Queensland

Location: Fort Lytton National Park, Brisbane

Threat:     Damage and deterioration

Significance of Place

Fort Lytton is a classical example of the coastal fortresses that once dotted the coastline of Queensland, and one of only a few now surviving. Once Brisbane’s ‘front line of defence,’ the Fort was the only major fortified position within the Brisbane region. Sited along the Brisbane River (known as ‘Quarantine Flats’) close to the mouth of the river, Fort Lytton was designed by Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Scratchley and built in 1881. It still contains a number of old gun

emplacements designed to protect the colony of Brisbane from any naval invasion.

The area was taken over by the Department of Environment & Tourism in 1988, whereupon it was designated as a National Park. It is currently managed by Queensland Parks & Wildlife.

Description of Threat

Gross lack of maintenance of the fortifications is seriously threatening the stability of the structures found throughout the park.

The recent decision by the State Government to dramatically reduce funding in the Heritage portfolio for Queensland can only serve to increase the potential for destruction of these once well maintained military installations.

Fort Lytton is another site with close associations with the Brisbane River which is threatened by possible land development by the Brisbane Port Authority.

Action Required

The National Trust of Queensland believes an urgent injection of funding and resources into this site is required to allow for its maintenance and continued preservation. As a minimum, a commitment to regular good housekeeping procedure is needed just to ensure this important site degrades no further.

The Trust believes that it is the State Government’s lack of a ‘duty of care’ to this site which has made the lack of maintenance all too apparent at Fort Lytton. It is ironic therefore that consideration is being given to new provisions within the State Heritage Act which would require owners of heritage sites to adopt an attitude of care and respect, and impose penalties on owners that that allow such properties to deliberately fall into neglect!