Australia: The Land Where Time Began

A biography of the Australian continent 

Fort Lytton National Park

Fort Lytton, Brisbane

What's special?     Photo gallery

Near the mouth of the Brisbane River lie the remains of Fort Lytton, one of several coastal fortifications built along Australia’s coast before federation to safeguard shipping lanes and ports from possible enemy raids.

For half a century from 1881, Fort Lytton was Brisbane’s frontline of defence and is regarded as the birthplace of Queensland’s military history. Regular training camps in military warfare were a highlight of Queensland’s political and social calendar.

This classic example of a coastal fortress was surrounded by a water-filled moat, and its heavy armaments were concealed behind grassy ramparts connected by underground passages. After World War II, the fort had outlived its usefulness and fell into disrepair until Ampol took over the site in 1963. The fort became a national park in 1988 and today protects this important link with our military past.

Exploring Fort Lytton

Visit the fort 10am to 4pm on Sundays or public holidays. Entry fees apply. Go on a 90 minute–two hour guided tour on Sundays with an experienced and knowledgeable volunteer guide. Groups can book weekday tours through the ranger.

Buy a brochure or map to help you explore the park. Visit the museum and discover Fort Lytton’s special stories. Thanks to the efforts of the Fort Lytton volunteers, you can learn how the disappearing gun worked and see guns similar to the fort’s original arsenal.

After your tour of the fort, enjoy a picnic on the banks of the Brisbane River.

Learn more about our past or simply enjoy a cuppa in the canteen run by the volunteer guides. (Small fee applies.) Purchase a souvenir of your visit.

Experience gun firing demonstrations and military re-enactments. Check with the ranger about likely dates.

Walking

There are no tracks at the park but walking routes are easy to follow from brochures and rope barriers. Wear a hat and sunscreen. Stay behind the safety barriers. The grass pathways are unsuitable for strollers or wheelchairs.

Getting there

Fort Lytton is 15km from central Brisbane at Lytton on the southern bank of the Brisbane River. Drive east along Lytton Road past the Gateway Arterial through Hemmant. Just past Lindum Road, turn left (still Lytton Road) then drive through the gate to the fort. From Wynnum, drive west to the end of Tingal Road, left into Pritchard Street and right into South Street.

Sources & Further reading

 

 
 
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                                                                                           Author: M.H.Monroe  Email: admin@austhrutime.com     Sources & Further reading