Barbacane

For those of you who thought this was a page on Fortifications around the harbour you are correct. We could not come up with a Name. However the delightfully irrepressable Lenka Peacock who you will find around Rusticana from time to time suggested it. It is old French and she thought it entirely appropriate, which we agree. So Barbacarne it is.
As we have said it is quite a study to see how the harbour defence was planned from the start of the Colonial period. Cannon were mostly situated high on promontories in batteries with associated rifle emplacements. There is however a Casemate Battery almost at sea level and we are trying to get a look at it for you, we shall see.
We have Submarine Mines in work in progress from Late April . As it is a substantial body of work we decided that it is important enough to be outside Barbacane and indeed outside Portus Jacksonia, so look for Submarine Mines at:
https://pbase.com/galleria_rusticana/submarine_mines
Away from the mines and inside Barbacane we have included a shot of Fort Denison on an island in mid harbour. The thought of those cannon firing from within the constricted tower is mind boggleing.
And all of this was predicated on the invading fleet actually being inside the harbour. Never tested until the second world war when all had changed with nine inch batteries on North Head it would have made quite a scene. We have North Fort in planning showing the 9 inch batteries and the now associated museum. The Americans did get inside the Harbour on a friendly visit in 1908, take a look at The Great White Fleet.

As we have mentioned there is a Harbour Foreshore plan with linked walks and guided tours. The Plan is administered by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust who have an excellent site on :
http://www.harbourtrust.gov.au
They have site details location maps and news items. Go there to catchup or to plan a visit, very worthwile.
Mean time take a look about and let us know how you feel about Barbacane.
It is a moveable feast so we hope you will come back.
Updated 29th April 2008