Henry Head Battery

6" gun emplacement from the rear exterior of the fortification

The Henry Head Battery is an artillery battery located on the northern side of the entrance to Botany Bay at Henry Head, La Perouse, New South Wales, Australia.^[1]

History

Inside the fort

Inside Henry Head Battery

Constructed between 1892 - 1895 with 2 BL 6-inch Mk V disappearing guns,^[2] the fort operated until 1910, upon which the fort became obsolete.

The battery along with 2 six in gun emplacements and observation posts was re-utilised during World War II to defend the approaches to Botany Bay.^[3] During WWII, it was armed with two 18-pounder Mk IV field guns and two QF 3 pounder Hotchkiss guns.^[2] The underground bunker and tunnel complex consisted of vaulted ammunition storage rooms with double walls and ceilings. The doubling up of walls and ceilings was a preventative measure meant to stop the walls from collapsing in the event of a direct hit. The battery is currently not in use.

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  1 of 2 search emplacements

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  6" BL disappearing gun emplacement

References

• Henry Head Battery is at coordinates 33°59′54″S 151°14′17″E / 33.998272°S 151.237981°ECoordinates: 33°59′54″S 151°14′17″E / 33.998272°S 151.237981°E

1. La Perouse Battery, Sydney, NSW
2. "The Garrison Guns of Australia 1788 - 1962" pages 98, 155, 165, 174, by David Spethman. Published Ron H Mortensen, Inala, QLD 2008. ISBN 978-0-9775990-8-0
3. History