Defence of Sydney Museum Opens at North Fort

On the 21st May, the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (SHFT), which administers the North Head Sanctuary, officially opened three new facilities in the North Fort area. These were a new Visitors Centre for the Sanctuary area, the Artillery wing of the Defence of Sydney Museum and the RAAHC Library and Research Centre. An invitation was extended via email and on our website to all RAAHC Members to witness the opening. We had a good “roll up” with some members travelling from as far as Brisbane and NSW Country to be present.

It was a fine day at North Fort and over 120 interested guests had arrived when the Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, the Hon Bob Baldwin, MP undertook the official opening from the verandah of the new North Head Sanctuary Visitors Centre. This followed an initial welcome by the SHFT Executive Director, Mr Geoff Bailey, and short addresses by the Mayor of Manly and Acting Chair of the SHFT Board, Councillor Jean Hay AM and then the Chair of the RAAHC.  The Parliamentary Secretary, after graciously requesting that Mrs Nan Whitelaw and Councillor Jean Hay join him, then cut the opening ribbon. Mrs Whitelaw and family had been invited to attend the Opening to view the Whitelaw Room in the Visitors Centre that recognises the artillery links at North Head.

The Visitors Centre is a must for those visiting North Head. The volunteer guides there can assist all types of visitors to the area, and the Centre has displays and pamphlets that describe the geographic history of the Head including its hanging swamps, the flora and fauna of the area, and the buildings and history of the different areas on North Head.  Maps are also available that guide visitors on a range of self guided walking and bicycle trails that now cross the Sanctuary. There is also now a good stop close to the Centre for coffee or lunch in the Bella Visa Café.

The Whitelaw Room in the Centre records the artillery links to North Head including the building of the garrison artillery barracks and 9.2inch gun emplacements that were test fired in 1930s plus the training activities undertaken there by the School of Artillery. Four panels in the Whitelaw Room outline this history and a video displays footage from that era. One panel shown below depicts the legacy of the Whitelaw family to artillery and North Head.   

The Artillery wing of the Defence of Sydney Museum was also officially opened this day. This has been developed inside one of the large sheds on site. In this display are artillery pieces from colonial times to post World War II that have been restored by volunteers at North Head and are on loan from the RAAHC and the Australian Army History Unit. These currently include:

12 Pounder Smooth Bore Muzzle Loading Gun
12 Pounder (10 cwt) Howitzer on Field Carriage
QF 1.5in Nordenfelt Gun
Twin 6 Pounder Anti Torpedo Boat QF Gun
3.7in Anti Aircraft Gun (Static)
40mm Bofors Mark II Anti Aircraft Gun
3.7 in Anti Aircraft Gun (Mobile)
150 cm Search Light Control

There are plans to extend this inventory and for SHFT to open a second Museum shed that will note other aspects of the Defence of Sydney story. There are also longer-term plans to link up an observation post, command post and to restore one of the 9.2 inch coastal guns.

The opening day was also an opportunity for the public to visit the new RAAHC Library and Research Centre that we are developing in the new air-conditioned building, which was handed over to us in late June 2014. It was wonderful to see that our long time RAAHC librarian, Danny Toplis, who has been recuperating from an injury, was able to join us for the day. Other volunteers in the Library, Peter Hartup and Kevin Browning were on hand to show the Whitelaw family, RAAHC members and other groups some of the wonderful historic books, maps and photos that we hold in the Library and to explain the projects that we are undertaking.

Many visitors also took the opportunity to visit the “ Australia’s Memorial Walk” (AMW) and see their pavers. I received many complimentary remarks on how important this Walk is and how well it has been developed, even since its official dedication in December 2013. The AMW truly is a remarkable tribute to many volunteers, but particularly to Kevin Browning who now undertakes the bulk of the associated work. We would certainly welcome some additional volunteers to help Kevin on this project.

The 21st May was a milestone in the development of the North Head Sanctuary including the projects and activities still being undertaken there by the RAAHC.  I encourage you all to include it on your list of visit locations when next in Sydney.