The Bradleys Head Fortification Complex is a heritage-listed former mast and defensive battery and military fortification and now war memorial and recreational area located at Bradleys Head Road within the Sydney Harbour National Park in the Sydney suburb of Mosman, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Government engineers and built from 1840 to 1934. It is also known as Bradleys Head Forts and HMAS Sydney 1 Mast and Associated Memorials. The property is owned by the Office of Environment & Heritage. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 30 August 2010.
The small fort is located on the northern side of Sydney Harbour, just south of Taronga Park Zoo, and the fortification formed part of a total defence system for Sydney Harbour and recalls a period when the colony of New South Wales became increasingly aware of its isolation and wealth.
History
Development of the fort
Bradleys Head is the site of two fortification complexes which formed part of a total defence system for Sydney Harbour. The first settlers established two defensive batteries at Dawes Point and Bennelong Point to protect the colony. They were equipped with naval guns and covered the entrance to Sydney Cove. The batteries were manned by marines of the First Fleet until the arrival of the first contingent of soldiers from the NSW Corps with the Second Fleet in 1790.
In 1801 additional batteries were established by Governor King at Garden Island and on Georges Head in response to the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, thereby covering the approaches to the settlement. A large stone walled fort commenced on the crown of Observatory Hill in 1804. It was named Fort Phillip in 1805. When Governor Macquarie took office in 1810, the outer batteries were neglected and in poor condition. He decided to reconcentrate the defences of the settlement at Fort Phillip, Dawes Point and Bennelong Point. These three positions remained the defensive backbone of Sydney until the 1840s.
In September 1839, during the office of Governor Gipps, Captain George Barney, the first Colonial Engineer, put forward a proposal for improving the defences, including construction of batteries and permanent Blockhouses for the defence of the ports of Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Port Macquarie and Port Phillip. Requests for funds were sent to the Board of Ordinance in the United Kingdom. Work using convict labour commenced at Bradleys Head and Fort Denison in August 1840 in anticipation of a successful response. Funding was refused in October 1840. A subsequent representation was more successful, although this approval would not be received until March 1842, more than eighteen months after commencement of works at Bradleys Head. In the meantime two American warships (sloop of war Peacock and sloop of war Vincennes) entered the harbour unannounced on 30 November 1839, under the cover of darkness. Although only a courtesy visit, the event demonstrated the settlement's vulnerability to attack and highlighted awareness of its isolation and wealth. Construction of the fort began in 1840-42 and consisted of a gun pit and firing wall that was built out of large blocks of sandstone and carved partly from the original rock that was located on site. The earlier stages of construction during this period were done with the supervision of Major George Barney, a Commanding Royal Engineer who used hired labour that was supplied by Governor Gipps.
By 1850 the Bradleys Head battery was the only one to be completed. Muzzle loading 24-pounder guns had been installed in 1840 and a sandstone wharf built in conjunction with the fort was being used to transport equipment and supplies from Circular Quay across to the soldiers. Stockades to house the convict labour used at Bradleys Head had already been removed. In 1853 plans were made to construct batteries at Inner South head, Middle Head and Georges Head, with work commencing late that same year. The outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854 renewed interest in the defence of Sydney and Governor Denison presented a revised plan to the government in 1855 which advocated greater focus on defending the area immediate to Sydney and the completion of Fort Denison, enlargement of the Dawes Point and Fort Macquarie emplacements, and for batteries to be developed on Kirribilli Point and Mrs Macquarie's Point. The plan was approved and the works virtually completed by 1858. The fort at Bradleys Head ceased to be used from 1859.
On 23 August 1870 the last of the British troops departed and the colony was forced to consider maintaining its own defences. NSW Government reports in 1865 and 1870 saw the outer line of defence given priority and construction commenced on new fortifications at Middle Head, Georges Head, South Head, Steel Point and Lower Georges Heights Commanding Position. Work commenced in late 1870. The new works at Bradleys Head above the earlier emplacement saw the complex now consist of three gun pits, a riflemen's gallery and interconnecting tunnels, trenches and galleries. These were constructed under the supervision of Colonial Architect James Barnet. The barracks were constructed from large sandstone blocks and carved out of the existing rock on the headland. The first guns were in place by 1871. This most recent addition consisted of three gun pits and had connecting galleries for the riflemen. Both were to provide defensive fire across Sydney Harbour if required. A further report by Sir William Jervois in 1875 recommended upgrading certain armaments and facilities. Construction and re-equipment of outer fortifications continued throughout the 1880s.
In 1871 the fortification received an additional barracks. The 1871 barracks were designed and constructed under the direction of James Barnet, a colonial architect.
Most of the harbour side emplacements were improved with the addition of breech loading guns in the 1880s and 1890s. Therefore, with the outbreak of World War I in 1914 only minor improvements to the weaponry were required to preserve the readiness of the outer harbour defences. The forts and batteries of the inner line of defence - Bradleys Head, Kirribilli Point, Mrs Macquarie's Point, Fort Macquarie and Dawes Point were largely non-operational by that time. Bradleys Head had ceased operation in 1903 and the remainder as early as 1870.
Harbour defence strategy during World War II was based on the seaward facing coastal batteries. The inner harbour defence emplacements were dismantled after the war. By 1961 all coastal batteries were declared obsolete following the development of jet aircraft and guided missiles and most of the former military reserves were transferred to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for conservation and public recreation. Others have since been transferred to other government agencies such as the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
HMAS Sydney mast and associated memorials
HMAS Sydney I is recognised as one of the most distinguished Royal Australian Navy (RAN) warships of World War One. It was a Chatham Class light cruiser built in Glasgow, Scotland and delivered to the RAN in 1913. In October 1914, after spending the first period of the war in New Guinea and Pacific waters, HMAS Sydney I began escort duties off the Western Australian coast accompanying the first Australian troop ship to the Middle East. On 9 November 1914 HMAS Sydney I was called away from the escort to investigate an SOS from Direction Island in the Cocos Keeling Islands group. This resulted in a victorious engagement with the German raider SMS Emden which saw Emden eventually run aground on Keeling Island. This victory marked the RAN's first ship to ship engagement and its first victory. The Emden victory and later deeds of the ship and crew were a source of pride in Australia and inspired the use of the HMAS Sydney I silhouette as a trademark on a series of domestic items as diverse as flour and toilet cisterns.
In general, recognition of the importance of the victory over SMS Emden has often been overshadowed by events such as Gallipoli and Kokoda since World War II. However, internationally, the battle continues to be considered the most significant cruiser battle of World War I. Had the Emden attacked the 1st AIF convoy at night, as its captain planned, many of the soldiers destined to fight at places such as Gallipoli, are likely to have ended up in the water. This act saw HMAS Sydney I presented with a silver dining plate from British Naval Commander Lord Nelson's 1803 Copenhagen silver setting. The setting had been purchased with prize money from Lloyd's of London given to Nelson. The 36 pieces were sold by his descendant Emma Hamilton in 1830 when she filed for bankruptcy. The set was purchased by the Ephraim family who donated the setting to the British Admiralty on the proviso that one piece each should go to the ships that most distinguished themselves in World War I. The first piece was presented to HMAS Sydney I for her destruction of SMS Emden.
The steel tripod mast which is the primary element of the memorial was the foremast of HMAS Sydney I. It was installed on the Sydney in 1917, replacing the original timber foremast. The timber foremast had been constructed in three sections (mainmast, topmast and topgallant), and included a lookout post and gun direction platform on the mainmast. The mast on the memorial was the ship's mast during the Emden action. This new mast was fitted to overcome the weaknesses associated with the conventionally rigged timber mast, in particular the threat of ice forming on the rigging and ratlines during winter patrols in the North Sea and the additional load, and resulting decrease to the ship's stability this created.
In September 1916, Sydney and HMAS Melbourne were transferred to the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron for duties with the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet in the North Sea. In company with HMS Southampton and Dublin, they undertook patrol, escort and screening duties. While on patrol on 4 May 1917, Sydney and the other vessels accompanying her were attacked by the German zeppelin L43. The L43 dropped ten to twelve bombs on the Sydney, none of which hit the ship, which responded with a heavy barrage of anti-aircraft fire. The L43 escaped undamaged.
Later in 1917, Sydney was fitted with an aircraft launching platform and equipped with a Sopwith Ships Pup fighter. On 1 June 1918, while patrolling in the Heligoland Bight, Sydney and Melbourne launched their aircraft to engage two German reconnaissance aircraft. Sydney's fighter destroyed one of the enemy aircraft. HMAS Sydney I was present at the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet on 21 November 1918. She returned to Australia on 19 July 1919. After the war, Sydney carried out routine fleet duties until she was paid off in 1928.
The mast was removed during the breaking up of HMAS Sydney I at Cockatoo Island following its decommissioning in 1928. In 1934 the Mayor of Mosman purchased the mast (at Commonwealth expense) and erected it astride the nationally significant 1839 defence fortifications at Bradleys Head as a memorial to those who died in the Emden action. The idea for the installation of the mast came from local resident Norman Ellison, who proposed its dedication coincide with a visit by the Duke of Gloucester in November 1934. The decision to undertake the project was supported by a variety of charitable and historical associations, as well as naval and military associations. These included the local scouts and guides, Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross, Parents and Citizen's Association, the Navy League, Ex Naval Men's association, the Georges Heights military forces and the Returned Soldiers and Sailors League.Mosman Council Report, 1934.