Fort Banks

Fort Banks ("Eastern Command Fixed Defences") is an old World War II bunker and fortification complex that was used to protect the approaches to Botany Bay. The fortification is located north of Cape Banks in La Perouse, New South Wales Australia.

History

Prior to WWII a portion of the land located on Cape Banks that belongs to the New South Wales Golf Club was utilized by the Australian Defence Forces for the construction of the Cape Banks Battery. This was part of the Sydney Coastal Defences built prior to & during WW2. The counter bombardment fortifications consisted of two breach loading 9.2 inch gun emplacements, underground plotting room, underground powder & shell magazine, hydraulic pump room, & some short tunnels linking the different sections. During this period the Henry Head Battery which was built much earlier was also re-utilized and consisted of two breach loading 6 inch guns. [ [http://cas.awm.gov.au/photograph/068898 AWM Collection Record: 068898 - CAPE BANKS, NSW. 1944-08-29. CLOSE-UP OF THE GUN TURRET OF A 5.25" ENGLISH COAST GUN WHICH HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO A COAST DEFENCE GUN FOR USE AT BANKS ] ] [ [http://www.nswgolfclub.com.au/guests/history.mhtml History ] ] [ [http://cas.awm.gov.au/PROD/gl.accept_login?screen_name=cas_search_pkg.pr_search_by_link&screen_parms=acid~ps_query_type=accnum~ps_query=130001~ps_query_text=130001&screen_type=BOTTOM Images of Fort Banks during the World War II era] ]

References