Beehive Casemate

"Beehive Bunker" redirects here. For the crisis management command centre under The Beehive in New Zealand, see National Crisis Management Centre.

One of three chambers/gun emplacements within the fortification A larger fortification located above and adjacent to the Beehive Casemate in Obelisk Bay

Beehive Casemate is a historical fortification located on the banks of Obelisk Bay, in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Sydney Harbour National Park.

## Description and history

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Construction of the casement began in 1871 and was completed in 1874. The fort was constructed under the supervision of colonial architect James Barnet. The underground casemate was one of the first to be locally designed and built after the withdrawal of British troops in 1870 and the Cardwell Reforms. The fortification contains three domed chambers that were used as gun emplacements. Each chamber had a small opening or window for the gun to fire through with each window looking out towards the Sydney Heads. The underground chambers were made of brick and mortar and were built into the excavated cavities in the sandstone bedrock. They were intended to fire on enemy ships as they navigated the passages around Sow and Pigs Reef, within the entrance to Sydney Harbour.[1][2]

The Beehive Casemate was carved into the cliff face at Obelisk Bay on Sydney Harbour in 1871

## References

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1. ^ "Eleventh National Conference on Engineering Heritage: Federation Engineering a Nation; Proceedings". Informit: 63–70\. 21 April 2021.
2. ^ "Beehive Casemates, Sydney Harbour National Park". Arup. Archived from the original on 22 November 2007.

* v
* t
* e

Artillery fortifications and military bases in Sydney and surrounds

Artillery fortifications|

* Bare Island
* Ben Buckler Gun Battery
* Bradleys Head Fortification Complex
* Breakwater Battery
* Dawes Point Battery
* Drummond Battery
* Flagstaff Hill Fort
* Fort Banks
* Fort Denison
* Fort Macquarie
* Fort Philip
* Shelly Battery
* Signal Hill Battery
* Smiths Hill Fort
* Anti-motor torpedo boat defensive battery

Fortifications with tunnels|

* Bankstown Bunker
* Beehive Casemate
* Garden Island Tunnel System
* Georges Head Battery
* Henry Head Battery
* Illowra Battery (Hill 60)
* Lower Georges Heights Commanding Position
* Malabar Battery
* Middle Head Fortifications
* Steel Point Battery

Barracks, bases and hospitals|

* Fleet Base East
* Holsworthy Barracks
* Hyde Park Barracks
* Ingleburn Army Camp
* 118th General Hospital
* Sydney Harbour anti-submarine boom net
* Victoria Barracks
* Wallgrove Army Base

See also|

* Coastal defences of Australia during World War II
* Sydney Harbour defences

33°49′39″S 151°16′5″E﻿ / ﻿33.82750°S 151.26806°E﻿ / -33.82750; 151.26806
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