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Friday 8 May, Mr MIKE BAIRD: I bring to the attention of the House the fight for the retention of North Fort, an important museum that is located in Manly, which has played a significant role in the defence of Australia since colonisation. It remains a very important place, both for those historic connections and for its natural beauty. Also, it is very strategic to have it located at Manly, noting that Manly receives seven million visitors a year—and I can understand why they come. Many travel to North Head to experience the history of North Fort.
In doing so, they come into contact with its rich history and gain an appreciation for the role of our servicemen and servicewomen who have played such an important role in Australia's history. One of the major points of interests is the Australian Army Artillery Museum, which is administered by the Army History Unit with significant support from volunteers, headed by the Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company. I acknowledge Maureen Goldstein Morris, who does a terrific job with them and is an icon in the Manly community. They all do an outstanding job, but it appears that their role and the museum are under threat. There is a belief that the Department of Defence intends to move the museum to Puckapunyal in Victoria. When the museum volunteers received that information they were rightly devastated. I am working with them in a campaign to fight for the retention of North Fort at North Head.
North Fort was completed in 1938. It includes an amazing network of tunnels, which were designed to provide protection to the harbour and Sydney from attack. It contained two 9.2 inch coastal guns that could rotate 360 degrees and had a range of 27 kilometres. The guns were supported by two searchlights and three 40-millimetre Bofors anti-aircraft guns. The searchlights were used in defending Sydney Harbour from attack by three Japanese midget submarines in May 1942. Many in the local community were stationed at the fort during the war. It is an incredible spot. The guide to North Fort describes it as:
much more than a military museum .. a spectacular Harbour Lookout Area historic World War Two fortifications and tunnels listed in the Australian Heritage Register it is administered by volunteer members.
Collocated with North Fort is the Defence of Sydney Monument which recognises the dedicated service of those many para military and civilian organisations that played a very significant role in the defence of Sydney during World War Two. In addition, Australia's Memorial Walk commemorates over 3,000 servicemen and women who served actively at home and abroad from the mid 19th century, including British Colonial Regiments up to the present time.
In 1997 the artillery division of armed services was relocated to Puckapunyal, in Victoria. Not many members would have visited Puckapunyal; it is not a tourist destination. The decision was made at that time to retain the museum at North Head because of its historic links. There is concern now that the Department of Defence is rethinking its decision, and that is what I am highlighting in an endeavour to garner community support to stop the relocation of the museum to Puckapunyal. I understand the desire for it to be collocated with the artillery school, but I have concerns as to why it should leave its profound historical roots at North Head. Certainly, there are significant concerns with the volunteers in relation to the decision.
A campaign has commenced to keep the museum at North Head. Correspondence has been sent to the Federal Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon, about this matter and a meeting is to be held next week with the Minister Assisting the Premier on Veterans' Affairs, the Hon. Graham West, to discuss this important issue. Minister West has verbally advised his support of retaining the museum at North Head. A meeting is to be held with the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust to discuss this matter. The Returned and Services League was asked to be involved, and has already indicated its support for this campaign. A petition is located in my office and I invite people to sign it.
People from within the community continue to tell me that this relocation cannot happen. A museum cannot be taken from its heritage. Australia is a young country with few sites of significant heritage, and I continue to argue very strongly that North Fort museum is one of them. The fort played an active role in World War Two and the memorabilia that is on show there is a reminder to all who visit North Fort that it is important that it be retained in recognition of its history. Its relocation would be a major loss for our community, devastating for the volunteers who provide the service, and it would not be replicated at Puckapunyal, which does not even have a building for it. So, where would the money come from to relocate it? I urge that there be an agreement as to the future of the museum, and call on both the Federal Government and the State Government to support the campaign to keep this important historical museum where it was started.
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