https://www.xxzza1.com
20 C
Newcastle

Fortress Newcastle unveiled in new exhibition

SHARE

A unique exhibition showcasing the Hunter’s role in defending Australia during World War II (WWII) is set to be unveiled just in time for Anzac Day.

Fortress Newcastle, a project more than 24 months in the making, will open for two weeks at Fort Scratchley from Saturday 23 April.

Led by coordinator Newcastle Industrial Heritage Association Inc, the undertaking also included the efforts of the Fort Scratchley Historical Society Inc, Maitland and District Historical Society Inc, Port Stephens Historical Society Inc, Stockton Historical Society Inc, Friends of Schoolmasters Cottage Inc (Ash Island), Tomaree Museum Association Inc, Tomaree Headland Heritage Group Inc, Fighterworld Inc and Rathmines Catalina Association Inc.

Through diligent research, it’s been revealed Newcastle was the only place in Australia – during WWII – where coastal guns fired on an enemy naval vessel; all three military services operated from the same command building; had the largest mainland military establishment in the nation’s history; was the critical hub of Australia’s largest war materials production; and had the first radar installation in the country.

Newcastle Industrial Heritage Association Inc president Bob Cook admitted the project was certainly a labour of love.

“A coalition of 10 local community heritage groups have been researching for the past two years,” he explained.

“And, through trips to national archives in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne, we uncovered massive details previously unknown about the largest military establishment in Australia’s history, defending the biggest industrial war production facilities in the country.

“Local filmmakers Stories of Our Town released Fortress Newcastle: Life Under Threat on Remembrance Day 2021.

“The film interweaves archival footage with compelling eye-witness testimonies from those involved.

“The upcoming Fortress Newcastle exhibition – which closes on Sunday 8 May – will showcase artefacts, stories and one of the heritage sites involved in defending Newcastle.

“Throughout the research of this massive project, the team collected a large amount of historical material, including photographs, maps and plans, publications, videos and oral histories.

“All up, we’ll have more than 40 displays.

“We received almost $100,000 in grants to present this information in a professionally-produced exhibition.

“And, it was money well spent.”

At the start of WWII, Newcastle was the location of Australia’s largest integrated steel-making facilities, many associated heavy industries, various minor ones, numerous coal mines, a busy deep harbour for merchant shipping, floating dock, ship building dockyard and critical production infrastructure.

This allowed the Hunter region to become the country’s major industrial production hub for manufacturing and supplying a massive range of essential war-related products, making it the most important site for mainland defence.

The military operation to defend these vital industries became known as Fortress Newcastle.

“The war effort in this region was critical to the survival of Australia,” Mr Cook said.

“Fortress Newcastle extended from Port Stephens in the north, south to the Tuggerah Lakes and west to Muswellbrook.

“The key points to be defended were the entrance to Port Stephens itself, the whole of the Stockton Bight beach between Anna Bay and the entrance to the Newcastle Harbour, and the beach areas south to the entrance of Lake Macquarie.

“In December 1941, this area was defended by four fixed coastal defence forts, two major air bases and four army accommodation and training camps.

“Many remnant facilities of Fortress Newcastle exist and are awaiting interpretation and adaptive reuse.”

The exhibition is available to view during the Fort Scratchley opening hours, which are 10am until 4pm every day except Tuesdays.

FORTRESS NEWCASTLE CONSISTED OF:

  • Five large Army Training bases – Singleton, Greta, Largs, Rutherford and Raymond Terrace (up to 4,000 men each in training). Many other small training locations;
  • Two Naval bases – HMAS Maitland (now TS Tobruk) and HMAS Assault at Nelson Bay;
  • Two Air Force bases – Williamtown and Rathmines;
  • Four large coastal gun batteries – Fort Scratchley, Park Battery Shepherds Hill, Fort Wallace and Fort Tomaree including torpedo launcher;
  • Seven anti-aircraft batteries – at Tomago, Fern Bay, Newcastle Harbour, Mayfield West, Wave Battery, Stockton and Wangi Wangi;
  • Three radar stations – Shepherds Hill, Catherine Hill Bay and Ash Island;
  • Ten searchlight stations – 30 projectors in various places, usually near gun emplacements;
  • Two anti-tank traps on Stockton Beach and Cold Tea Creek, Belmont;
  • Boom net and controlled mines across Newcastle Harbour;
  • Armour-proof range at Fern Bay – for munitions and plate testing;
  • Large American Amphibious Training Centre (JOOTS) and an American Navy Landing Forces;
  • Depot at Nelson Bay, with some 20,000 personnel;
  • Many stores and training centres were established in requisitioned community facilities; and
  • A 5,000 tonne oil fuel storage tank was constructed at Tighes Hill, for ship refueling.

MILITARY DEFENCE UNITS

  • Amphibious Training Command Centre Gan Gan near Port Stephens
  • Camp Gan Gan
  • Camp Nelson Bay
  • Camp Shoal Bay
  • “HMAS Assault” Naval Training School Port Stephens
  • Nelson Bay – RAN Temporary Engineers Workshop Stockton Street
  • Port Stephens Boom Defence net – Salamander Bay
  • Port Stephens – United States Navy Landing Forces Depot
  • Royal Marine Camp, Nelson Bay
  • Salt Ash Air to Ground Gunnery Range
  • VHF D/F installation at Tea Gardens, Port Stephens
  • Tank Traps Stockton Beach
  • RAAF Williamtown
  • 3.7 HAA guns Tomago
  • 3.7 HAA guns Links battery Fern Bay
  • Fern Bay Armour Proofing and Testing Range
  • Fort Wallace Stockton
  • 3.7 HAA gun Fort Wallace
  • 3 pndr unit Carroboro Oval Stockton
  • Wave Battery between the two Breakwalls Stockton
  • US Army artillery Unit Williamtown
  • WAAF plane spotters unit
  • Fort Tomaree Port Stephens
  • Fern Bay Rifle Range
  • Bob’s Farm Cadre Camp
  • Ash Island RAAF Radar Station
  • Australian Army Greta Army
  • Australian Army Largs
  • Australian Army Singleton
  • Boomerang Park Army Camp, Raymond Terrace
  • Fort Scratchley
  • Park Battery Shepherds Hill – operated by Army, Navy and RAAF
  • Mayfield West HAA battery
  • Ash Island RAAF Radar Station
  • Camp Shortland Newcastle
  • 7th Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Australian Army Greta
  • 60 AASL Coy, Company Headquarters
  • Drill Hall in Percy Street, Hamilton, Newcastle
  • Wangi Wangi RAAF Stores and Quartering Area
  • HMAS Maitland
  • RAAF Rathmines Catalina Base
  • Catherine Hill Bay Radar Station

Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.

More Stories

Newcastle Weekly

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Subscribe to Newcastle Weekly. News, Community, Lifestyle, Property delivered direct to your inbox! 100% Local, 100% Free.

You have Successfully Subscribed!