North Head, Devonport, New Zealand

On Monday we took a bit of time and drove over to North Head in Devonport.  We had been told that this was the best place to see a 360 degree view of Auckland and the surrouinding areas.  I will show those pictures later but first, to the fort.  This is on observation booth.  Inside there are windows on three sides.  Above the windows is a hand-painted map of the harbor.  All of the island have been painted in and below them are the degree marks so if invaded the lookout could tell them the exact location.  

1880 the British Royal Engineers reported to house a battery consisting of three 7 inch and three 64-pr guns. The defensive plan continued and North Head was made into a fort with trained soldiers stationed ready for battle. In 1889 Fort Cautley was developing with new guns, an 8 inch disappearing gun, with a 7 inch RML and a 6-pr Nordenfelt on both northern and southern flanks of North Head. (meaning if the enemy got around the north side then the south side would also be able to attack).

During the 1890's Fort Cautley was complete with tunnels, underground storerooms, Barracks, guardrooms, kitchens etc.

Search light emplacements built and now the role of Fort Cautley was to stop any enemy sailing entry to the harbour of Auckland. Interestingly most of the work was done by prisoners with simple pick and shovels digging the tunnels by hand.

In 1896 the minefield was laid extending from North Head across the inner harbour, a generator room can still be found on the south side to provide the power to detonate the mines.

The turn of the century North Head was heavily fortified but the Russian invasion did not eventuate and it was decided to dismantle the guns at that time. Almost all of the guns were sold for scrap metal. Some say that several are still buried into the side of the hill. One gun is known to be at Newmarket in Auckland pointing down the main street.

Then in 1933, the government decided to reconstruct North Head of new batteries. Work began in 1935 with three new search light emplacements and emplacements for 4 inch guns at North Battery.  (Quoting from the government website.)

I will attach a few photos that I took while we were there.  This is where a big gun was. 

This is entrance into the tunnels that connected all the places together.  The soldiers slept in them and had kitchens and everything.  

We were there for about 35 minutes and then it started to rain.  Perfect timing.