Adelaide Secrets – Page 23 of 43

February 22, 2015

Urban Exploring: Under Fort Largs

In 1870, Britain withdrew military assistance to its colonies, however there was concern that attacks might be made on Adelaide in order to disrupt shipping. Fort Largs was constructed in 1882-84 as one of a set of forts designed to protect the Semaphore anchorage, the harbour entrance and maritime activities of South Australia against perceived threats from foreign invaders.

The other fort, Fort Glanville, had been built 5 years earlier, south of Fort Largs. A third fort, planned for Glenelg, was never built but the three sites were linked by the construction of Military Road. Now you know why Military Road extends all the way from Glenelg to Fort Largs!

Under Fort Largs lies a network of small tunnels and chambers. Either side of each Armstrong Gun [Figure 1: a, b], tunnels carried artillery shells into large circular chambers [Figure 1: 11, 21]. Within each chamber sat a large carousel on which shells were stored for later retrieval. Manual cranks [Figure 1: 4, 7] within the sub-structure under Fort Largs lifted the shells up to the base of the Armstrong Guns ready for firing.

Figure 1: Fort Largs Underground Plans (Photo courtesy of David Walsh)

Today Fort Largs survives in near its original state. For external photos of Fort Largs see our previous post or check out the amazing photographs by sedge808 and Andrew Dempster!

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February 8, 2015

Urban Exploring: The Apostles Tunnel

We had a number of failed missions last year to find this tunnel. Information about its location was scarce. A much needed tip-off directed our search to a new, nearby area and in early November we found it. Elated we marked it on our maps for future visits.

The Apostles Tunnel was rock-blasted back in the 1920’s. Its purpose was to hold a large water main which transferred water from an up-stream reservoir down to the higher levels of suburban Adelaide. It became redundant with the commissioning of the Anstey Hill Water Treatment Plant in 1991 and the pipe was removed leaving large concrete supports that now line the tunnel.

No longer in use, The Apostles Tunnel lays forgotten within the side of a mountain. Off the beaten track, we take you underground so you too can see inside this dark and evasive tunnel…

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January 14, 2015

Urban Exploring: Metro Meats

After opening in the early 1950’s, Metro Meats grew to be one of the most successful slaughterhouses in South Australia. Part of its success was attributed to a landmark court battle between itself and the state government where it won the right to export meat overseas; effectively ending the monopoly held by the MEAB Gepps Cross abattoir. Consequently, Metro Meats was able to build a substantial export market penetrating into the United States and China.

Metro became a household name and a major buyer of livestock at saleyards throughout South Australia. It was sold in the 1980s to Chinese interests after which it made steady losses and eventually closed in the late 1990’s.

It now sits in ruin slowly being transformed by its new owner. You can still see the remains of the livestock walkway, the killing floor and the cold rooms. But for how long???…