Ready to explore a hidden piece of Auckland’s coastal defense history? We are standing before Gun Pit 3. This site whispers tales of a time when New Zealand braced for threats from distant empires.
Gun Pit 3 is located on North Head. North Head boasts the longest history of any New Zealand coastal fort. It served until 1957 when the coast defense network closed.
Let’s journey back to the late 19th century. “Russian Scares” gripped New Zealand. Urgently, coastal defenses were built around the country. Auckland got five such sites in 1885. These were located at North Head, Bastion Point, Point Resolution, Fort Takapuna and Mount Victoria.
Initially, the Public Works Department oversaw construction at North Head. Three hundred unemployed men were put to work. Costs soared. The military threat lessened. Captain Edmund Tudor Boddam redesigned the installation to reduce expenses. Thirty to forty prisoners were used for the work.
Imagine prisoners wielding picks and shovels. They dug tunnels. They formed underground spaces. They mixed and laid concrete. This hard labor shaped North Head’s defenses.
Three state-of-the-art guns were installed in hidden pits. The North Battery defended Rangitoto Channel. Another protected the inner harbor to the south. A larger gun sat atop the summit. These guns had barrels weighing over 13 tons. They could retract underground for loading. One of the guns has been restored for ceremonial firing at the North Battery.
Fast forward to 1905. Two new 6-inch Mark VII guns were installed. They covered the Rangitoto Channel. During World War I, these guns formed the main defense. The older disappearing guns supported them. Searchlights and generators were added.
In the 1930s, North Head’s defenses were upgraded. New generators were installed. A network of searchlight emplacements was built.
During World War II, North Head became headquarters for the 9th Heavy Regiment of the New Zealand Artillery. The Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps and the Navy also used North Head. Accommodation was initially scarce. Searchlight crews often slept in tunnels. A major building program began in 1940. By war’s end, there were over 30 barracks and administration buildings on North Head.
The Fire Commander’s Post on the summit controlled all Auckland coastal defenses.
Today, North Head is a Category 1 historic place recognized by Heritage New Zealand.
Consider the strategic importance of this place. North Head’s location offered commanding views of the Waitemata Harbour. This made it a vital defense site. Maori inhabitants first used it. European settlers followed.
As you stand here at Gun Pit 3, think about the layers of history beneath your feet. This was part of a defense chain around Auckland harbour. Forts were built at North Head, Bastion Point, Point Resolution and Mount Victoria. Fort Takapuna also joined later. These forts housed guns that controlled approaches to the Rangitoto Channel.
Although the feared invasions never materialized, North Head stood ready. Its guns stood silent but vigilant. They were a deterrent. They were a reassurance to the public. Today, Gun Pit 3 reminds us of a time of both anxiety and preparedness.