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100th Anniversary of the Installation of Mark VII GunsPrint Page 
A plaque commemorates the 100th anniversary of the installation of the Mark VII guns at Fort Scratchley in 1811.
The strategic importance of a hilltop overlooking the harbour was recognised as early as 1804, and by 1828 an earthen battery was constructed and equipped with seven guns. In 1876, with fears of Russian attack, the British Government sent Major General Sir William Jervois and Lieutenant Colonel Peter Scratchley to advise on naval defences.
Under the direction of Jervois and Scratchley, Colonial Architect James Barnet oversaw construction of the Fort. It was designed around a battery of three guns facing eastward in an arc to the ocean, with other guns covering the harbour to north and west. The gun emplacements were cut into the top of the hill to present a low profile to attack
Location
| Address: | Nobbys Road, Fort Scratchley Historic Site, Newcastle East, 2300 |
|---|---|
| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -32.926213 Long: 151.791139 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Conflict |
| Sub-Theme: | Colonial |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Sunday 13th November, 2011 |
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This plaque was unveiled by Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO on Sunday 13 November 2011 commemorating the 100th anniversary of installation of the 6" Mark VII guns at Fort Scratchley.
These guns returned fire during a World War Two attack by a Japanese submarine on 8 June 1942.
Cr John S Tate Lord Mayor of Newcastle
Bill Hopkins President Fort Scratchley Historical Society
