Fort Phillip (Sydney) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Phillip |
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| Observatory Hill, Sydney, New South Wales in Australia | |
Remains of Fort Phillip today
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 Fort Phillip
Location of Fort Phillip in Sydney central business district
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| Coordinates | 33°51′34″S 151°12′17″E / 33.8595°S 151.2048°E |
| Type | Former fort |
| Site history | |
| In use | 1803 – 1840s |
| Fate | Partially demolished and repurposed as the Sydney Observatory from 1858. |
Fort Phillip was an old fort built in the early days of Sydney, Australia. It was located on Observatory Hill in the area now known as Millers Point. This fort was part of the first defenses for the new settlement.
Today, the fort is mostly gone. The land where it stood is now home to the Sydney Observatory. This site is recognized as an important historical place.
Fort Phillip: Sydney's Old Fort
Why Was Fort Phillip Built?
In 1804, Governor Philip Gidley King ordered Fort Phillip to be built. He was the third Governor of New South Wales. The fort was needed for a few reasons.
One reason was to protect against possible attacks from other countries, like France. Another reason was to deal with unrest from within the settlement. There had been a major event involving people who were sent to Australia as punishment. This event happened at Castle Hill in March 1804. It was sometimes called the Battle of Vinegar Hill.
The fort was built on Windmill Hill, which is now Observatory Hill. This spot was chosen because it was the highest point in the area. From here, soldiers could see the harbor, the river, and the entire town below. This gave them a great view to watch for any danger.
Even though it was built for defense, Fort Phillip was never fully finished. It also never had to fire its cannons in a real battle.
What Happened to Fort Phillip?
In 1825, a tall flagstaff was added to the fort's eastern wall. This flagstaff was used to send messages. It could communicate with ships in the harbor and with other signal stations, like the one at Fort Denison and South Head.
Later, between 1847 and 1848, a new signal station was constructed. This new station was designed by the colonial architect Mortimer Lewis. It replaced the old flagstaff.
After the new signal station was built, most of Fort Phillip was taken down. Only the eastern wall, called a rampart, remains today. It is the only part left that shows the fort ever existed.
In 1858, the Sydney Observatory was built on the site of the old fort. The Observatory's main job was to provide accurate time for the colony. It also helped scientists study the stars in the southern sky.
The name of Fort Phillip is still remembered today. It is used in the name of Fort Street High School.
