As you approach Flagstaff Hill Fort, keep your eyes peeled for the three large, black cannons on white mounts, proudly overlooking the crystal blue expanse of the Pacific Ocean. The cannons are set on a grassy area with a picturesque backdrop of the coastline and the mountains in the distance. It's a sight that’s hard to miss - those cannons are waiting to tell you their story!
Welcome to Flagstaff Hill Fort! This fort has quite the story to tell. It all began back in 1879 when the steamship Havilah landed here with three whopping 4.6-ton, 68-pounder cannons. They were meant to step up the defences against a potential Russian attack. Imagine the look on the locals’ faces when these massive cannons arrived, with the ability to launch a 68-pound (31 kg) shell a whopping 1.60 km! However, they sat unused for 18 months without any mountings or ammunition - basically, they were just very stylish lawn ornaments.
Finally, in 1880, the local volunteer artillery group got around to setting them up as an inner defense battery. Meanwhile, Endeavour Drive now covers where they originally stood. But by the mid-1880s, it became clear that enemy cruisers could simply stay out of range and still wreak havoc.
Enter the more modern solution: In 1890, a more powerful 6-inch gun got placed near the summit of Flagstaff Hill. With underground rooms to protect the ammunition and the gunners, this fortification was the real deal. By 1893, they even completed further fortifications on Smith's Hill to the west of the harbour.
Constructed between 1890 and 1891, this fort with a disappearing gun emplacement was quite the engineering marvel. Dug out of the hill with face brick walls and earth over the tunnels, it was commissioned and fired for the first time in 1892. Fast forward to 1938, and the Wollongong Head Lighthouse joined the scene near the fort, adding another layer to this historical landscape.
So here you stand, witnessing the robust relics of Wollongong’s defense history and soaking in views that are worth a thousand words. Enjoy the vista and the aura of the past!
