Shepherds Hill military installations facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shepherds Hill military installations |
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Part of Shepherds Hill Defence Group Military Installations
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| Location | 41 The Terrace, Newcastle, City of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1890–1940 |
| Owner | Land and Property Management Authority (LPMA); Newcastle City Council |
| Official name: Shepherds Hill Defence Group Military Installations; Shepherds Hill Group includes Residence (Gunner's Cottage/Caretaker's quarters); Observation Post and Gun Placement; Shepherds Hill Battery | |
| Type | state heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 July 2010 |
| Reference no. | 1806 |
| Type | Fortification |
| Category | Defence |
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The Shepherds Hill military installations is a special heritage site in Newcastle, Australia. It includes an old military gun battery, an observation post, and a cottage. These buildings were constructed between 1890 and 1940. The site is also known as Shepherds Hill Defence Group Military Installations. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 July 2010 because of its important history.
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A Look Back at Shepherds Hill
The name 'Shepherds Hill' comes from "Sheep Pasture Hills." Lieutenant Colonel William Paterson gave it this name in 1801. He thought the grassy slopes looked like England. Later, in the 1840s, people mined coal here. There was even a copper factory. Miners and their families lived in huts on the hill.
In 1879, a military expert named Colonel Scratchley suggested building a fort here. Its job would be to protect Newcastle and its important coalfields from attacks.
Protecting Newcastle
Military work started at Shepherds Hill in the 1890s. An 8-inch "disappearing gun" was built. This was a response to fears of an attack from Russia. A cottage was also built for the Master Gunner, who looked after the guns.
There were two gun batteries at Shepherds Hill. One was near Cliff Street, and the other was above York Drive. The second one has since been removed. These batteries were part of a bigger plan to make Newcastle's defenses stronger. This plan also included making Fort Scratchley more secure.
The Disappearing Gun
In 1896, a special gun was built at Shepherds Hill. It was called a "disappearing gun" or "jumper." It was designed in 1883 to be a cheap and hidden way to protect the coast. After firing, the gun would drop down below a wall to be reloaded. The force of it dropping would help push it back up for the next shot.
However, these guns had problems. They couldn't aim very high, and they took a long time to reload. Newer warships needed guns that could fire much faster. So, the British Government stopped using these guns in Australia. By 1906, the Shepherds Hill gun was considered unsafe. This led to the building of Fort Wallace at Stockton.
World War II and Beyond
By 1939, Newcastle was a major place for making weapons for New South Wales. During World War II, it became a very important industrial area. Companies like BHP made munitions (weapons and ammunition) there. Newcastle also had the NSW Dockyards, where ships were built and repaired.
Because of this, defending Newcastle was important for all of Australia. A new defense plan was put in place. This included making Fort Wallace stronger and building two new close-range batteries at Shepherds Hill and Fort Scratchley. Both sites used 6-inch naval guns. An Observation Post at Shepherds Hill controlled all the defenses in the area.
During WWII, new things were built at Shepherds Hill. These included places for soldiers to live. Two searchlights and their engine rooms were also set up. A 100-meter long tunnel was dug to house one of the searchlights. The cottage became a place for officers to gather.
The Important Observation Post
The most important building was the Observation Post. Shepherds Hill was a great spot for it because it was so high up. The post was 106 meters above sea level. It helped aim the guns at Fort Wallace, which was much lower. Even though it was far from the guns, new electric telegraphs allowed instant communication.
During WWII, the Observation Post was run by all three military branches: the Royal Australian Navy, the Army, and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Navy watched ship movements. The Air Force managed early warning radar. The Army used it to control searchlights and aim guns for different batteries.
The growth of the Observation Post showed Australia's fear of invasion during WWII. Australia realized it couldn't rely on Britain as much for protection. There was a real threat of a Japanese invasion. So, defending the coast became a top priority. Fort Scratchley, which worked closely with Shepherds Hill, fired back at a Japanese submarine in June 1942. This was the only time a place on mainland Australia returned fire during the war. Shepherds Hill helped coordinate the defense system with Fort Scratchley, Fort Wallace, and Tomaree.
After the war, in 1946, Australia decided to classify its defenses. Newcastle's defenses were "Category B." This meant they had to be kept ready to use quickly if war broke out. Only Sydney in NSW had the same classification.
In 1956, the Coast Artillery was disbanded. The Gunner's Cottage was used by the Army until the 1960s. After that, it housed artists as part of a program to support local talent. Today, the State Government owns the land. The cottage has been fixed up and is used by the Newcastle branch of the Volunteer Coastal Patrol.
Shepherds Hill, along with Fort Scratchley and South Head in Sydney, is one of the few places in NSW where old fortifications are still standing. Shepherds Hill shows a "closed" defense system with its disappearing gun and underground passages. This is different from South Head, which used an "open" system with guns in concrete pits. Looking at both sites helps us understand how military technology changed over time.
Exploring Shepherds Hill Today
The Shepherds Hill site includes several interesting parts:
- The Gunner's Cottage
- The remains of the disappearing gun
- An observation post complex
- The remains of the No. 1 searchlight position, with its tunnel and engine room
Shepherds Hill is one of the best lookout spots in Newcastle. It's easy to see why such important military structures were built here. The site is 70 meters above sea level. It stretches from The Terrace street to the top of the cliff.
As of 2009, the central part of Shepherds Hill was in good condition. However, the edges of the hill had many weeds. Most of the buildings, except the Gunner's Cottage, have not been well looked after.
The Gunner's Cottage
The Gunner's Cottage is also called Shepherds Hill Cottage or the Caretaker's Quarters. It's an old house made of wood with a corrugated metal roof. It looks very different from the strong concrete buildings of the observation post. The cottage has a living room, dining room, three bedrooms, and other rooms. The garage and toilet are separate. Some parts, like the sunrooms, were added later.
The Newcastle City Council restored the cottage in 1997. The Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol now uses the building. They keep it well maintained.
The Observation Post
The observation post complex is made of strong concrete. It has five levels and eight observation rooms. It's about 8 meters tall and has many interlocking parts. You can see it from many places in the park and along the coast.
Sadly, this structure is in poor condition. It needs a lot of repair work. The lower level often fills with rubbish and water. The salty air from the coast has damaged the steel inside the concrete. This has caused stains and cracks on the outside.
The Old Gun Area
The gun area has a gun pit and two storage rooms. One room was for storing shells, and the other for gunpowder. You can get to the gun pit through a ramp and a central hallway. This hallway connects to two aiming stations. There's also another station above ground.
Like the observation post, the hallways leading to the gun pit are full of rubbish and water. The gun pit itself has been filled with sand and rubble. Even so, you can still see the tunnels and old cables.
The No. 1 Searchlight Position
The No. 1 searchlight was located on the cliff face. It was powered by an engine room at 65 Nesca Parade. A 100-meter long tunnel connected the searchlight to the engine room. This tunnel carried the electrical cables. The engine room is made of concrete, similar to the observation post. It's still mostly intact, and its original steel doors are there. However, a two-story apartment building has been built on its roof. The tunnel entrance has been sealed.
The tunnel is still strong, and the engine house is in good condition, though it's full of rubbish. The steel doors are very rusty, making it hard to get inside. The cliff entrance of the tunnel has been badly vandalized.
Why Shepherds Hill is Important
The Shepherds Hill Group is very important to the history of New South Wales and Australia. Its story is a big part of how Australia defended its coast for over 60 years. During this time, it was a key defense spot. Its history shows how defense plans changed with new technologies and threats.
During WWII, Shepherds Hill helped coordinate Newcastle's defenses. Protecting Newcastle was vital for the state because it was a major industrial center. It had steelworks and a busy port. Most of NSW's shells were made in Newcastle, and it also had the NSW Dockyards. The defense system proved its worth in June 1942. A Japanese submarine attacked Newcastle, and Fort Scratchley fired back. This was the only time a place on mainland Australia returned enemy fire. The fact that the Shepherds Hill fort was used by the Navy, Army, and Air Force at the same time is rare, maybe even unique in Australia.
Shepherds Hill military installations were listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 July 2010 for several reasons:
- It shows how history unfolded in New South Wales.
Shepherds Hill played a big role in defending the NSW coast. It was an important defense and observation post. Changes made to the defense system here show how NSW reacted to new threats and technology. Defending Newcastle was crucial during wars because it was a key industrial center. It supplied weapons and food to the military during WWII. The site tells an important story about Australia's national history and its military defense. The site also has strong links to all three armed forces. It's connected to Fort Scratchley, another important defense site.
- It shows great design or technical skill.
The site offers amazing views of the Newcastle coastline. The buildings themselves show the history of war and coastal defense. The Gun Emplacement and Observation Post are in a prominent spot. Their strong concrete shapes stand out against the older buildings nearby. These features make the park interesting and dramatic. The No. 1 searchlight engine room and its tunnel show high technical skill. They are in great condition for their age.
- It has a special connection with a community.
The Shepherds Hill group may be important to local war veterans.
- It can teach us more about history.
The 8-inch Disappearing Gun emplacement shows how technology developed in the late 1800s. It can teach us about changing military technologies in NSW. The No. 1 Searchlight and tunnel are still very complete. They can give us information about how buildings were constructed back then and how the coast was fortified.
- It has rare or unique features.
This site is rare because it has the only unchanged 8-inch Disappearing Gun Emplacement in NSW. This gun is a rare example of a new but short-lived military technology. Other places had disappearing guns, but they were replaced. Shepherds Hill might be unique in Australia because the Navy, Army, and Air Force all used it at the same time during WWII. The tunnel system seems to be intact and in good condition. It might be one of only a few such forts under a headland in Australia. The No. 1 Searchlight engine room and its 100-meter tunnel are rare examples of how searchlights were used to protect the coastline.
- It represents important types of historical places.
Shepherds Hill is a good example of the integrated coastal defense systems that were vital for NSW. Similar systems were used to defend Sydney's coast. Improvements in technology allowed these defense systems to communicate effectively.
