History of Headland Park
Headland Park is the name given to land once occupied by defence bases at Middle Head, Georges Heights and Chowder Bay in Mosman. It is one of Sydney's most beautiful urban parks, with vantage points overlooking the harbour and Pacific Ocean. The land was once the home of the Borogegal people.
In 1815 Governor Macquarie established a farm for Aborigines at Georges Heights and placed Bungaree in charge. Bungaree was well known as the Aboriginal man who had accompanied Matthew Flinders on his circumnavigation of the continent in 1802-03.
The military presence in this area dates from the early nineteenth century. Fortifications and barracks were built along the escarpment of Georges Heights as part of the defence of Sydney.
In the 1890s a base was built at Chowder Bay for the Submarine Mining Corps. Mines were attached to cables that went under the water from the bay to the other side of the harbour. They were designed to be detonated if an enemy ship entered the harbour. In 1891 a terrible accident occurred when the Corps demonstrated mine laying before a crowd of thousands, including the governor. A mine exploded and four men were killed and ten injured. In 1922, after changes in technology that made these types of mines ineffective, the Corps was disbanded.
In the twentieth century the third largest military hospital in Australia was built at Georges Heights during World War I. Find out more about Australia's third largest military hospital at Georges Heights
Defence lands in the area were later used by army engineers, the army's maritime transport wing, the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps, the army signals unit, army military intelligence, various transport groups and others.
Barracks constructed at Middle Head during World War II were occupied by the Australian School of Pacific Administration and later the AusAid Centre for Pacific Development and Training.
More information
More on Georges Heights during World War I
View the Chowder Bay management plan
View the Lower Georges Heights management plan
View the Middle Head management plan
