australia. This is a very sombre area, especially when you realise how many names are there. During our visit many had poppy flowers pinned to them.

Inside the shrine, beautiful stain glass windows represent the fallen, while the eternal flame burns in the pool of reflection.

The Shrine of Remembrance Australian War Memorial
The Shrine of Remembrance
Stain glass window in the Shrine of Remembrance
Stain glass window in the Shrine of Remembrance
One of the Walls of Remembrance covered in poppies Australian War Memorial
One of the Walls of Remembrance covered in poppies

Inside Australian War Memorial

World War One

From Gallipoli, the North African Desert and the Western Front, the displays here cover them all. A landing boat from the Gallipoli Campaign still filled with bullet holes greets you on entry, highlighting the dangers they faced.

Along with weapons and uniforms, dioramas bring the battlefields to life, showing what they looked like.

Landing boat from the Gallipoli Campaign Australian War Memorial
Landing boat from the Gallipoli Campaign
British 4.5 inch howitzer Australian War Memorial
British 4.5 inch howitzer
World War One trench warfare diorama
World War One trench warfare diorama
Diorama of fighting at Gallipoli Australian War Memorial
Diorama of fighting at Gallipoli
World War 1 AIF Uniform
World War 1 AIF Uniform

World War Two

Australians fought in many theatres of the Second World War, each of which is represented here. From Bomber command, where flight crews manned several bomber squadrons, to North Africa, the Atlantic and Pacific.

Captured German and Italian equipment, including a German BMW sidecar and an Italian tankette are on display here. Unfortunately, the larger displays such as the Lancaster bomber and Japanese mini-submarine that attacked Sydney Harbour are currently in storage. However, a Japanese Mitsubishi Zero fighter is there, hanging from the ceiling.

BMW R12 750cc motorcycle and sidecar Australian War Memorial
BMW R12 750cc motorcycle and sidecar
L.3/33 Italian tankette captured in North Africa
L.3/33 Italian tankette captured in North Africa
Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" Australian War Memorial
Mitsubishi A6M “Zero”
Hawker Sea Fury
Hawker Sea Fury

The Hall of Valour

Displayed in the Hall of Valour, the medals of many Australians tell a story of their bravery. Accompanied by a story and photo, each set shows what the servicemen endured and accomplished. Many of the Victoria Cross (Australia’s highest military award) recipients have their medals here. Many of these were donated by families wishing to have their deeds remembered.

The medals of Warrant Officer Class II Keith Payne
The medals of Warrant Officer Class II Keith Payne

Conflicts 1945 to the Present

These galleries are only open at limited time, which unfortunately did not match our time in Canberra, Having seen some of them before, they are worth visiting if you are there at opening times.

What Did We Think?

Visiting here is a very moving and sombre experience. The Memorial shows the human side of war and how it affects both combatants and civilians. The human toll of war is emphasised rather than glorifying warfare. An amazing experience and rightfully the number one attraction in Canberra.

For other places to visit in the Australian Capital Territory click here