This month we will visit Fort Scratchley, which has a commanding view of mouth of the Hunter river at Newcastle. A battery was established on the site in 1822. The present fortifications were essentially completed in 1882, and further developed as gun technology advanced. The Fort exchanged fire with a Japanese submarine in 1942. It was decommissioned in 1972

Our tour will be conducted by entheusiastic guides from the Fort Scratchley Historical Society, and will include features both above and below ground.

At the conclusion of the tour we will have lunch at the RSL. We will pre-order the main course from a range of Asian and Australian specials, and cake and tea or coffee will be extra.

We will meet at Epping station to catch the 7:43 train from platform 3. Unfortunately buses are infrequent, but the Fort and RSL are both within 10 minutes walking distance from Newcastle station.

Cost: $17.50 for the tour and lunch (main course).

Bookings: John Peters: home: 9869 1957; mob: 0414 452 565