Lower Georges Heights Commanding Position
Encyclopedia
The Lower Georges Heights Commanding Position is located in the urban locality of Georges Heights, New South Wales
in the suburb of Mosman, on the shores of Port Jackson
, Sydney
, Australia
. The Lower Georges Heights Commanding Position was constructed and designed to stop enemy ships from entering into Sydney Harbour, and worked in conjunction with several others forts located within close proximity.
. At the time this method of fortification was considered to be the most efficient way of defending this entry point into Sydney Harbour.
The two cannons that were first placed at the site were 9 inch; 12 ton RML cannons that were “muzzle loading”, this meant that the explosive charge and projectile had to be loaded into the barrel from the same end. The cannons could discharge shells weighing 249 pounds (113kg) as far as South Head (Watsons Bay); 3,000 yards (2,770 metres).
As technology improved, these cannons were replaced in 1889 by much lighter weight guns that could fire an 80 pound (36kg) projectile for 3,170 yards (3,000 metres).
From 1903 to 1907 the fortifications were upgraded to allow for the installation of two BL 6 inch Mark 7 guns
that were “breech loading” which meant that the explosive charge and projectile were to be loaded into the rear of the cannon. They could fire a 100 pound (45.4kg) shell a long way out to sea; up to 14,000 yards (12,900 metres).
The underground rooms of the fortifications were used to store ammunition and charges which were brought along Military Road, giving the road its name.
Georges Heights, New South Wales
Georges Heights is an urban locality in the suburb of Mosman, in Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Georges Heights is located in the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman and is part of the Lower North Shore.-History:...
in the suburb of Mosman, on the shores of Port Jackson
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The Lower Georges Heights Commanding Position was constructed and designed to stop enemy ships from entering into Sydney Harbour, and worked in conjunction with several others forts located within close proximity.
History
The fortification was built in 1877 and became part of the Sydney Harbours outer defencesSydney Harbour defences
Sydney Harbour was protected by coastal batteries and other fixed defences from the early 19th century until the 1960s. These defences were constructed to protect the Australian city of Sydney from attack by enemy warships and submarines....
. At the time this method of fortification was considered to be the most efficient way of defending this entry point into Sydney Harbour.
The two cannons that were first placed at the site were 9 inch; 12 ton RML cannons that were “muzzle loading”, this meant that the explosive charge and projectile had to be loaded into the barrel from the same end. The cannons could discharge shells weighing 249 pounds (113kg) as far as South Head (Watsons Bay); 3,000 yards (2,770 metres).
As technology improved, these cannons were replaced in 1889 by much lighter weight guns that could fire an 80 pound (36kg) projectile for 3,170 yards (3,000 metres).
From 1903 to 1907 the fortifications were upgraded to allow for the installation of two BL 6 inch Mark 7 guns
BL 6 inch Mk VII naval gun
The BL 6 inch Gun Mark VII was a British naval gun dating from 1899, which was mounted on a heavy traveling carriage in 1915 for British Army service to become one of the main heavy field guns in the First World War, and also served as one of the main coast defence guns throughout the British...
that were “breech loading” which meant that the explosive charge and projectile were to be loaded into the rear of the cannon. They could fire a 100 pound (45.4kg) shell a long way out to sea; up to 14,000 yards (12,900 metres).
The underground rooms of the fortifications were used to store ammunition and charges which were brought along Military Road, giving the road its name.
External links
- www.harbourtrust.gov.au Middle Head history.
- www.ozatwar.com / Australia @ war.
- Australian Bunker and Military Museum.