Pre 1914 - Original Plan for Two 6 inch Guns at Arthur's Head, Fremantle Port, 1903 (2 of 2)
Conserved and framed original Plan 2 for the two 6 inch Mk VII coast defence guns to be installed at Arthur's Head, Fremantle Port. This was the first Commonwealth defence project in Western Australia after federation.
In 1903 negotiations commenced between the Commonwealth and State Governments for the establishment of a defence reserve on the headland west of the Round House. The two principal individuals involved were John Forrest, Minister for Home Affairs in the newly formed Commonwealth Government, and Walter James, Premier of Western Australia.
After submitting a proposal to the ‘Colonial Defence Committee’ in London, it was agreed that the Commonwealth Government would install two 6 inch (15.24cms) B.L. (breech loading) Mark VII guns at Arthur’s Head and two 7.5 inch (19.05cms) guns at North Fremantle. The decision was announced in a statement by the Secretary of the Department of Defence on 11 October 1904 and read as follows: “The object of providing fixed defences for Fremantle is to deter hostile cruisers from lying outside the breakwater and destroying the walls, etc., and the ships lying alongside by gunfire”.
Plans for the battery and associated buildings were prepared in Melbourne. A draftsman, A.E. Francis, was sent to Perth in early 1904 to complete drawings and specifications underthe supervision of Major J.T. Hobbs, Staff Officer Engineering Services for the Australian Army in Western Australia.
Details
Details
Approval signature of Hutton as General Officer Commanding. The guns were relocated to the Leighton Battery at Buckland Hill in 1942. Most of the cliff face was later excavated for Port Authority buildings. The two concrete pedestals for the original guns lie in the water at the Long Jetty side of the South Mole.
This plan is one of two in the Pre 1914 Gallery at the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia.
Open in Google Maps
Nearest geotagged records:
- Pre 1914 - Original Plan for Two 6 inch Guns at Arthur's Head, Fremantle Port, 1903 (1 of 2) (0km away)
- Pre 1914, Magazine Lantern, Fremantle, Fort Arthur Head, 1910 (0.01km away)
- Inter War, Australia, Western Australia, 35 Fortress Company, Royal Australian Engineers, DAVEY,1930 (0.02km away)
- William Renton, President of Fremantle Lumpers Union, outside Dalgety Building, Fremantle, 1919. (0.17km away)
- Boer War, Western Australia, Fremantle, Western Australian Mounted Infantry, 1899 (0.21km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, Fremantle, 1914 (0.23km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, HUMMERSTON, 10 Light Horse (0.27km away)
- Australia, Western Australia, Fremantle, HMT Oxfordshire, 10 Light Horse,1919 (0.34km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia Fremantle, 1915 (0.43km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia Fremantle, 1915 (0.43km away)
View all geotagged records »
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Other items from Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
-
Pre 1914, Timpani or Kettle Drum
-
World War 1 - Fundraising Model of State War Memorial, Kings Park, 1929
-
Pre 1914, Edward VII Coronation Display, 1902
-
Pre 1914, Technology Display, Bayonets 1730 - 1903
-
Pre 1914, Technology Display, Long Arms 1730 - 1903
-
Per 1914, Chase Family Display, CHASE VC, 28 Bombay Native Infantry and Bengal Staff Corps and 691 CHASE, 2nd WA Mounted Infantry and 16 Battalion AIF
-
Pre 1914, Military Tailoring and Gold Lacework Display
-
Pre 1914, Mess Dress Jacket, JOSE, Geraldton Rifle Volunteers, 1891
-
Pre 1914, Patrol Jacket, JOSE, Geraldton Rifle Volunteers, 1892
-
Pre 1914, Officer's Professional Library, COLLETT, 11 Australian Infantry Battalion,1908
-
Srtiped Regimental Blazer, WP4650 STINGEMORE, Royal Australian Artillery, 1932
-
Pre 1914, .310 Martini Cadet Rifle, 1910
Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->
