CHALLENGE

Each year thousands of tourists and locals flock to Watson’s Bay to discover and explore the living history of Sydney’s coastal defence network. From the early days of colonial Sydney, its Governors saw the need to defend Sydney from an invasion by sea. By the city’s centennial year, Sydney’s defence network had been enlarged to include coastal defences with development reaching its zenith during World War II. The fortifications built during World War II were put up quickly and have deteriorated quickly. It is estimated that of about one hundred defence sites, less than half a dozen remain. PCB was engaged to deliver the repair and remediation of the Gun Battery and Rifle Wall assets at HMAS Watson. The heritage assets; originally built by the British to defend the colony and its harbour, had fallen in to disrepair over many years placing the assets at risk.

SOLUTION

The works entailed sensitive sandstone repairs, steel repair and replacement, vegetation controls and waterproofing so as to retain and protect the heritage assets for the benefit and learning of future generations.