In Warrnambool, the artillery pieces are located at Flagstaff Hill, Cannon Hill (currently off site due to repairs) and the Botanic Gardens.
Cannon Hill: Artillery Cres In the nineteenth centry the hill was a defensive site and now comprises several WWI trophy and WWII disposal guns. It is believed the guns located at Flagstaff Hill and Botanic Gardens were orginally located at Cannon Hill and moved in 1910.
Flagstaff Hill: Merri St the Flagstaff Hill Battery was established in the late 1880s. There are other small guns retrieved from local shipwrecks in the maritime museum on site.
Botanic Gardens: Botanic Rd
The site of the Port Fairy Battery has been used for defence purposes since 1867 when a 32 pdr smooth-bore muzzle-loaded artillery piece was installed. Another was installed in 1872. One was sold to the Borough Council and moved to the Botanic Gardens for use as a monument around 1887. In 1874 further defences were added including a redoubt. Then, following the Jervois and Scratchley reports of 1877, more permanent fortifications were constructed. Just two years later, two 80 pdr rifled muzzle-loaded Armstrong artillery pieces with iron traversing carriages were installed in concrete emplacements.
Battery Hill: Griffiths St The site now contains six pieces of artillery
Battery Hill Reserve: Griffiths St
Sadly another cannon was stolen in 1999.
The Portland Battery was constructed in 1889. The site had been gazetted for defence purposes in the 1840s and initially comprised the Portland Lighthouse which was built in 1859. However the lighthouse and the lighthouse keepers’ cottages were relocated to Whalers Bluff to make way for the Battery. The Battery comprised a magazine, an upper chamber, a parapet wall and three gun emplacements. During World War 2 the Battery was used by Volunteer Air Observer Corps for aircraft movement observations.
Battery Hill: Victoria Pde In 1984 the Battery underwent a major restoration and the site now contains three pieces of artillery.
There is also a 68 pdr smooth bore cannon located outside Glenelg Shire Council Offices, Cliff Street, Portland.
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