Coastal fortifications in New South Wales

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During the first half of this century many Australians felt the threat of foreign invasion. In New South Wales a series of fortifications was built along the coast and coastal defence plans were established in order to counter this threat. During their heyday these coastal fortifications played an important role in the home front defences of Australia, although following World War II most were dismantled and left to decline. The National Archives in Sydney holds a number of Australian Military Forces (AMF) and Commonwealth property records which deal specifically with coastal defences or fortifications.

Defence files

Over 200 record items have been identified relating to coastal fortifications. They include details of staffing, installations, transfers of equipment, plans in the event of attack, and general orders regarding certain fortifications.

Series SP553/1 deals wholly with coastal fortifications. Many individual files within the other series also contain relevant information.

Defence records relating to coastal fortifications
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Miscellaneous records Headquarters Eastern Command 1870–1967 SP1141/1
AMF correspondence files 1912–64 SP459/1
AMF general correspondence, 'S' (secret) series 1922–51 SP1048/7
AMF records of fortress installations (NSW coast) 1934–50 SP553/1

Property files

The records listed below are only some of the individual record items which specifically relate to property acquisitions, sales and leases. You will find additional items relating to land in specific suburbs and towns by searching the property files relating to those areas.

Property files relating to coastal fortifications
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Correspondence – acquisition and sale of land and property by Commonwealth in NSW 1901–48 SP394/1
Fort Scratchley – acquisition of extra land 1920–41 CL3284
Fort Scratchley, Newcastle – acquisition, claim of JW McIlveen 1939–41 CL5855
Correspondence relating to property acquisitions, disposals, etc. 1905–63 SP615/1
Clovelly – Coogee Forts – Disposal of part of sewer pipe line 1955–62 1960/1292
Stockton – Fort Wallace – easement to NSW Public Works 1957–58 1960/1998
Commonwealth property files 1909–48 SP351/1
Wollongong Fort (Smiths Hill Fort) Cliff Road, re Transfer to State of New South Wales 1922–26 A25/3834
NSW coast defences – proposed acquisition of area at Redhead for observation post (contains maps and plans of the site) 1938–43 CL10652
Correspondence re Property Matters on behalf of Army 1922–60 SP857/3
Newcastle, NSW, Fort Scratchley, Nobby's Head 1920–40 PC/104 Part 1
Newcastle, NSW, Fort Scratchley 1924–56 PC/104 Part 2
Fortress areas – Eastern Command 1941 PC1941/250
Fort Scratchley, Newcastle Defence Area, lease to Mrs E McMorrine 1943–49 PC/580
Breakwater and Illowra Batteries, Kembla Fortress Area, proposed acquisition 1944–49 PC1944/631
Newcastle, NSW, Fort Scratchley military area, acquisition and disposal of part 1956–66 PC/104 Part 3

For more information

Further information on records holdings relating to coastal fortifications is available in the following Fact Sheets: