Western Australia. Rottnest Island. Kingstown. Searchlight, 1960
Remains of searchlight position at Kingstown / Bickley Point
After war broke out in 1939, Wadjemup was declared a prohibited area in June 1940. All recreational activity ended. A declaration that was intended to last three months, this continued for a further five years until June 1945. The island was occupied by military and naval personnel only during this time, with the two gun batteries manned 24 hours a day.
Accommodation was needed for further personnel on the island, so WRANS House was established for the signallers operating the Signal Station. They worked in shifts of four hours on, and eight hours off, and rotated duties between Rottnest Island and Fremantle. The first signallers arrived on the island in 1943, and stayed until the Signal Station closed in 1945.
And yet, despite the impending threat to Western Australia’s shores, the guns were never fired at an enemy vessel.
As the country’s military focus moved north, the fixed defences at Rottnest Island were reduced. Peace came once again to the island — but the guns, the gun emplacements, the tunnels, and the buildings and infrastructure required for war still remained.
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Nearest geotagged records:
- Proof Firing Anniversary Album - Kingstown Barracks (0.21km away)
- Western Australia. Rottnest Island. Kingstown Barracks. Petrol, Oil and Lubricants store. (0.21km away)
- Virtual Discovery #1 - Building Bickley Battery (0.23km away)
- Western Australia. Rottnest Island. Kingstown. Searchlight engine room (0.24km away)
- Western Australia. Rottnest Island. Kingstown. Interior of earchlight engine room (0.24km away)
- Western Australia. Rottnest Island. Kingstown. Interior of earchlight engine room (0.24km away)
- Inter War, Australia, Western Australia, Rottnest, 1937 (0.25km away)
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Portion of obstacle course. (0.53km away)
- Post 1970, Australia Western Australia Rottnest, 1982 (0.53km away)
- Post 1945, Australia, Western Australia, Rottnest Island, Kingstown Barracks 1968 (0.58km 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
- Western Australia. Rottnest Island. Searchlight or obbservation post location.
- Western Australia. Rottnest Island. Unidentified.
- Western Australia. Rottnest Island. Searchlight or obbservation post location.
- Western Australia. Rottnest Island. Searchlight location.
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Bickley Battery, F2 Gun, circa 1960
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island, Bickley Battery, Recovering barrel, 1980
- Australia, HMAS Brisbane, 6 inch Mk XI Guns
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Bickley Battery. Views of and from interior of Command Post.
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Bickley Battery. Views of and from interior of Command Post.
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Bickley Battery. Views of and from interior of Command Post.
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Bickley Battery. Views of and from interior of Command Post.
- Western Australia, Rottnest Island. Bickley Battery. Views of and from interior of Command Post.