REGIONAL HISTORY

 

A Short History of Fort Ballance 

(Point Gordon, Wellington, New Zealand) 

By

Alistair Scadden

 

The Russians are Coming! 

As a Crown Colony of the British Empire, 19th Century New Zealand was slow to recognise any potential naval threat from hostile foreign powers. Its major ports were virtually un-defended – and, perhaps a sense of over-reliance on the Country’s physical isolation, combined with a belief that “Mother England will protect us” – at all costs, prevailed. 

“Surely, if we are to be attacked, - the Royal Navy will be just over the horizon, - to save us?”  

When combined with the great cost of instituting an effective plan for coastal defence, these beliefs were an effective recipe for Government to ignore the need for immediate and expensive action on the defence of New Zealand. 

In the 1880’s, Russia invaded Afghanistan (for the first, but not the last time). Real fears emerged that this was just a pre-cursor to an invasion of India, - then considered to be “the Jewel in the Crown” of the British Empire. Any invasion of India would have led to a major war between Britain and Russia. In New Zealand, it was realised that the Russians had a powerful fleet, and that war between Britain and Russia would make New Zealand and the Australian Colonies prime targets. Considerable local panic resulted. 

This period of history became known, in New Zealand, as the “Russian Scares”. They were the catalyst for a very frightened population and Government to embark on a comprehensive programme of coastal defence construction, – at all of the major ports. Fort Ballance was a part of this programme, - and was destined to serve as Wellington’s principal fortification, until the installation of more modern 6” Mk. VII breech loading guns at Fort Dorset, in 1910. From then on, Fort Ballance began to assume a more secondary, but still important, role - in the defence of New Zealand’s Capital City. 

Construction Begins 

The first coastal fortifications to be built in Wellington during the Russian Scares were Fort Kelburne (Ngauranga) and Fort Buckley (Kaiwharawhara) - in 1885. These two fortifications were the beginning of a ring of forts, designed to protect the inner-Wellington Harbour. They were later augmented by the Garden’s Fort (next to the Cable Car, in Kelburn) – and by Fort Ballance, at Point Gordon, on the Miramar Peninsula - with its associated batteries: Fort Gordon, Kau Point, - and Point Halswell. 

The building of Fort Ballance, itself, began in 1886. Whilst lacking some of the aesthetic features of the earlier Fort Kelburne, - it none the less followed the basic designs of the day.  An interesting feature, within the space of a year, - was the degree to which concrete continued to surpass brick as the preferred construction material. Fortification technology, at this stage of the 19th Century, was moving at a pace comparable to that of the electronic revolution of today. Continual improvement was on going.

The original design was for a fort with a main armament of two 7” rifled muzzle-loading guns, plus one (more modern) 6” hydro-pneumatic, breech loading “disappearing” gun. The Fort was also armed with two Nordenfelt quick-firing 6-pounder guns (one on each flank) – for close range defence. A curtain wall, with musketry loopholes, was also built for infantry defence - at the rear. In support of this, an infantry redoubt was constructed on the top of Mount Crawford – to provide an all encompassing “kill zone” for enemy troops, attempting to attack the Fort from behind.

An additional 12-pounder battery (for close defence against small boats or landing-craft) was added further down the headland, and a further 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading battery was emplaced (in earthen revetments), known as “Low Battery”, - at beach level. 

Further to all of this, an underground Submarine Mine Control Centre was also built at Fort Ballance, - to control a fixed, electronically controlled minefield that could be laid between Point Gordon and Ward Island, in the event of hostilities breaking out.  A mine-store was constructed at Mahanga Bay.

For the delivery of supplies and ammunition to the Fort, a wharf was constructed in Mahanga Bay, and a cable-operated tramway was built up the side of Point Gordon.  

Around 1895, some significant changes were made to the Fort. The right-hand 7” rifled muzzle-loading gun was dismounted and its emplacement was modified to house a second 6” hydro-pneumatic breech-loading “disappearing” gun.  Also, a further 8” hydro-pneumatic, breech-loading, "disappearing" gun was emplaced on Point Gordon (above Scorching Bay). This gun became known as “Fort Gordon”, - but for all practical purposes, it was part of Fort Ballance, - the two being only a few yards apart. A (New Zealand) unique “swing” searchlight emplacement – was also constructed.

  World War One

By the outbreak of World War One, - Fort Ballance had already seen its powers somewhat diminished. The establishment of an “outer-fort” at Point Dorset, with modern 6” Mk. VII breech-loading guns, had by now surpassed the “inner-ring” of forts. The emphasis, now, - was on keeping an enemy out of the Harbour (beyond the Heads) – in the first place. 

The role of Fort Ballance was therefore reduced to one of secondary, inner harbour defence. Its primary defensive status had been usurped. Several concrete coastal artillery searchlight emplacements were none the less added to the Fort, during this period.

In-between the Wars 

By the end of World War One, - the main armaments of Fort Ballance were well and truly obsolete. In the mid 1920’s, they were removed (and buried on-site). The gun pits were roofed over, and the site was converted into a magazine. This was a “low point” in the history of the Fort, - but it was not to last. The onset of World War Two would see a re-incarnation!

World War Two 

World War Two saw Fort Ballance resume active service, in an inner harbour defence role, - as an adjunct to the modern counter bombardment batteries on the outer coast. The worn-out 12-pounder guns were replaced, - by 4” Mk. VII guns, transferred from Fort Dorset. Numerous new gun, searchlight, engine room, observation - and war-shelter structures, were constructed. A major addition to the Fort was the installation of a “6-pounder twin” gun – and its associated control tower and facilities. (This particular gun was installed to deal with the threat of enemy MTB’s – or other fast small craft, that may have managed to penetrate the harbour). Fort Ballance was also ideally situated to act as "gate-keeper" for the anti-submarine netting defences laid between Kau Point and Ward Island, at this time. Its searchlights and guns could be brought to bear on any hostile craft that became ensnared in the netting.

After the War 

Unlike many other military sites, Fort Ballance continued to serve the New Zealand Defence Force, long after the end of World War Two. Its operational life, as a fortification, - ended in 1957, when the Government declared all coastal fortifications in the Country to be obsolete. 

The remaining 4” guns were cut up for scrap in 1960, but the Fort survived as an accommodation centre for New Zealand Defence Force personnel – up until the late 1980’s. At that stage, the Defence Force vacated the site – although they still retain ownership and control access to it. Since then, - the Fort has deteriorated markedly, with vandalism, graffiti and encroaching vegetation exacting an inevitable toll. Corrosion of metal reinforcing material - and resultant spalling of concrete - is also now threatening the physical integrity of some of the surviving structures.

An ill-considered and unfortunate demolition programme in 1969 - 1970 saw virtually all traces of the World War One and World War Two structures at Fort Ballance erased. Fortunately, however - most of the original structure survived this onslaught, being located in an area still occupied by the New Zealand Defence Force. (The Fort Gordon 8" gun pit, a small guard house at the bottom of the access road, the 12 pounder battery buildings - and the Mahanga Bay mine-store were the only significant pre-World War One victims of this programme). Many other historic coastal defence and anti-aircraft sites around Wellington were also either badly damaged, or totally obliterated, at this most unfortunate time.

The Future 

Fort Ballance is an historic place of great importance to the people of Wellington - and New Zealand. Already recognised and protected by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust – as a “Category 1” site, - it beggars belief that it is being allowed to deteriorate in the manner that it currently is. This is a priceless and irreplaceable part of New Zealand’s history – that requires immediate attention and funding from the appropriate agencies. Unless suitable funding and commitment to preservation is soon forthcoming, the outlook for Fort Ballance is bleak.

On the other hand, with a bit of foresight and determination, - Wellington could have an historic asset to rival North Head in Auckland, or Fort Taiaroa in Dunedin.

The indecision, endless debate and "flip-flopping" over the future of Fort Ballance has gone on for far too long.  It is time for the whole issue to be pulled out of the "too hard baskets" - and settled, once and for all. Before it's too late!  

 

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View the Author's Photos of Fort Ballance at: http://flickr.com/photos/siteopacific/ 

With Special Thanks to: 

For their permission to access these restricted sites.
 

Bibliography – and Acknowledgements

Further Reading:

On the Internet:

Other Sources:

 

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