Challenger Battery

Statement of Significance

Challenger Battery is culturally significant and forms an important part of WA's defence ., heritage for the following reasons. ·

The Ability To Demonstrate a Function No Longer Practised

The location of this site and the relatively intact structures illustrate an important component of the complex of coastal defences of the Fremantle Area during World War II, ranging from cape Peron to swanbourne and seaward to Rottnest. In particular, this Battery comprises the long range guns defending both approaches to Cockburn Sound.
Coastal defences in Australia were completely closed down in 1963.
Historical Significance

The development of Challenger Battery illustrates a response to local wartime requirements. It also illustrates processes during a war in that defence facilities (eg Cockburn sound naval base) are perceived to be needed at a certain point in time, but subsequently, due to changed strategies, are no longer required.
The emplacement of the two 155mm guns of us or1g1n is an example of assistance to Australia by the USA under wartime Lend Lease arrangements.
Scarcity Value

Challenger Battery is one of only two 155mm coastal defence batteries emplaced in the Perth netropolitan Area during World War II, the other being at cape Peron. It is the second most significant coastal defence site on Garden Island (Scriven Battery being the most significant).
Tourism Importance

Whilst public access to Garden Island via the causeway from Rockingham is not available to the general public except on special occasions, the northern part of the island is accessible by boat without restriction. Garden Island is a popular such destination, and during the peak of the summer season several hundred private boats may be moored in its waters. Many visitors walk inland as a matter of interest and inevitably come across the various World War II sites, of which Challenger and Beacon Batteries are the most easily accessible. Because of the relatively undisturbed nature of Garden Island there are many relatively intact World War II sites still there. With an increasing interest in our defence heritage it is possible that these sites could be developed into a heritage trail. In such an instance challenge Battery would be second only to the Scriven Battery complex

Physical Description

One of the two permanent gun emplacements of Challenger ("J" ) Battery was inspected at the request of the WA Heritage Council (see below); the other could not be located and is believed to be covered by sand.

This emplacement is located in a small hollow at the top of a sand dune on the north-west tip of Garden Island. The vegetation is grasses, bushes and small trees To the est is a blowout, which shows early signs of regrowth.

The emplacement examined was partly covered by drift sand and vegetation. However, the following components were observed.

(i) A central reinforced(?)concrete boss (about 3m in diameter)with B protruding bolts and a steel collar, and a lower brick paved step
(for the actual gun wheels or trunnions to run along). This brick paved step appears to run around much of the central boss.
(ii) Two concrete walls diverging away from the seawrd side of the boss.
(iii) An outer reinforced(?) concrete traversing ring (about lOm in diameter)with a curved iron rail (for the two recoil stabilizer arms) .
(iv) A substantial ammunition magazine constucted with brick walls, and a concrete floor and roof, and partly set into a hillside . it has a front reinforced(?)concrete blast wall and two entries .
Internally, there are four high wall vents, together with the remains of a few internal fittings. On the roof there are remains of actual camouflage material, its netting, and supporting posts.

Due to the extensive sand and vegetation cover, it is not known if the central boss and the outer ring are structurally connected, although this is a distinct possibility.

The reason for the Heritage Council referral is that the Commonwealth Department of Transport and Communications (OOTAC)is currently proposing erecting a radio monitoring station on the site of the above emplacement. The proposal involves erecting a 30m free standing mast over the gun pit and utilizing the adjacent magazine as an equipment room with solar panels being installed on its roof.

History

Construction
The modern coastal defences of the Fremantle area have their origins in the late 1930's. After the fall of Singapore in February 1942 and the loss of the naval facilities there, it was decided to make Cockburn Sound into the main base for the British Far Ea.stern Fleet. Work on the Sound started in 1942 and continued unabated until 1944 when it became obvious that the strategic direction of the Pacific War had moved away from the eastern Indian Ocean.
In 1942 it was decided by Australian defence authorities to construct a number of coastal defences on cape Peron (Rockingham) and Garden Island in order to:
(a)deny enemy warships the opportunity to bombard Cockburn Sound from westwards of Garden Island;
(b)control the access to Cockburn Sound through the Challenger Passage (between Rottnest and Garden Island) and South Channel (between cape Peron and Garden Island), including defending the boom nets closing Cockburn sound to the north and south .

These defences comprised: coastal artillery, searchlights, anti-aircraft defences, observation posts, radars, and command posts, together with the required support facilities .

Challenge Battery, with its two 155mm (c6.lin) US Lend Lease guns was emplaced as a temporary measure on the northern part of Garden Island pending the completion of the larger calibre (two 9.2in guns)Scriven Battery in the centre of Garden Island. However, for various reasons the latter was not ready for proof firing before the end of the Pacific War in August 1945, so Challenger Battery, together with the Peron ("K") Battery, comprised the the long range artillery defences of Cockburn Sound.

Of these two 155mm batteries, one source suggests that Challenger had a greater range at 19,000 yards than Peron at 15,000 yards . However, another source suggests that their ranges were both about the former distance. It seems that of all the
) coastal artillery defences of the Fremantle-Cockburn sound Area that were
operational during World War II, Challenger and Peron were second only to the well­ known 9.2in guns of the Oliver Hill Battery on Rottnest (at 29,500 yards).
Challenge Battery was also very strategically situated with overlapping fire arcs covering both South Channel and Challenge Passage, almost to Rottnest Island.
Challenge Battery also controlled the nearby Beacon Battery (two 4in naval guns), which was known as "H" Section (of Challenge Battery). Beacon's task was to protect the northern boom defence net protecting Cockburn Sound .

In December 1944, due to the change in the strategic situation (and probably the perception of a lessened enemy threat), Challenge Battery was withdrawn from Garden Island and the fixed facilities placed under maintenance and storage conditions.

The gun pit and magazine are both of solid construction and have resisted attempts at vandalism. It is possible that excavation of the gun pit may show that the brick paving floor is missing, as it is suggested that nearby squatters in the post-war period may have used these for their holiday shacks. The nearby Beacon Battery is a relatively bare sight. The Scriven Battery, although more impressive, was not operational during World War II.

A brick building in the Challenger Battery area (probably a command post)was not investigated due to time limitations.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.