Monday 15 June - The campaign to retain the North Fort Museum at North Head has secured a first round victory, said Member for Manly, Mike Baird.

“I have received a letter from the Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, Mike Kelly, confirming that there is ‘no financial provision in the Defence budget allocation to move the Artillery Museum from North Head’.

“This comes as a great relief for all the volunteers who run the Museum who feared it would be moved to Puckapunyal in Victoria where the Artillery School is now located.

“Thank you to everyone who has signed our petition and registered their views through our website.

“We have won round one, but there is a longer term battle to fight.

“Mr Kelly, in his correspondence concedes that the ‘Army History Unit has anticipated a future move for the museum to Puckapunyal’ which is in accordance with the policy of the Chief of Army to co-locate corps museums with their corps schools.

“We must continue our campaign to ensure that the Defence Department understands the strength of opposition to any such move, when ever it might occur.

“I will table in State Parliament our petition which includes hundreds of signatures, supporting the retention of North Fort at North Head.

“North Head is the most appropriate location for the Artillery Museum due to the historical links to the area and the access it provides for tourists and the community to view the displays.

“There are 7 million people who visit Manly each year, with thousands exploring North Head and its military history.”

“I will be pursuing the issue with the Federal Government and the Minister Assisting the Premier for Veterans Affairs, Graham West, for a guarantee on the long term retention of the Museum at North Head,” said Mr Baird.

North Fort has played a crucial role in the military history of Australia.  It was built in 1938 and was key to the defence of Sydney during World War Two.  The school of the Royal Australian Artillery was based at North Head after World War Two until 1997.  In 1990 the Royal Australian Artillery National Museum was opened giving the community access to this historical place.

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