Dunedin's Coastal Defences

Dunedin's Coastal Defences began with the 1885 scare. A number of emergency emplacements were quickly built at Taiaroa Head, Lawyers Head and Forbury Head. These were generally made of timber and sandbags. Many of the emplacements at Taiaroa Head and probably those emplacements at Lawyers Head and Forbury Head, were later concreted. Taiaroa Head was added to during this time, and a new set of batteries were built at Ocean Beach and Harrington Point. By 1900 the majority of the work was done. Only Taiaroa Head, Ocean Beach and Harrington Point were used during World War One and then abandoned during the 1920s.

Taiaroa Head was reactivated during World War Two, as was Harrington Point. Nothing new was built till 1941 when a battery of 6-inch guns was constructed at Rerewahine near Taiaroa Head and above Tomahawk beach. Tomahawk Battery was abandoned about 1944 while Rerewahine lasted till 1945.