GALLERY

Peter Ogden

West Head Battery, Sydney.

The West Head Army Track in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, NSW traverses a more or less vertical path (steel ladders as well as gnarly sandstone steps and scrub) and leads down to several historic army gun emplacements from the Second World War.

The gun battery, built to protect Pittwater and the Hawkesbury Railway Bridge, housed two 4.7-inch naval guns, an observation post, an ammunition magazine (mined into the cliff), searchlights and a complement of troops.

To move all that heavy equipment and building materials the Australian Army constructed the only inclined railway track used for defensive purposes during the conflict.

If you walk the track, you’ll understand why they needed that railway…

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West Head Gun Battery, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Sydney NSW. Two story observation complex. Lion Island in background.

West Head Gun Battery, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Sydney NSW. View from observation complex. Lion Island in background.

West Head Gun Battery, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Sydney NSW. Rear door to the observation post, 30m behind the Number 2 Gun.

West Head Gun Battery, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Sydney NSW. Rear door of a naval gun emplacement, Number 2 Gun. The Central Coast can be seen beyond.

West Head Gun Battery, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Sydney NSW. View from Number 2 Gun, Lion Island in distance.

West Head Gun Battery, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Sydney NSW. Rear stairwell of Number 2 Gun, leading to a storage area.

West Head Gun Battery, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Sydney NSW. Opposite view of observation complex, looking back at West Head.

West Head Gun Battery, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Sydney NSW. View from Number 2 Gun, Barrenjoey headland in distance.

West Head Gun Battery, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Sydney NSW. Storage areas within Number 2 Gun emplacement.

West Head Gun Battery, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Sydney NSW. Number 2 Gun exterior view.

Explore further:

History and Heritage Hunter to Hawkesbury research project
West Head Battery remembered
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park – West Head army track