Commemorating the big guns of Queenscliff

QUEENSCLIFF’S part in protecting the coast was remembered at the weekend as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of Australian artillery.

There was a synchronised gun salute fired from seven separate locations across states and territories on Sunday to mark a century-and-a-half of the Australian Artillery’s continuous service to the nation.

Victoria’s salute event was cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions, but smaller activities organised by local historical associations were held at the sites of Victoria’s coastal batteries in Queenscliff, Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Portland.

In Queenscliff, Sergeant Helen Janner and the 10 Medium Regiment Association arranged for Fort Queenscliff to be open for the day.

This included a tour of the fort and museum, and lunch afterwards at the Queenscliff/Point Lonsdale RSL.

Artillery at Fort Queenscliff dates from 1860 when an open battery was constructed on Shortland’s Bluff to defend the entrance to Port Phillip Bay.

It is claimed the first British Empire artillery shots of World War I were fired when a gun at Fort Nepean fired across the bow of the German freighter Pfalz as she was attempting to escape to sea, with the orders to fire coming from Fort Queenscliff.

It is also claimed the same gun, with a different barrel, also fired the first Australian artillery shot of World War II.

There has been considerable restoration work at Fort Queenscliff in recent years, such as the recovery and refurbishment of some of the original guns – including a “disappearing” gun – the restoration of historic buildings, and the development of an indoor display and archival centre.

Fort Queenscliff has been classified by the National Trust and entered in the Register of the National Estate.