Wrights Hill Fortress

Wrights Hill had been considered in 1934 for the site of a 9.2-inch battery, this was rejected on grounds of cost, and the Palmer Head Fortress was built instead. However during the Second World War, it was felt a 9.2-inch battery was a requirement for a properly defended port. Preliminary work consisted of an access road about one and a half miles (2.4km) long, which passed through steep and difficult terrain. A camp to accommodate 160 workers was erected at the bottom of this road. It was occupied firstly by PWD workmen who built the road, and then co-jointly by workmen and Army personnel engaged on the installation. A barracks, or parade ground area near gun emplacement number three was formed. The whole project was kept secret, and was referred to as Site W.

A barbed wire fence surrounded the Fortress. The extensive underground work was started in November, 1942 and was built to a similar design to those at Whangaparaoa and Waiheke.

Only two of the 9.2 inch guns were emplaced and were installed by the Army in 1944. They were only proof fired in 1946.

The Fortress was used for training purposes in the 1950''s but its operational days had come to an end, and regular maintenance was carried out by teams from Fort Dorset. In 1957 coastal defences ended in New Zealand and the guns were cut up for scrapped sometime in the 1960s. The gun emplacement pits were later filled in with rubble, and other equipment was removed from the Fortress.

The Karori Lions club opened the site up to the public in 1989 and it is now being restored by the Wrights Hill Restoration Society and is periodically open during the year to the public.