Explore historic guns and cannons with modified tunnel tours and special gun firings throughout the day, presented by the Fort Scratchley Historical Society.
Fort Scratchley is hosting a Special Gun Firing Day on Monday 5 October, with the gates open from 10am to 4pm. It's presented by the Fort Scratchley Historical Society, and they've brought in an Australian Armed Forces re-enactment heritage unit, so there will be military vehicles on display alongside the guns.
The main draw is the firing schedule: three separate gun firings at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. If you're only around for part of the day, you've got three chances to catch one. Beyond the firings, all the exhibition rooms are open, and there are modified tunnel tours running throughout the day, so you can head underground and see the fort from the inside as well as the ramparts.
For a bit of context, the fort sits on Signal Hill with views over Nobbys Beach, the harbour and Nobbys Head. It was built in 1882 by independent contractors and finished in just 18 months, designed to defend the port against a feared Russian attack. In over a century, it's fired on an enemy only once: at a Japanese submarine during World War II. The daily 1pm gun firing actually traces back to the time ball that dropped at Customs House on Bond Street, which let sea captains reset their navigation instruments — a tradition that continues every day the fort is open except Tuesdays.
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Entry is free, and there's a coffee cart on site serving hot food if you're staying for more than one firing. The fort is at 1/3 Nobbys Road, Newcastle East.
