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Fort Pearce Battlements, Point Nepean National Park
The forts at Point Nepean National Park are considered to be the most substantial and extensive system of fortifications in Australia. Built between 1890 and 1916, the use of mass concrete here is one of the earliest known examples in the country. Whilst they are a significant testament to the military technology and engineering of the period, by 1915 the battlements were considered largely redundant, and were left largely untouched for decades. By the 1990s, Fort Pearce and most of the other structures had been at least partially buried by sand. This may have somewhat protected the iron reinforcement from the corrosive effects of the coastal environment, however the buildings are under threat from water intrusion and cracking, with localized spalling also clearly visible.
We provided a detailed Inspection & Report for Parks Victoria discussing these issues and possible solutions, considering the plausibility and challenges of opening the site to public access as the park develops into the future.