Fort Denison

Fort Denison
Mattewanye (Dharuk)
Fort Denison pre-1885.
(Image: National Archives of Australia)
Map
Former namesPinchgut
EtymologySir William Thomas Denison
General information
StatusBuilt as a fortress. Decommissioned circa 1930s. Now used as a national park; reserve; tourist facility; function space
TypeMilitary fortress; gunnery
Architectural styleColonial fortification, castellated style
LocationSydney Harbour
AddressNorth of Woolloomooloo
Construction started1841
Completed14 November 1857 (1857-11-14)
Closedcirca 1930s
Height
ObservatoryMartello tower
Technical details
MaterialSydney sandstone
Fort Denison with its Martello tower
Map showing the location of Fort Denison
Map showing the location of Fort Denison
Location in Sydney
LocationPort Jackson, Sydney Harbour National Park
Nearest citySydney
Coordinates33°51′18″S 151°13′32″E / 33.8549°S 151.2255°E / -33.8549; 151.2255
OperatorNSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
fortdenison.com.au/national-parks.html
Official nameFort Denison; Pinchgut; Mattewanye (Eora name)
TypeState heritage (built)
Designated2 April 1999
Reference no.985
TypeFortification
CategoryDefence
BuildersWilliam Randle
Official nameFort Denison, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Designated21 March 1978
Reference no.1856
References
[1]

Fort Denison, part of the Sydney Harbour National Park, is a protected national park that is a heritage-listed former penal site and defensive facility occupying a small island located north-east of the Royal Botanic Garden and approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) east of the Opera House in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. The island is also known as Mattewanye or Muddawahnyuh in the Eora language, and as Pinchgut Island.

The site contains time gun, navigational aids and tide gauge facilities. Correctional and military facilities were designed by George Barney and built from 1840 to 1862 by William Randle. The property is owned by the Office of Environment & Heritage, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[2] In 1978 the former fortress was listed on the (now defunct) Register of the National Estate,[1] and is currently used as a national park, nature reserve, tourist facility, and as a function space.

  1. ^ a b "Fort Denison (Place ID 1856)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government. 21 March 1978. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Fort Denison". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00985. Retrieved 2 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.