Fort Pearce facts for kids
Fort Pearce is an old military site located at Point Nepean in Victoria, Australia. It was once part of a large defense system that protected the narrow entrance to Port Phillip, a big bay. This system was controlled from Fort Queenscliff.
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Building the Fort
The main parts of Fort Pearce were built between 1910 and 1916. In 1911, two open concrete areas were made for large Mk VII guns. These guns were very powerful. Between these gun areas, a big underground room was built to store ammunition. Above this storage area, there was a special spot for soldiers to watch and measure distances for the guns. The soldiers who operated these guns lived at Fort Nepean, which was nearby.
Fort Pearce During World War I
When World War I started, more soldiers from the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery and Royal Australian Engineers were sent to Fort Nepean. Because of this, more living spaces, called Pearce Barracks, were built at Fort Pearce.
The barracks included rooms for officers, two huts for other soldiers, a washroom, a kitchen, a dining area, an office, a workshop, and a parade ground. Some of these wooden huts were covered with iron sheets to protect them from possible machine gun fire.
The guns at Fort Pearce were never actually used in a battle. Sadly, one soldier, Gunner Walter Hargrave, died on July 16, 1916, when one of the guns accidentally fired.
Fort Pearce During World War II
Between 1939 and 1940, during World War II, more huts, a fuel storage area, and a bigger washroom were added to Pearce Barracks. Soldiers also dug pits in the sand dunes around the fort for machine guns and mortars. These pits were used by the 2nd Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps throughout the war.
After a Japanese air attack on Rabaul in 1942, military leaders decided that the guns at Fort Pearce were too exposed to air attacks. So, the large guns were moved to a safer place called Cheviot Hill. Because the concrete covers at Fort Nepean made it hard for their guns to aim towards Fort Pearce, a smaller 14 pounder Nordenfelt gun was placed at Fort Pearce. This gun helped protect the barracks and the ships anchored in Port Phillip.
After the Wars
After 1946, Fort Pearce and its barracks were not always used by soldiers. Pearce Barracks was sometimes used for training by the Citizens Military Force and school cadets. The barracks were officially closed in 1978 and slowly started to fall apart.
Fort Pearce as a National Park
Today, Fort Pearce is part of the Point Nepean National Park. Some parts of the fort are open for people to visit and explore. However, Pearce Barracks is still closed to the public because of safety concerns. In 2007, Parks Victoria removed old buildings that contained asbestos from the barracks. They also added signs and displays to help visitors learn about the site's history.
