Fort Scratchley Historic Site

Fort Scratchley is a fascinating part of Newcastle’s military history. Built looking out over the ocean in Newcastle East in the late 1880’s, the original purpose of the installation was to prepare Australia for a possible attack by Russia!

The only time guns were fired at the Fort was during World War II. On the night of 7-8 June 1942 the Battery’s 6-inch guns fired two salvoes at a Japanese submarine that bombarded Newcastle with about two dozen shells, becoming the only coastal fortification to fire on an enemy Naval vessel.

Today, the Fort is a historical museum, and its narrow, underground tunnels are fascinating to explore. This is a must-do for visitors of all ages.