Fort Buckley facts for kids

Fort Buckley is an old fort located in Wellington, New Zealand. It sits high up, looking over the Interislander ferry terminal, Wellington Harbour, and the motorway. This fort was built a long time ago, in 1885, to help protect the city.

The fort originally had two large guns. These were called "rifled 64 pounder muzzle-loading guns." They were very powerful for their time and could shoot targets up to three kilometres away!

During World War 2, another type of gun was added to Fort Buckley. This was an anti-aircraft gun, used to shoot down enemy planes. It was placed on the spot where the fort's caretaker used to live.

Today, you can still see parts of the fort. The strong concrete bases where the two original big guns sat are still there. It's a bit harder to find where the anti-aircraft gun was, but the concrete base of the old caretaker's cottage is still visible.

A Place for Everyone

The land where Fort Buckley stands is now owned by the Wellington City Council. Since 2010, it has been a special public area called a reserve. This means it's protected and open for people to visit and enjoy.

It's easy to get to Fort Buckley now. There's a good gravel path and a clear entrance from Barnard Street in Wadestown, Wellington. You'll see signs and fences guiding you.

Caring for the Fort

Over the years, the path to the fort has been cleared many times. Sometimes, plants grow quickly, and the area needs to be tidied up.

A local group called the Highland Park Progressive Association (HPPA) helps look after Fort Buckley. They work with the Wellington City Council to keep the site nice. The HPPA has even created a detailed pamphlet about the fort's history, which you can find near the wooden Fort Buckley sign.

Fun Activities at the Fort

Fort Buckley is a great place for community activities. Families often come for picnics. It's also a popular spot for Geocaching, which is like a treasure hunt using GPS. Many people also enjoy walking the tracks around the fort.

In March 2014, the HPPA put a large picnic table on the old caretaker's cottage concrete pad. They also helped clear more plants with the Wellington City Council.

Looking to the Future

Fort Buckley is very important historically. Heritage New Zealand lists it as a site of national historical significance. This means it's a special part of New Zealand's past.

There's a long-term goal to make the fort even better. People hope to find the original 64-pounder guns, which might be buried in Palmerston North. If not, they plan to make new replica guns to put back in the gun pits, so visitors can see what the fort looked like when it was active.

Images for kids

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  HPPA Picnic table sited on old Cottage pad

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