Fort Taiaroa (Including six-inch Armstrong Hydropneumatic Gun and Underground Chambers) - Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand
Posted by: 
heringermr
S 45° 46.468 E 170° 43.686
59G E 478860 N 4930975
Located within the Royal Albatoss Centre on the Taiaroa Head at the end of the Otago Peninsula, historic Fort Taiaroa is a warren of tunnels and gun emplacements originally built in 1885 when an attack from Tsarist Russia was feared.
Waymark Code: WMDK50
Location: South Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 01/23/2012
Views: 7
The Russian war scares of the 1880s caused the New Zealand Government to erect batteries overlooking the harbours of the four main centres. The strategic position at Taiaroa Head gave excellent control over ships approaching Otago Harbour. Local stone was used by prison labour with outstanding skill to form the underground galleries and storage for the gun emplacement. The six-inch Armstrong hydro-pneumatic disappearing gun is still in sound condition except for incomplete breech mechanism. Fort Taiaroa is an excellent example for a military fortification of a bygone era and in its dramatic siting is most worthy of preservation.
Date location was entrusted to the New Zealand Historic places: 11/25/1982
Type of history commemorated (short description):
Military - Fortification
Military - Gun Emplacement
Website pertaining to the location: [Web Link]
Town, city, or region nearest to the site:
Dunedin, Otago Region
Year placed: 1880
Admission fees if any: 20.00 (listed in local currency)
Hours of operation:
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Is it accessible to the general public:
yes
|
Visit Instructions:
Post a photo of yourself with your GPS next to the designated mark. Old vacation photos are also welcome as long as it is your photo. You may post a picture of the waymark with just your GPS in the picture if you are traveling alone. If you are not able to provide a photo, then please describe your visit or give a story about the visit.