Coast Defence Museum
Recently, the Rottnest Foundation has been focusing its efforts on raising awareness and funding for the Coast Defence Museum, a key part of the Bickley Military Precinct Project, one of our Priority Projects.
The Defence Museum will be housed in the converted and restored DID Shed, which lies on the train line to the Oliver Hill Guns. The Museum will conserve the important military history of Rottnest and provide an interactive learning experience for visitors to the island.
In partnership with the Rottnest Island Authority, we have been developing collateral to assist in our fundraising efforts, with some fascinating information coming to light about the significant role Rottnest Island played in the broader military activity of Western Australia during WWII.
“During World War II, the Fremantle Fortress played a crucial role in protecting one of Australia’s most strategically important ports. Fremantle Harbour became a major Allied naval base and was the second most important submarine base in the Pacific after Pearl Harbor.
The importance of Fremantle was closely tied to its submarine fleet. More than 170 submarines operated from the port during the war, conducting hundreds of patrols against Japanese shipping. These submarines played a significant role in weakening enemy supply lines and contributing to Allied success. Fremantle was also an international base, hosting submarines from three key Allied nations: the United States, Britain, and the Netherlands.
Rottnest Island was essential to the defence of Fremantle due to its strategic location just offshore. Positioned directly in the path of approaching enemy ships, the island acted as the first line of defence. Powerful coastal guns installed at locations such as Oliver Hill could fire up to around 28–30 kilometres out to sea, allowing them to engage enemy vessels long before they could reach the harbour. This provided a strong defensive advantage and acted as a major deterrent against attack.”
Our commitment to the Coast Defence Museum as part of the Bickley Military Precinct Project has been to conserve the unique military heritage of Wadjemup / Rottnest Island, an important goal, not just for the island and its visitors, but for all Australians.
This project offers excellent opportunities for future partners, both corporate and philanthropic who have a passion for preserving and honoring the valuable military history connected to Fremantle and Rottnest Island. For more information, email our CEO, Sally Hollis at ceo@rottestfoundation.org.au.