Deep within Fort Takapuna’s earth lies Gun Pit 1. This isn’t just any hole in the ground. This is a silent witness to Auckland’s military past.
Gun Pit 1 is one of two circular pits. These housed the mighty six-inch disappearing guns. These guns protected the approaches to the Rangitoto Channel. Imagine the roar as these behemoths fired. The earth would have trembled. The sound would have echoed across the harbour.
Fort Takapuna itself boasts a rich history. It served as a vital defence site for centuries. Maori first used the location. Later European settlers built upon this strategic position. The fort went by various names. Fort Cautley HMNZS Tamaki and Narrow Neck are a few examples. ‘Fort Takapuna’ was its original military name. The fort was part of a chain of defences guarding Auckland Harbour. Other forts included North Head Bastion Point and Mount Victoria.
Gun Pit 1 and its twin were initially open to the elements. There were no roofs. Two smaller Nordenfelt guns provided additional protection. You can still see the top of the iron pillar for one of these guns. It remains in the grass. The Department of Conservation is working to restore and preserve these features.
Between the gun pits is an underground magazine. It once stored ammunition. Railway tracks remain on the tunnel floors. These carried ammunition trolleys. A well provided water for the fort. Outside a barracks housed soldiers. This is the brick building with the castellated roof.
The guns were removed in 1959. They were obsolete by 1922. A scrap merchant eventually took them. The gun pits were then roofed. The fort became a naval ammunition storage area in 1926/27. It stored 172 tons of ammunition by 1937.
Gun Pit 1 stands as a testament to Auckland’s past. It’s a tangible link to a time of war and preparedness. A time when the roar of cannons echoed across the waters. A time long gone but never forgotten thanks to Gun Pit 1. A silent guardian of Auckland’s history.