Fort Pearce
38°18′24″S 144°39′29″E / 38.3067°S 144.658°E
Fort Pearce is a former defensive facility occupying part of
Fortifications
The fortifications were constructed between 1910 and 1916. Two open concrete gun pits for
World War I
At the outbreak of World War I, additional men of the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery and Royal Australian Engineers were posted to Fort Nepean. Additional barracks were constructed at Fort Pearce and were named Pearce Barracks.[2] The barracks consisted of officers' quarters, two huts for the NCOs and men, ablutions hut, a cook house and store, mess, office, workshop and parade ground. Some of the timber huts were clad with sheets of iron to protect against machine gun fire.
The guns at Fort Pearce never
World War II
Additional huts, a fuel store and a larger ablutions block were constructed at Pearce Barracks in 1939–1940.
After the
Post-war
The fort and barracks were not continuously manned after 1946. Pearce Barracks was used for Citizens Military Force and school cadet training. The barracks were closed in 1978 and fell into disrepair.
National Park
Following the formation of Point Nepean National Park, parts of Fort Pearce are open to the public but Pearce Barracks remains closed for safety reasons. Parks Victoria removed asbestos buildings from the barracks in 2007 and installed interpretive structures and displays at the site. The site is open to the visitors.[4]
See also
Footnotes
- ^ BL 6" Mark VII Guns for Fort Pearce, NAA:MP84/1 388/3/39, National Archives of Australia
- ^ Fort Pearce — Accommodation all ranks, NAA:MP427/1 118, National Archives of Australia
- ^ "Died on service". The Argus. 19 July 1917. p. 1.
- ^ "Pearce Barracks — asbestos removal and interpretation works" (PDF). Parks Victoria. March 2007.
References
- Armament Establishment, Detail of Equipment for Forts at Port Phillip Heads, Garrison Service, NAA:B73656, 12094 1892/644A, National Archives of Australia.
- Drawings and plans of fortress installations — Port Phillip Defences, NAA:MP338/1, National Archives of Australia.
- Point Nepean National Park Fortifications, Conservation Plan, Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, January 1990.
- Point Nepean Forts Conservation Management Plan, Parkes Victoria, July 2006.
External links
Media related to Fort Pearce (Victoria) at Wikimedia Commons