Military defense on the Mornington Peninsula: The historic Fort Nepean
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Published on 16th January 2015 in Blog, Mornington Peninsula Activities
From sports to shopping, bars to beaches, when you visit the Mornington Peninsula you'll find no shortage of great activities to keep yourself occupied. Those with a with a keen interest in history will enjoy a trip to the farthest tip of the peninsula to explore what remains of Fort Nepean. Together with Fort Queenscliff on the opposite side of the port, it was used to protect the narrow entrance to Port Phillip.
The fort is just over 30-minutes by car from Moonah Links resort and is a great way to discover what Mornington Peninsula was like in days gone by.
A brief history of Fort Nepean
The first fortifications and barracks were built here in 1873, followed shortly after by gun batteries in 1886. In 1901 the fort was taken over by the Commonwealth.
Fort Nepean was very active throughout World War I and was the site of the first British shot fired in that war, done so by the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery. Throughout the war Nepean played a crucial in protecting Port Phillip from enemy attack.
The number of men stationed here dropped to only five or six between the world wars but those numbers quickly grew again with the outbreak of World War II, so additional barracks were built. In a curious repetition of history, the first British shot of World War II was also fired from Fort Nepean.
The end of World War II also brought an end to the life of Fort Nepean. The garrison was removed, guns dismantled and the fort declared redundant.
The area was opened to the public in 1988 and nowadays is part of the Point Nepean National Park. Visitors can explore the gun emplacements, barracks tunnels, ammunition magazines, and engine house that still remain. You can also stretch your legs on the the three-and-a-half-kilometre Fort Nepean walk, which forms part of the Mornington Peninsula Walk.