39:
343:
308:
298:
382:
361:
company
Bradman & Coin in 1960, but were ultimately sold on, ironically, to Japan. The gun pits were filled in in 1961 and the defence reserve status was lifted, although 10th Coast Regiment didn't fully relinquish control of the fortress until 1962. The site has since had various civil infrastructure projects built on it by organisations such as the Wellington Municipal Electricity Department, Wellington Water Board and the
357:
Works
Department. The No.2 gun was later tested on 26 March 1947, firing a further three shots. The fortress suffered eight more windows broken (those broken in the testing of the No.1 gun had been replaced with stronger glass and all survived the second test) and also had some of the internal wall and ceiling linings collapse. The test firings were both considered successes, and were the only shots ever fired by the fortress.
761:
289:
battery at
Wrights Hill was revisited in 1937 and although approved by Cabinet, it was again delayed due to cost. Only with the outbreak of war in 1939 was the plan acted on, but the inability to acquire the guns meant that construction could not begin. In March 1942, the gun manufacturers provided an expected delivery date of within 12 months and construction could finally begin.
219:. It was built between 1942 and 1944 and is predominantly underground, with numerous tunnels linking the war shelters, gun emplacements, magazines, plotting rooms and engine room - which are, at some points, over 50 feet underground. The fort was intended to house three 9.2" Mk. XV guns, but only two guns were installed and the fort never saw action. After
356:
at ranges of 10,000; 22,500 and 30,000 yards. The report from the guns resulted in a total of nineteen windows being broken at the fortress. A further three windows were broken and a plaster ceiling cracked in residential properties near the fortress on
Verveirs Street and were repaired by the Public
413:
The fortress was based on
British designs and consists of 620 m of tunnel work connecting the three gun pits and associated magazines, engine rooms, plotting rooms and other infrastructure. The tunnel walls are lined with 250 mm of concrete and only reinforced at end walls. During construction
288:
in the United
Kingdom, 9.2 inch guns were approved in 1934 and the Wrights Hill site selected. The anticipated cost of the proposed three-gun battery, however, proved to be too much and the decision was made to instead construct a smaller 6-inch gun battery at Palmer point. The idea of the 9.2-inch
360:
In 1953 the Army placed
Wrights Hill Fortress on a "long term care and maintenance basis" and the fortress was sealed in a state of preservation. In 1957 the Coastal Artillery branch was reduced to a cadre status and effectively disbanded. The guns were initially sold for scrap to the Sydney based
399:
1989. The
Wrights Hill Fortress Restoration Society was subsequently formed in 1992 and continue to maintain and restore the fortress. The no.1 gun pit is now completely excavated and had the bearing markings repainted, while the underground tunnel network has had the drainage system repaired and
333:
became more favorable and the threat of
Japanese Invasion reduced, construction of the battery slowed. Due to a change in priorities and in an effort to reduce costs, the government decided in January 1944 to reduce the battery from three to two guns. The site was complete by June and the two
223:
was over, fort commanders fired both of the guns (Gun number one in 1946 and the second in 1947). The fall of the shot was observed in Cook Strait and these test firings (three rounds on each occasion) were deemed a success. In 1960, somewhat ironically, both of the guns were sold to the
404:
as "one of New
Zealand's most significant or best representative examples of coastal defence" and listed as a Category I Historic Place. The status of the site was changed in 2019 from a recreational reserve to a historic reserve.
817:
414:
approximately 9,333 m of spoil was excavated and 2,900 m of concrete poured. The 9.2-inch Mk XV guns each weighed 135 tons and could fire a 172 kg shell to a maximum range of 30 km. Two 185 horsepower
352:
After the war it became clear that the fortress would serve little purpose and only served as a training facility. The No. 1 gun was tested on 28 June 1946, firing three rounds into
317:
Surveying of the site was conducted in April 1942 and by September a camp for 160 workers had been constructed. Tunneling began in December, with construction initially conducted by
832:
425:(later retitled 104 Battery). The theoretical strength necessary to fully operate the fortress was 195 personnel (132 men from the Territorial Force and 63 women from the
273:
429:), however the battery never exceeded a strength of more than 20 personnel. Had the third gun been installed, a total of 248 personnel would have been necessary.
842:
812:
773:
438:
422:
71:
373:) has also used the site to set up telecommunication aerials since 1955, and continued to store equipment in some of the war shelters until 1997.
426:
228:
as scrap metal, the very nation Wrights Hill Fortress was constructed to defend Wellington against. The design of the fort is similar to the
280:
gun battery at Point Dorset, but were outdated by the 1930s. In 1933 the New Zealand Government instigated a modernisation program of the
334:
remaining guns were installed by the end of 1944. The final cost of construction was £249,120, double the original estimate of £122,430.
837:
362:
765:
259:. Tours may be booked, at other dates and times, by prior arrangement. The Fortress is listed as a Category I Historic Place.
743:
468:
704:
276:
of the 1880s, numerous coastal forts had been constructed around Wellington. These defenses were superseded in 1910 by a
322:
133:
243:
Wrights Hill Fortress is currently in the hands of a preservation society and can be visited, by the public, on
504:
827:
38:
252:
326:
277:
822:
392:
233:
415:
366:
342:
307:
284:, which included the construction of new coastal defenses at Wellington. Under advice from the
595:
443:
401:
171:
8:
451:
297:
640:
395:
began restorations in 1988 and opened the fortress to the public for the first time on
739:
587:
370:
281:
159:
61:
381:
559:
534:
806:
788:
775:
473:
456:
318:
244:
229:
220:
129:
353:
330:
216:
818:
Heritage New Zealand Category 1 historic places in the Wellington Region
285:
256:
212:
28:
91:
396:
248:
325:
had to step in, providing men recently returned from the disbanded
237:
442:
sound designers used the tunnels to record echo effects for the
418:
diesel generators provided the power necessary to lay the guns.
760:
208:
225:
736:
Wrights Hill: New Zealand's 9.2-inch Coast Defence Batteries
400:
lighting installed. In 2004 the fortress was identified by
455:
was filmed in the tunnels and gun pits, standing in for a
207:
is a counter bombardment coastal artillery battery in the
670:
621:
609:
833:
Military history of New Zealand during World War II
738:. Wellington: Defence of New Zealand Study Group.
658:
302:Aerial photograph of the fortress, September 1945
804:
423:10th Coast Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery
321:By late 1943 a manpower shortage meant that the
529:
527:
525:
421:The fortress was manned by 165 Battery of the
843:Tourist attractions in the Wellington Region
522:
813:Buildings and structures in Wellington City
367:New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department
92:Wrights Hill Fortress Restoration Society
592:New Zealand Heritage List/RÄrangi KÅrero
380:
341:
306:
296:
582:
580:
805:
172:Heritage New Zealand â Category 1
733:
705:"Movie: The Devil's Rock raises hell"
702:
676:
664:
627:
615:
499:
497:
495:
493:
491:
489:
469:Coastal fortifications of New Zealand
432:
577:
386:Inside the restored fortress tunnels
329:. As the strategic situation in the
13:
486:
408:
347:Interior of one of the gun turrets
14:
854:
838:World War II sites in New Zealand
754:
759:
703:Cardy, Tom (22 September 2011).
37:
696:
690:The Soundscapes of Middle-Earth
682:
292:
633:
552:
505:"Wrights Hill Gun Emplacement"
376:
1:
726:
692:(DVD). New Line Cinema. 2006.
509:wellingtoncityheritage.org.nz
267:
449:The New Zealand horror film
427:Women's Auxiliary Army Corps
236:9.2" Mk. XV batteries, near
7:
462:
337:
282:New Zealand Military Forces
151:Mainly intact, guns removed
62:New Zealand Military Forces
10:
859:
645:wrightshillfortress.org.nz
564:wrightshillfortress.org.nz
539:wrightshillfortress.org.nz
439:The Fellowship of the Ring
323:Department of Public Works
262:
134:Department of Public Works
198:
194:
186:
178:
169:
165:
155:
147:
139:
125:
102:
97:
87:
77:
67:
57:
52:
48:
36:
25:
20:
479:
363:Civil Aviation Authority
43:The No.1 Gun Emplacement
588:"Wrights Hill Fortress"
388:
349:
314:
304:
768:at Wikimedia Commons
766:Wrights Hill Fortress
734:Cooke, Peter (2020).
384:
345:
312:The No. 1 Gun in 1957
310:
300:
205:Wrights Hill Fortress
21:Wrights Hill Fortress
828:Forts in New Zealand
596:Heritage New Zealand
416:Ruston & Hornsby
402:Heritage New Zealand
319:Downer & Co Ltd.
130:Downer & Co Ltd.
789:41.2961°S 174.739°E
785: /
272:In response to the
72:10th Coast Regiment
31:in New Zealand
433:In Popular Culture
389:
350:
315:
305:
187:Reference no.
794:-41.2961; 174.739
764:Media related to
745:978-0-473-50506-6
709:The Dominion Post
679:, pp. 77â80.
630:, pp. 96â97.
618:, pp. 81â86.
202:
201:
850:
823:New Zealand Army
800:
799:
797:
796:
795:
790:
786:
783:
782:
781:
778:
763:
749:
720:
719:
717:
715:
700:
694:
693:
686:
680:
674:
668:
662:
656:
655:
653:
651:
637:
631:
625:
619:
613:
607:
606:
604:
602:
584:
575:
574:
572:
570:
556:
550:
549:
547:
545:
531:
520:
519:
517:
515:
501:
452:The Devil's Rock
160:Second World War
121:
119:
113:
111:
53:Site information
41:
32:
18:
17:
858:
857:
853:
852:
851:
849:
848:
847:
803:
802:
793:
791:
787:
784:
779:
776:
774:
772:
771:
757:
752:
746:
729:
724:
723:
713:
711:
701:
697:
688:
687:
683:
675:
671:
663:
659:
649:
647:
639:
638:
634:
626:
622:
614:
610:
600:
598:
586:
585:
578:
568:
566:
558:
557:
553:
543:
541:
533:
532:
523:
513:
511:
503:
502:
487:
482:
465:
459:German bunker.
435:
411:
409:Characteristics
387:
379:
348:
340:
313:
303:
295:
270:
265:
253:King's birthday
174:
132:
117:
115:
109:
107:
80:the public
79:
44:
26:
12:
11:
5:
856:
846:
845:
840:
835:
830:
825:
820:
815:
756:
755:External links
753:
751:
750:
744:
730:
728:
725:
722:
721:
695:
681:
669:
657:
632:
620:
608:
576:
551:
521:
484:
483:
481:
478:
477:
476:
471:
464:
461:
444:Mines of Moria
434:
431:
410:
407:
385:
378:
375:
346:
339:
336:
311:
301:
294:
291:
269:
266:
264:
261:
200:
199:
196:
195:
192:
191:
188:
184:
183:
180:
176:
175:
170:
167:
166:
163:
162:
157:
153:
152:
149:
145:
144:
141:
137:
136:
127:
123:
122:
104:
100:
99:
95:
94:
89:
85:
84:
81:
75:
74:
69:
65:
64:
59:
55:
54:
50:
49:
46:
45:
42:
34:
33:
23:
22:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
855:
844:
841:
839:
836:
834:
831:
829:
826:
824:
821:
819:
816:
814:
811:
810:
808:
801:
798:
769:
767:
762:
747:
741:
737:
732:
731:
710:
706:
699:
691:
685:
678:
673:
667:, p. 97.
666:
661:
646:
642:
641:"Restoration"
636:
629:
624:
617:
612:
597:
593:
589:
583:
581:
565:
561:
555:
540:
536:
530:
528:
526:
510:
506:
500:
498:
496:
494:
492:
490:
485:
475:
472:
470:
467:
466:
460:
458:
454:
453:
447:
445:
441:
440:
430:
428:
424:
419:
417:
406:
403:
398:
394:
383:
374:
372:
371:Telecom/Spark
368:
364:
358:
355:
344:
335:
332:
328:
324:
320:
309:
299:
290:
287:
283:
279:
278:6-inch Mk VII
275:
274:Russian scare
260:
258:
254:
250:
246:
241:
239:
235:
231:
227:
222:
218:
214:
210:
206:
197:
193:
189:
185:
181:
177:
173:
168:
164:
161:
158:
154:
150:
146:
142:
138:
135:
131:
128:
126:Built by
124:
105:
101:
96:
93:
90:
86:
82:
76:
73:
70:
66:
63:
60:
56:
51:
47:
40:
35:
30:
24:
19:
16:
770:
758:
735:
712:. Retrieved
708:
698:
689:
684:
672:
660:
648:. Retrieved
644:
635:
623:
611:
599:. Retrieved
591:
567:. Retrieved
563:
554:
542:. Retrieved
538:
512:. Retrieved
508:
474:Stony Batter
457:World War II
450:
448:
437:
436:
420:
412:
390:
359:
351:
327:3rd Division
316:
293:Construction
271:
245:Waitangi Day
242:
234:WhangaparÄoa
230:Stony Batter
221:World War II
204:
203:
182:25 June 2004
98:Site history
78:Open to
15:
792: /
780:174°44â²20â³E
714:16 February
650:14 February
569:14 February
560:"Open Days"
544:14 February
514:14 February
391:The Karori
377:Restoration
354:Cook Strait
217:New Zealand
140:In use
807:Categories
777:41°17â²46â³S
727:References
677:Cooke 2020
665:Cooke 2020
628:Cooke 2020
616:Cooke 2020
446:sequence.
393:Lions Club
286:War Office
268:Background
257:Labour Day
213:Wellington
211:suburb of
179:Designated
29:Wellington
535:"History"
397:ANZAC Day
249:ANZAC Day
143:1944-1957
463:See also
338:Post War
238:Auckland
226:Japanese
68:Operator
369:(later
331:Pacific
263:History
116: (
108: (
88:Website
742:
601:8 July
365:. The
255:, and
251:, the
209:Karori
156:Events
480:Notes
114:-1944
103:Built
58:Owner
27:Near
740:ISBN
716:2022
652:2022
603:2008
571:2022
546:2022
516:2022
232:and
190:7543
148:Fate
118:1944
110:1942
106:1942
83:Yes
809::
707:.
643:.
594:.
590:.
579:^
562:.
537:.
524:^
507:.
488:^
247:,
240:.
215:,
748:.
718:.
654:.
605:.
573:.
548:.
518:.
120:)
112:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.