Fort Kelburne

Fort Kelburne was built to the Tudor Boddam used at Fort Bastion, Fort Takapuna and the Ocean Beach Battery. Construction started in December 1885 and was completed in April 1887. The spelling of Kelburne varies in different references, but the fort seems to have been named after Viscount Kelburne, eldest son of Lord Glasgow, Governor-General of New Zealand from 1892-97.

Fort Kelburne was built on four levels and was armed with two six-inch disappearing guns. The guns were 120 feet apart. The front cliff-face was topped with a palisade, a spiked steel fence on top of a concrete retaining wall, to repel attackers on land. A bomb-proof passage was constructed from gun to gun underground, and open galleries at the rear.

A bomb-proof barracks was built at the rear which was loop-holed. The flanks were closed by loop-holed walls from the gunpits to either end of the barracks. There were no ditches. All underground galleries and gun pits, were built using the cut and cover method.

The fort was manned and used during World War One. But was abandoned in 1925 and the gun pits were filled in with the guns in place. Later two Railway Department Houses were built over the top of the gun pits. A former works employee and his wife lived in the barracks until 1958 when they were forced to leave due to dampness issues.

The fort was demolished as part of the Wellington motorway development. Demolition of the fort started during September 1963 and by early December 1963 there was nothing left of it. The guns were removed during the demolition and are now at the Army Museum in Waiouru.

Fortunately the fort was well documented both before and during the demolition. A complete set of drawings was compiled and an excellent photographic record was made. Copies are held at both Archives NZ and the National Library.