Townsville is a reasonably large port city on the northern-central coast of Queensland. Just off the coast are a number of small islands, such as Magnetic Island, which help create a protected roadstead where ships can anchor in calm, protected waters. Further east is the Great Barrier Reef, which although an obstacle to shipping generally, has sufficient passes to make Townsville a useful port. During the Second World War, Townsville was a major transport hub for materiele for the Pacific war. Troops, supplies and arms were all gathered here in its protected waters.
With the Japanese fleet rampaging among the islands of Australia's northern neighbours and bombing the ports on the Australian mainland (Darwin, Broome and many other places), the Australian government felt compelled to fortify strategic points on the Australian coast. Townsville was one of those points. Gun emplacements and radar stations were not only mounted on the mainland but on those strategic islands which commanded the approaches to the roadstead and harbour, such as Magnetic Island.
Magnetic Island is only a few dozen kilometres from Townsville and easily accessible by a fast ferry. The trip takes only around half an hour. While there are some pleasant beachs (which you cannot swim at due to proponderance of deadly wildlife - sharks, salt-water crocodiles, stonefish, sea snakes, stingrays and dozens of extremely toxic jellyfish!), the island is extremely mountainous and rocky. Nevertheless, army engineers began construction of concrete gun emplacements, command posts, radar stations and bunkers on the rocky island.
Construction was a nightmare due to the rugged terrain. Everything had to be shipped to the island by ferry and then manhandled and hauled up dirt tracks to the lookouts and emplacement overlooking the bay. Today, there is a walking track that takes you up to through the forts and lookouts. The ground is treacherous and a certain degree of fitness is required to attempt it. This photo is a view up towards the granite peak of the mountain. Atop the granite boulder in the centre, the concrete command tower is visible.
The concrete foundations of the old kitchens. These are located about half way up the mountainous walk to the lookout at the top of the mountain.
One of the concrete ammunition stores on the track to the gun position. The gun position is about 100 metres further up the mountain by a circuitous path, so it's unclear how ammunition from this auxillary store would be transported, except by runner.
Looking up from the gun position towards the command post. The command post is well protected by natural granite boulders and virtually invisible. Indeed, both granite and concrete look identical in this environment, which would have made it extremely difficult for an engaging fleet to hit these positions in wartime.
Two guns were mounted on the island with wide arcs of fire across the bay and out to sea. The guns were French manufactured land-based artillery pieces that had been salvaged from Vichy French positions in the Indian Ocean. Largely obsolete, they were emplaced here in 1943 in the expectation that they would not likely see any action. Hauling them to the top of the mountain - even though they had wheels - would have been an extremely difficult task.
The command post at the top of the mountain.
From the summit, there is an expansive view.
The gun positions are not visible from the top, being well hidden by trees and boulders.
The stairs are a new addition for tourists.
Magnetic Island is home to a large colony of koala bears. They don't see what all the fuss is about.
The Forts Walk can take you two to three hours along a fairly rugged track, depending on how far you want to go. You can walk up to the summit and back in about two hours or continue on towards the beaches on the northern side of the island. It's a pleasant if challenging walk. If you are luckly you'll see koalas sleeping in the trees. We saw five snoozing away.
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