DOCKLANDS

SORRENTO

PAYNESVILLE

LUXURY CRUISES

ROMANTIC CRUISES

SAILING SCHOOL

CATERING

HOT DEALS

RELOCATION

WEATHER FORECAST

WHITSUNDAY RENTAYACHT

SOUTH CHANNEL FORT
South Channel Fort is a small artificial island of about 0.7ha, approximately 6km north-east of Sorrento, built during the 1880’s to serve as part of a strategic defence facility which included Port Nepean and Queenscliff in a triangle of defence against the threat of a Russian invasion. The Fort is a unique, low key visitor destination, which aims to protect the site’s environmental and heritage values and provide visitors with a unique experience on Port Phillip.

The site was used during the 1950’5-1980’s for the storage of explosives for blasting the rocks in The Rip and was added to the Mornington Peninsula National Park in 1995. It is now listed on the Register of the National Estate in recognition of the role the island plays as a breeding site for the White-Faced Storm-petrel and for its military and historical significance. It is also classified by the National Trust.

The remains of the rare 8-inch disappearing hydro-pneumatic guns are of particular interest and the internal layout of the Fort is a labyrinth of passages, small lobbies and magazines. In its heyday 100 officers lived and worked on the island