fort conservation park fort conservation park protected area located australian state south_australia located park seaside suburb adelaide consisting functional 19th century fort listed adjoining land fort built years defence south_australia colonial fortification state best preserved functional australia fort designed governor major general sir lieutenant colonel important figures early australian colonial defence built designed defend anchorage shipping entering naval attack construction fort began officially opened october completed changes shipping movements surpassed strategic importance close 19th century fort largely unused defence significance briefly military purposes world war world war original defensive role 20th century area variety uses including accommodation park boy scout coming state government hands declared conservation park managed preserving showcasing historic value fort surrounds occupy northern half acre conservation park southern half park fort shaped battery supported land forces self defence constructed seen state art incorporating powerful modern weapons main armament rifled muzzle loading inch ton guns backed pounder cwt guns rare particular configuration fort retains original 19th century cannons restored working condition operates park license conducts open days park past operation fort including military drill firing period weapons association park service volunteers grants helped ensure fort presented close original condition complete 19th century fort australia world remains original condition connecting fort fort tourist railway gauge passenger steam train operated volunteers historic background early years colonial south_australia colonists saw british_empire external defence imperial responsibility communication lines long empire wars remote great_britain undisputed military expected protect colonies distant local defence governor raised military force composed solely volunteers known south australian granted royal title brigade ceased exist year later colony obtained artillery arrival field guns types tensions britain russian_empire 1850s demonstrated war australia wide moves self government caused colony defence posture colonies regarded possible targets based siberia governor appointed commission report defence colony case war report recommended leaving strategic defence hands south_australia purchase ton naval vessel local defence largely handled existing small imperial garrison local colonial force supported artillery obtained war ended danger passed perceived need expensive defence preparations years substantive came debate defence colony time formed consensus favouring fixed defences fortification strategy argued government established raiders seen unlikely force instead expected stand shell port use guns support landings hart report recommended building towers report recommend permanent fortification built mainly cost volunteer military force revived new modern arms infantry cavalry artillery years enthusiasm restructuring force virtually disbanded year british troops withdrawn australian colonies stationed south_australia definitive defence policy government sought advice captain commodore sir commander australian station visiting british naval officers recommended fixed fortifications coast supported sir report particularly recommended construction forts entrance midway story circulated supported press speculation danger russian fleet attacking melbourne russia britain find war produced editorial states lack defences days million provided government defence seen insufficient significant preparation danger passed lasting defence action government principle adoption sir recommendations costs fort built initially considered critical site preparation begun inch guns purchased escalating cost estimates caused plan abandoned early 1870s south_australia defence solely dependent volunteer military artillery pieces purchased earlier war british troops withdrawn australian colonies leaving state dependent military resources report government colonel major recommended establishment permanent military force south australian government new_south_wales victoria queensland requested major general sir noted coastal fortification expert appointed advise defence needs arrived sydney lieutenant colonel report delivered south australian governor called batteries bay connected military road supported field gun naval elements mobile forces determined south_australia probable defence risk attack ships larger force formed basis final fortification design report called military road extended electro contact torpedo station established gun boat provided november government passed military forces act provided raising permanent military force reserve volunteer reserve rifle companies formed permanent artillery unit time built state main entry point passengers mail signal station built time ball tower built remained great maritime significance state 1880s decision build fort state population reached approximately settlement extended port adelaide remained dominant feature economy partly layout rail network point adelaide population main port south_australia ships visiting year local population foundation inspected proposed south australian fort sites responsible final fort design location fort erected guard entrance anchorage built near hall called point adjacent reserve site chosen best guard shipping sailing second northern fort protect entrance time construction seen defence foreign threats mainly russian offered design battery offer accepted cabinet january primarily responsible design plans drawn supervised melbourne headquarters suggestion later supervise fort construction plans batteries completed june called july contract fort awarded august south australia sum construction began completed fort operational changes design construction forced armament changes ensure additional security including rear defence wall connecting road military road january guns place fort opened later year extensive opening ceremony october addition small target moored yards offshore fired guns total sixteen shots fired inch guns proved faulty ranging shot fired shots estimated land target yards short fort final cost approximately million consisting physical structures remainder armament fittings time construction forefront fortification design considered state art conceived known battery later changed fort opening ceremony came nearby hall residence premier south_australia hart named house mother maiden personnel eighteen months opening fort manned company south australian weekends changed south_australia permanent military force formed fort headquarters state entire standing army officer eighteen ranks unit stationed nearby fort unit grown officer ranks force grew ranks known permanent artillery unit trained non commissioned officers men sent man king george sound batteries near albany western australia gunners served second boer war unit saw action fort section called marching assist police worker strike port adelaide case shots fired confront police troops additional defence acts passed defence passed federal hands state permanent military force composed solely artillery shortly federation australia regiment formed permanent artillery company fort manned extent world war non commissioned officer gunners stationed november military reports orders fort manned point doubtful guns fit engage targets little way surviving personnel records fort active time destroyed transferred melbourne federation fort record book shows manned section company militia garrison artillery time covered book strength varied men ranks figures served fort remembered impact outside operation major initially joined volunteer artillery permanent artillery recruit fort commander later military commandant south_australia gordon retired chief general staff structure fort designed battery defensive faces fort join form half moon shape guns primary role defend port adelaide anchorage fort design reflects intended supported field artillery cavalry infantry self defence repel landings fort retains original form ditch embankment modified largely non existent areas ground levels changed accommodate paths park original western fence longer exists entrance road constructed military road fort rear gates path largely followed modern queen elizabeth_ii walk road slightly south walk links conservation park visitor centre fort gates old road seen close gates muster ground partly taken camping park car park filled 1950s use remains ground north park returned 1880s profile funded grant 19th century muster ground training including artillery camped site designed fort rear protected wooden masonry wall added greatly strengthening defence reconstructed 1970s original wooden structure visible fort north fortification main defensive structure shaped metre thick concrete brick forming retaining wall earth fill covered natural vegetation 19th 21st century operation closed access preserve gives extra protection fort designed blend fort landscape surrounded fort north south sides forming surrounding facing fort steep face forms wide ditch rifle fire sides outer face gentle slope designed covered case shot fired fort pounder guns southern section removed sand mining construction park world war western changed visible northern recreated showcasing purpose function access fort double gates fort rear rear defence wall gates removed destroyed time 21st century gates formal parade ground manning parade lies rear walls barracks raised drill training assembly formal constructed paved tar 1890s solve drainage problems manning parade runs raised crescent shaped level guns platforms sit ascended manning parade ramps stairs numerous proposals sand hills rear north fort removed improving fort land defence allowing pounder guns sweep area exercise area colony volunteer troops stable office shed gunner store erected north fort gunner shed damaged fire replaced eastward buildings survive 21st century internal rooms wide pound guns small rooms known expense stores ready use ammunition adjacent guns armour piercing shells stored rear defence wall pounders gun positions raised observation platforms set structure gun commanders spot fall outgoing shells ranging performed ranging position set sand hills fort north guns shaped loading gallery draws shells gunpowder system magazine gallery installed armstrong mechanical loading systems guns mechanical systems proved unsuccessful removed 1890s southern reconstructed magazine accessed manning parade directly beneath gun loading gallery voice pipes originally installed removed remains visible rifle gallery extends ditch fort north west corner connected fort tunnel running manning parade blast protection tunnel built rifle firing ports originally protected direct artillery fire early plans showed extending fort south west tunnel linking magazine southern guns buildings barracks consists levels rifle firing holes sides iron closed inside locked wooden beams facing manning parade enclosed wooden weather removed 20th century restoration work returned original condition roof flat timber inches lime concrete roof leaked iron roof added floor barracks contains officer rooms troop barracks room eastern outer wall flat incorporating design feature known opens field fire rifle holes firing holes 1930s partly restoration basement contains gunner mess store officer kitchen sold everyday items like tobacco stationed troops profits fund sporting equipment garrison store pieces delicate equipment friction tubes rockets explosion room caused number injuries damage store officer quarters barracks room officer quarters connected door probably added 1930s original plans barracks room accommodated approximately men display purposes outfitted similar period barracks laboratory built rear wall forts southern room set end prepare gunpowder charges built manning parade southern end duty room drill squad recreation demonstrations originally guard room separate cells connected telephone men appear accommodated guard room fort converted use park guard house converted block store block built rear defence wall armament early plans fort armament drawn called long tons rifled muzzle loading guns mounted turrets vertical iron shields configuration siege artillery tried plan abandoned large expected cost guns south_australia request eventual fort design final design omitted turret iron shields pounder guns substituted guns ton guns remaining ton guns chosen standard ton gun saw plans england decision influenced fully committed nature originally ordered ton guns cancelled order changed armstrong ton arsenal unable order ordered armstrong mechanical loading protected barbette system ton guns original battery heavy guns remains place fort inch guns fort main armament inch ton guns manufactured originally armstrong protected barbette loading system pattern supplied traversing guns inch calibre range yards muzzle velocity feet second capable penetrating inches iron yards fire pound projectiles pound gunpowder cartridge insufficient contemporary battleships seen adequate light cruisers fort expected face carriages weighed long tons moved semi circular traverses guns loaded manually system armstrong mechanical armstrong system enabled loading guns protection manual system required crew exposed despite guns manually loaded operational life armstrong cable drive faulty difficult maintain guns man crew loading took minutes rate fire slightly faster armstrong equipment guns fired rounds charge records showing effective charges platforms traverses scrapped gun barrels cut left place gun platform equipment rebuilt money raised volunteers working australian grand prix pounder guns flank barbettes mounted mark pounder cwt guns numbers rifled muzzle loading heavy guns weighing long inch calibre steel barrel model pattern intended use protect flanks approaches fort smaller guns use charge gunpowder send yards iron rings fixed wall indicate traversing gun carriages intended mounted guns supplied siege bank carriages lower carriage sections type guns field pieces upper sections raise guns bank firing position particular configuration guns thought world end active use fired rounds practice power recorded firing effective charges wheels significantly ammunition wheels guns removed fort adelaide city council set gardens returned fort restored carriages original design guns type remaining australia southern gun number fired blank charges mark centenary firing fort gun fired regularly volunteers types heavy guns ones specific series type come australia fired anger battery feet mean sea level limited accuracy mark iii depression weaponry prior inch breech loading guns imported use small boats use rejected military authorities guns sat unused proposed guns mounted fort replacing pounders siege carriages unfit service proposal greatly extended useful life fort little cost military branches army navy reach agreement proposal abandoned gun eventual fate unknown gun found later indicates dumped gun mile apart south fort pounder field guns provide close defence case attempted beach landing fort equipped armament received pounder field gun barrel henry cartridge firing gun pounder fired effective charges time weapons obsolete eventual fate unknown pounder long cwt gun stepped wooden carriage purchased manufactured familiar ships cannon came south_australia identical guns ammunition held listed instruction gun probably destroyed 1930s certainly end 1940s pieces gun found site late 20th century fort acquired pounder mark field guns battery south australian gun number complete blank acquired pounder mountain gun battery subsequently signal gun type known exist united_kingdom visitors centre pounder brass field guns arrived south_australia practice shoots near fort known manning parade use unknown later guns fort moving near wing saved wartime scrap drive mounted reproduction naval carriages gallery took late transferred loaned fort display outside visitor centre breech loading armstrong long cwt gun victoria brought state research subsequently moving mile end donated gun park defence significance work began fort northern sister fort known port adelaide battery specification fort barracks rear defence wall finished guns purchased specially plans fort proceeded south_australia experiencing depression coupled report general scuttled plans coastal fort early emphasis defence adelaide coast shifted fact cited reason abandonment fortifications point fort significance declined rapidly equipped inch breech loading disappearing guns armament decline linked changes maritime facilities consequent northward movement anchored vessels 1880s deepened enabling large ships sail berth practice shore fort remained headquarters south_australia permanent military force 1890s late plans upgrade pounder armament result fort manned basis permanent forces stationed assumed responsibility south australian defence took fort significant defence role state received compensation point significance defence related best preserved 19th century fortification south_australia 20th century federation south_australia defences federal responsibility infantry artillery units housed site occasion longer permanent military presence fort 20th century site neglected largely vacated attract usage military nature world war partly revived use ammunition stored site period military detention barracks fort leased private accommodation great depression 1930s magazine time store small arms ammunition june beginning world war site housed detachment district camp site decided equipment fittings fort surplus requirements consequent carriages inch guns removed sold scrap effort scrap barrels proved left place unusual turn events fort briefly housed refugees rescued sinking ship bound stayed fort week arranged world war fort attracted military related use proof experimental establishment port use site proof ordnance pounder anti tank guns manufactured fort residence families reported living ground sections war war negotiated federal counterpart gain control fort sale acre site subsequently administered camping park park occupied muster ground outside fort fort barracks building manager residence park managers establishment managed subsequently private operator long term lease significant change fort conservation preservation outlook declaration historic historic relics preservation act growing awareness significance site terms state colonial heritage control park moved fort surrounds designated fort conservation park provided funds conservation work began work year park boundary moved southwards site long neglected minimal permanent damage structure 1970s reconstruction replaced replaced visibly different significantly large gaps evident original timber agreed return pounder guns new wheels replacing half century ceremony october 100th anniversary guns firing pounders fired later commemoration plaque added fort base shortly firing formed incorporated fort opened public south_australia board granted work fort allowing construction visitor centre queen elizabeth_ii visited inspected site newly constructed visitor centre hour march visit historical association demonstrated firing pounder cannons visitor centre officially opened month visit governor named old road queen march ceremony commemorating 5th anniversary queen visit considerable subsequent restoration work completed fort including interior portion muster ground park returned original level park fort today fort conservation park south_australia important heritage sites premier site state possibly australia showcasing colonial era defences fortifications fort listed classified list considered significant national historical military terms association leading british defence experts influenced australian defence thinking late 19th century fort constructed high quality materials facts noted contributing preservation fort largely intact original condition best preserved designed fort australia australian colonial fort original armament regular living history program companion survive greatly modified condition converted use academy fort retains original armament armament rare australia worldwide conservation park suburb southern end covers approximately hectares acres bounded military roads beach land entirely crown land administered divided roughly halves northern containing fort southern half containing park managed heavily involved committee appointed minister environment planning acts advise minister community fort hosted approximately visitors annually event venue including annual city citizenship ceremony historical association incorporated body volunteers use fort licence minister association operate fort visitor centre holding monthly public open days history fort recreated includes drill demonstrations firing fort weapons association maintain static displays fort active period sell association goal site open fully operational fort interpretation tourism education volunteers involved recreation living history ceremonial work outside fort act guards honour functions attended restoration opening albany western_australia fort annual enactment victoria fort living history displays including barracks laid furnished period detail visitor centre displays showing development south_australia colonial defence artifacts found site connecting fort fort tourist railway gauge steam train operated volunteers railway opened december carried passengers annually
Fort Glanville Conservation Park