Fort Queenscliff facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Fort Queenscliff
Australia
Fort Queenscliff Keep
Coordinates	38°16′0″S 144°39′0″E / 38.26667°S 144.65000°E / -38.26667; 144.65000

Fort Queenscliff is a historic fort in Victoria, Australia. It was built to protect the entrance to Port Phillip, a large bay near Melbourne. The fort's story began in 1860 with a simple gun battery.

Later, in the 1870s and 1880s, the fort grew much larger. It became the main command center for many forts around Port Phillip Heads. Soldiers, engineers, and naval groups worked there. It was used for coastal defense from 1883 until 1946. By 1891, all the forts and guns around the Heads were finished. This made Port Phillip one of the most protected harbors in the British Empire.

Fort Queenscliff played a big role in history. The first shots fired by Allied forces in World War I came from a gun at Fort Nepean. These shots were ordered by Fort Queenscliff. They stopped a German ship from escaping. The same type of gun also fired the first Allied shot of World War II.

After 1946, coastal guns were no longer needed. The fort then became a training center for the Australian Army. Today, it is home to the Army's Soldier Career Management Agency.

The fort is located in Queenscliff, about 106 kilometers from Melbourne. It sits on high ground called Shortland's Bluff. From here, it watches over the shipping lanes to Melbourne and Geelong. Fort Queenscliff is a great example of Australia's old coastal defenses. Many parts of the fort have been restored, including its original guns and historic buildings. It also has a museum and research center. The fort is recognized as an important historical site by the National Trust.

Queenscliff's Early Days

How Queenscliff Town Began

In 1852, the leader of Victoria, C.J. La Trobe, asked a surveyor to plan a new town. This town was to be built at Shortland's Bluff. On May 1, 1853, a postmaster started work there. His job was to send mail to Geelong and the Western District.

The settlement was officially named Queenscliff on June 23, 1853. Two months later, the first plots of land were sold. Even before this, between 1838 and 1843, ship pilots had started working there. A grazing lease was given out, and a lighthouse was built.

Growing the Town

From 1853 to 1854, homes for pilots and a house for the Health Officer were built. A Customs Officer was also appointed. A church, a school, the first hotel, and a second lighthouse soon followed. The telegraph office opened in January 1855. The pilots often lived in their own homes, so their cottages were used by other officials.

Over the next few years, Queenscliff continued to grow. More houses, shops, and hotels appeared. By 1863, Hesse Street was the main street. Queenscliff had five hotels, a library, and sports fields. There was also a lifeboat and a jetty. Small steamers began offering trips around the bay. Churches for different faiths were also established. A fishing industry started, and people began asking for a railway.

Fort Construction and New Lighthouses

In 1859, a group of volunteer artillery soldiers formed in Queenscliff. They were led by Alexander Robertson. The building of a gun battery began at Shortland's Bluff in 1860. This meant two new lighthouses, the Queenscliff High and Low Lights, had to be built between 1861 and 1863. The original lighthouse was in the way of the new battery.

Queenscliff Becomes a Popular Resort

A military railway line from Geelong opened in 1879. This made it easier for people to visit the Bellarine Peninsula. It also helped bring building materials to Queenscliff. In the 1880s, many large buildings were constructed. These included Lathamstowe and several grand hotels. A new pier was built in 1885. This led to a larger paddle steamer called the Ozone. More guest houses and two more paddle steamers, the Hygeia and the Weeroona, helped the tourist trade.

Queenscliff became a very popular seaside resort in Victoria. People loved its mix of military and civilian life, its fishing boats, and the beautiful bay views. However, as cars became more popular, people started traveling further for their holidays.

Protecting Port Phillip Bay

Why Defenses Were Needed

In the second half of the 1800s, forts were built around Port Phillip to protect Melbourne. People worried about attacks from countries like France, Russia, or even the United States during the American Civil War.

The Crimean War (1853–56) made people in Victoria very concerned about defense. After many discussions, Captain Peter Scratchley from the British Army arrived in 1859. He advised on how to protect the colony's coast. He suggested building four large gun batteries at the entrance to Port Phillip. Shortland's Bluff, where Fort Queenscliff stands, was one of his suggested sites.

Expert Advice and Fort Development

In 1877, Lieutenant General Sir William Jervois, a fortifications expert, visited Victoria. He came with Colonel Scratchley. They recommended that the main defenses should be at the entrance to the bay. Between 1879 and 1886, many of their ideas were put into action. The bay's defenses grew stronger.

Fort Queenscliff became a strong battery with powerful cannons. Swan Island, at the northern end of Queenscliff, also had defenses. Two 'island' forts were planned on sandbanks in the bay. The South Channel Fort was built, but work on the other, Popes Eye, stopped. This was because new gun technology meant other forts could already block shipping lanes effectively.

Mines, Torpedoes, and Command Center

Mines and torpedoes were kept at Swan Island. They could be placed across shipping channels during wartime. Swan Island had permanent military engineers. While a gun battery at Point Lonsdale wasn't built, mobile artillery was stationed there during both World Wars. Other forts like Fort Nepean and Fort Cheviot were also developed on the eastern side of the bay.

Fort Queenscliff became the main command center for all the bay's defenses. This was likely because of its important location and its telegraph links to Melbourne. To protect its guns, a land defense system was started around Fort Queenscliff in 1882.

By 1886, Port Phillip was the most heavily fortified port in the Southern Hemisphere. For the next 50 years, the bay forts were manned. Both Fort Nepean and Fort Queenscliff were fully active during both World Wars. In 1946, Fort Queenscliff stopped being a coastal artillery station.

Building Fort Queenscliff

Early Construction (1860-1879)

The first military work at Queenscliff began in 1860. A sea wall was built along the top of Shortland's Bluff. This wall was made from sandstone and helped strengthen the cliff. It allowed heavy guns to be placed high up, right on the edge of the bluff.

By 1864, the first permanent battery was finished. It was made of local sandstone and cost £1,425. This battery had four 68-pound cannons. Volunteer soldiers from the local area operated these guns.

Building this battery meant new lighthouses were needed. In 1861, contracts were given for new lighthouses to replace older ones. Both new lighthouses were made of basalt rock. They started working by February 1863. The old timber lighthouse was moved to Point Lonsdale. Between 1862 and 1863, homes for the lighthouse keepers were built at the bluff. One of these homes is still inside the fort today. Military construction slowed down between 1864 and 1879.

Major Development (1879-1889)

The years 1879-1889 were a big time for Fort Queenscliff's development. New plans from Scratchley and Jervois were started. These plans created the fort's layout we see today. In 1879, two contracts were given for an upper and a lower battery. The lower battery would hold four 80-pound guns. The upper battery would have three 9-inch guns. Both were finished by early 1882.

In 1882, work began on the fort's walls and a keep (a strong tower). These were finished in 1886. A year later, a dry moat (ditch) was dug around the walls for more protection. Many support buildings were also put up. These included a drill hall (1882), barracks (1885), sheds, stores, a guard house (1883), and a cell block (1887). These buildings were simple, made of timber and corrugated iron. Many of them still stand today.

Once the walls were up, civilians mostly left the fort. By 1887, the lighthouse keepers' homes and the post office were used by the military. From then on, regular public entry to the fort was limited.

Powerful Guns and Later Changes

In 1889, two powerful BL 9.2 inch (234 mm) Armstrong guns were installed. One was a "disappearing gun," which could hide after firing. Similar guns were also placed at Fort Nepean and in Sydney.

After 1890, there were ongoing improvements to the fort's guns and searchlights. Not much new building happened until World War I (1914-1918). Around 1915, more barracks and mess buildings were added.

In 1936, all the old timber barracks were pulled down. New red brick buildings were constructed. Some buildings were later built outside the fort walls, which changed its look a little. But overall, the fort's layout today is very similar to how it was in 1889.

Life as a Soldier at Fort Queenscliff

Who Were the Soldiers?

Many military units have been at Fort Queenscliff since the 1860s. The main groups were the coastal gunners (artillery) and their technical support (engineers). There were also part-time soldiers, called Militia, who would make the forts fully ready during wartime. They trained at the fort throughout the year, especially during camps over Easter.

Most of the soldiers at the fort were peacetime soldiers. They were always a part of the town. Sometimes, there were friendly rivalries between soldiers and local fishermen. Many soldiers married women from Queenscliff. It was common for whole families to join the military, sometimes over three generations.

Daily Life and Rules

The fort's daily routine guided the soldiers' lives. New recruits received tough training from experienced non-commissioned officers. They had few privileges until they fully joined their regiment. Married recruits were usually not accepted. Soldiers often needed their commanding officer's permission to marry. Before World War I, only a small number of soldiers were allowed married quarters and food.

Food was often simple and the same every day. One story from the early 1900s tells of weeks without dessert. After many complaints, they finally got a pudding made from boiled cabbage scraps! Soldiers were encouraged to stay sober. A soft drink factory was even set up inside the fort to help with this. The "Artillery" bottles from this factory are now collector's items.

Fun and Entertainment

Outside the barracks, soldiers and locals enjoyed many activities. These included concerts, music shows, spelling bees, roller skating, lectures, and lantern slide shows. Sometimes there were military displays and moving picture shows. A Queenscliff Garrison soccer team even played in the Geelong league in 1926-1927.

A humorist during World War I wrote a funny poem about the soldiers in 1918:

"When you take a boat to Queenscliff as you're standing on the shore,
You will see some dinkum soldiers for a cert;
For when they are not drilling or the amber liquid swilling,
They are down there on the lookout for some skirt."

Why Fort Queenscliff is Important

A Special Place in History

In 1982, a study looked at Fort Queenscliff's importance. It found that Shortland's Bluff, where the fort is, was key to Queenscliff's existence. It was the site of the first lighthouse and pilot's hut, helping ships enter Port Phillip. Later, the telegraph station there gave Melbourne important news from overseas. It was the civil center of the early town.

In military history, it was the first major effort to defend Port Phillip. It became the main center for the bay's defenses. The fort still shows how military engineering quickly changed in the 1800s.

The fort's importance also comes from its designers, Sir Peter Scratchley and Sir William Jervois. They were very important in designing defenses for the Australian colonies. Fort Queenscliff is one of their largest works. As the main command post for the bay's defenses, it was the most important fort.

A Living History Site

The site has been used for military purposes for over 120 years. The Australian Army still occupies it today. This continued use helps keep the fort a "living history" site, not just a museum.

Today, the Australian Army works to preserve the fort as part of Victoria's heritage. The Fort Queenscliff Museum was created in 1982. Its goals are to create displays, restore original guns and equipment, and fix up the old fortifications. It also raises money for these projects. The Department of Defence supports this museum.

Restoration and Visitors

Several guns have been found, restored, and put back at Fort Queenscliff. This includes a huge 12½-tonne 8-inch "disappearing" gun from South Channel Island. Much work has also been done to restore defensive positions and underground storage areas. A large collection of historical documents has also been gathered. In 1983, the fort won the "Museum of the Year" award for Victoria.

Since 1983, about 35,000 people visit the fort each year. Many of these are school children on excursions. The ongoing restoration work is expected to bring even more visitors. The museum's goal is to fully restore the fort. They want to create a museum where visitors can tour the fort and see many indoor and outdoor displays.

Visitors are encouraged to see Fort Queenscliff as a part of Australia's national heritage. The museum aims to create an environment that sparks public interest in our early military history.

Fort Queenscliff Museum

The Fort Queenscliff Museum has many special exhibits. The collection includes:

Documents about the fort's early days in 1860.
The uniform of Lieutenant Colonel James Newland, a VC winner.
An "Artillery" bottle from the fort's old soft drink factory.
Items related to Sergeant Major Henry Ronald, who worked at the fort for a very long time.
The collection of Major General W.A. Coxen, a decorated officer.
The Roll Book of the Victorian Permanent Artillery from 1882 to 1905.
The rifle given to a soldier who was murdered in 1942.

The museum also has a rare book called "The Artillerist's Manual." It teaches about drill, gunnery, and cavalry exercises. This manual might be one of Australia's oldest military publications.

The museum is located at 1 King Street, Queenscliff.

Images for kids

The mount for an 8" disappearing gun at South Channel Fort, Victoria, Australia
The restored BL 8 inch gun, taken during a car show on the parade ground