Castor Bay Battery

The Castor Bay land was first identified as having potential for military use in about 1910, but not developed until after the outbreak of the Second World War. Two surplus six-inch naval guns were installed during the construction of the battery between March 1941 and May 1942. The overhead concrete covers for the gun emplacements to conceal and to protect the guns and their crews were built in 1942 to a University of Auckland engineering professor's design.

One of the outstanding features of the battery was the amount of camouflage that was implemented. The gun emplacements were disguised as state houses complete with guttering, chimneys and a garden pergola. The camp buildings were all designed to mimic a state house estate, and the nearby command post was designed as a two story kiosk.

It was manned under compulsory military training from 1948 to 1957. The six inch guns were removed in 1952 and replaced with 3.7inch guns. As with all other Coastal Batteries, it was decommissioned in 1957.

The battery is now part of the John F Kennedy Park and is publicly accessible.