Fort Complex Magnetic Island

The fort complex on the north eastern corner of Magnetic Island may be accessed by walking trails managed by Queensland National Parks and Wildlife. The fort was established in 1943 to protect Townsville from a potential attack, as Japanese forces moved south through the South Pacific Islands. The fortifications were armed with French 155mm M3 guns on Panama carriage mounts. These were used on a number of Pacific islands as coastal defence weapons. Protection of the port of Townsville was imperative, as it was the major supply depot for Allied troops in the South-West Pacific and a staging post for troops moving north into the war zone. After the war, the guns were returned to the American forces. The site contains derelict concrete structures with some timber and concrete remnants such as the water pipeline, command post, searchlight tower, ammunition store, radar station, signal station, gun sites and direction finder. The remainder of the accommodation area can be seen in the form of concrete slabs on flat land near the pathway to the fort complex proper.