Point Halswell Battery

Two RML guns were mounted on Point Halswell during the initial 1885 scare, consisting of one 7-inch RML and one 64-pdr RML. These were not built in permanent concrete emplacements.

In 1889 an 8-inch disappearing gun was emplaced instead. Built to a slightly unusual design, the magazine was on two levels. A 6-pdr quick-fire gun was installed just above the emplacement to supplement its fire-power sometime in the late 1890s.

The 8-inch gun was manned during World War One, but was converted to a magazine in 1922.

In 1925 the Prime Minister William Massey died in office and the battery was selected as the site of his tomb. Originally the memorial consisted of a pyramid placed on top of the gun pit, this was replaced with the massive marble memorial that is there now. Later during WW2 the area directly above the memorial was used as Port War Signal Station, the remains of which can be found directly above the memorial on the hillside.

The general site is a reserve, but the tunnels are locked and are not publicly accessible.