| Originally referred to by the aborigines as " Mattewai " ( meaning small
rock island ). The island was initially used as a prison during the early days of colonial settlement. Initially
named " Rock Island " by the first governor,
Phillip, it soon earned the very expressive name "
Pinchgut ". Towards the middle of the last century it was decided that Sydney was inadequately defended against possible enemies. The main reason for this was the unheralded appearance at dawn on 30th November, 1839, of the American Sloops " Vincennes " ( 780 tons ( tonnes )) and " Peacock " ( 650 tons ( tonnes )) with five lesser war boats under Commodore Charles Wilkes. In 1841 the work of converting the island into a fort commenced. During to its rocky construction progress was slow and progress was halted while appropriate funds could be secured. During the 1850's when England and France were at war with Russia the possibility of Russia invading New South Wales provoked the Colony Governor, Sir William Dension, to have the fort finished. Work resumed in 1855. A contract was let to Mr W. Randle. Manned by Royal Artillerymen from England, the armament of the Fort consisted of two 10 inch ( 255 millimetre ) guns and ten 8 inch ( 205 millimetre ) 32 pounders. In the tower there still remain three of the 32 pounders. The Fort was completed in 1857 and never housed convicts. In 1901 the island passed into the control of the Sydney Harbour Trust and in 1936 to that of the Maritime Services Board of New South Wales. The outbreak of war with Japan in December 1941 led to closure of Fort Dension to the public. It was occupied by the military as an anti aircraft battery and concrete gun emplacement. The island was handed back for civilian use on 1st April 1943, but the embargo on public inspections did not end until May 1945 after extensive renovation work was completed by the Maritime services board. |
| Some 8,000 tons ( tonnes ) of stone were
used in the fort which was obtained from Thrupp's Quarry
on the neighbouring shore at Kuraba Point, Neutral Bay.
The walls of the fort are between 3.4 and 3.7 metres ( 11
and 12 foot ) thick at the base and 2.8 metres ( 9 feet )
at the top. The water supply for the Fort comes from a well 8.7 metres ( 28 feet ) long, 4.3 metres ( 14 feet ) wide and 4.3 metres ( 14 feet ) deep. It has a capacity of 100,000 litres ( 22,000 gallons ). Domestic requirements for the island are supplied by pipe from the City via Garden island. The structure measures about 112 metres ( 360 feet ) and 37 metres ( 120 feet ) wide. The electricity required for the navigation light, 19 metres ( 61 feet ) high, on the tower and the flashing green light at the southern extremity of the island as well as the fog signal comes from Garden Island. |
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