CROWS NEST FORT PILL BOX
BELLARINE HIGHWAY QUEENSCLIFF, QUEENSCLIFFE BOROUGH
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Statement of Significance
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CROWS NEST FORT PILL BOX - History
Little is known historically about this structure. The site is shown in a plan form 1916 (Barrett) where it is labelled as " Position Finder Station - Obsolete", indicating the site was built before WWI, and was therefore probably associated with the 1880s defence upgrades. It is probably associated with the Crows Nest Fort (which was built in 1886) as a range finding station.
(cited from Duncan 2005 - PhD Thesis)
A local resident, (John Patrick) recalled that the path along the beach bank did not go between the two structures as it does now but was further to the north in the 1930s'. the My first memories of this structure are from the mid 1930's, when, on some Sunday afternoons, our family would stroll along "Lovers Walk", the path through the tea tree. We children would run ahead of our parents to look in this fascinating building that seemed to be very old even then. At that time .
CROWS NEST FORT PILL BOX - Interpretation of Site
Range/ positionfinding pillbox/bunker probably used in conjunction with Crows Nest Fort to accurately locate the position of incoming vessels. Probably dates to the same period as the Crows Nest Fort (1886+). Patrick, (pers comms) maintains that the area between the 2 structures has not been exposed since at least the 1930s, giving rise to the probablity of potential archaeological deposits under 1.5m of sand in this area. The inside of the pillbox has been dug out for the first time 70 years in the last 6 months by unknown persons.
Heritage Inventory Description
CROWS NEST FORT PILL BOX - Heritage Inventory Description
A former range finding station consisting of a two roomed enclosed concrete structure, with a nearby extant concrete doorway/frame which appears to have once been connected to the main structure via a (since demolished) roof (possible canvas or corrugatediron). The main structure's entrance is via the northern side, which proceeds into an undergroundanteroom where there are indicators of two recessed tables or beds. A small flight of stairs proceeds back up toground level, where a horizontal "slit" viewing hole was used for rangefinding. This area is capped by an inch thick sheet of iron plate, probably used to deflect artillery shells. The area between the two structure is still covered with sand to a probable depth of 1- 1.5m.
concrete range finding bunker, associated archaeological deposits from former defence use.
Archeological Potential: excellent
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WARRINGAHVictorian Heritage Register H1177
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CROWS NEST CAMP SEARCHLIGHT EMPLACEMENTSVictorian Heritage Inventory
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CROWS NEST CAMP BUNKERVictorian Heritage Inventory
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