Fort Dorset
Historic Photos
Click the images to enlarge.
Below is a short film made during the war showing the guns at the main six-inch battery, the four-inch batteries and the steeple battery at Fort Dorset.
Description: No 3 Company and ambulance camp at Fort Dorset, showing tents, horse-drawn wagons and soldiers, circa 1912
Reference: Smith, Sydney Charles, 1888-1972. Smith, Sydney Charles 1888-1972 : No 3 Company and ambulance camp, Seatoun, Wellington. Ref: 1/2-053156-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23165261
Copyright status: No known copyright
Description: View of Fort Dorset, possibly 1910s
Reference: View of part of Seatoun, Wellington, taken from above. Smith, Sydney Charles, 1888-1972: Photographs of New Zealand. Ref: 1/2-045436-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22829286
Copyright status: No known copyright
Description: Fort Dorset, 1914. The emplacements are on the ridge in the background
Reference: Smith, Sydney Charles, 1888-1972. Horses at Seatoun Military Camp, Wellington. Smith, Sydney Charles, 1888-1972: Photographs of New Zealand. Ref: 1/2-047512-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23165377
Copyright: No known copyright
Description: Breaker Bay, 30 July 1919. Note the gun emplacements are just visible and the observation post at the top of the ridge
Reference: 1855 raised beach at Eve Bay. Breaker Bay, Point Dorset and harbour entrance beyond, 30 July 1919, by Leslie Adkin. Te Papa (A.006645)
Copyright: No known copyright
Description: View of Seatoun in the 1920s, note the small number of buildings at Fort Dorset
Reference: Seatoun, Wellington. Original photographic prints and postcards from file print collection, Box 15. Ref: PAColl-7081-13. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23023033
Copyright status: No known copyright
Description: The main six inch gun emplacements at Fort Dorset, 16 April 1937. During World War Two these were given massive concrete covers, similar in design to those that survive at Fort Opau
Reference: Working the guns at Fort Dorset, Seatoun. Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: 1/4-048821-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23203467
Copyright status: No known copyright
Description: Signallers at Fort Dorset. The main gun battery was on the ridge in the background, circa 1939
Reference: Signallers at Fort Dorset, Wellington. Original photographic prints and postcards from file print collection, Box 11. Ref: PAColl-6304-21. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22856368
Copyright status: No known copyright
Description: View of Breaker Bay showing Fort Dorset, February 1948
Reference: Walker, W (Mr), active 1940s-1950s. Breaker Bay, Seatoun, Wellington - Photograph taken by W Walker. Tourist and Publicity. Ref: 1/2-019131-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22818528
Copyright: Crown copyright administered by Archives New Zealand
Description: Fort Dorset in 1957. To the right you can see the Steeple Battery
Reference: Regiment parading at Fort Dorset, Wellington. Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1957/4157-1-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22404732
Copyright status: Unknown - see National Library website
Description: Fort Dorset in 1957. To the left you can see the Steeple Battery
Reference: Regiment parading at Fort Dorset, Wellington. Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1957/4157-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22350042
Copyright status: Unknown - see National Library website
Description: Fort Dorset, 12 August 1958
Reference: Ministers view Fort Dorset, Wellington, for housing sites. Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1958/2670-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23256924
Copyright status: Unknown - see National Library website
Description: View of Seatoun showing Fort Dorset, 1958
Reference: Part two of a four part panorama of Seatoun, Wellington. Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1958/1408-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23222426
Copyright status: Unknown - see National Library website
Description: View of Seatoun showing Fort Dorset, 1958
Reference: Part three of a four part panorama of Seatoun, Wellington. Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1958/1409-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22659036
Copyright status: Unknown - see National Library website