Rottnest Island Wartime Fortifications Walk
Walk Rottnest Island's WWII heritage — the coastal gun batteries, searchlight positions, and military infrastructure built to defend Perth and Fremantle from Japanese attack in 1942, when the island was briefly considered the most important defensive position on Australia's west coast.
- 1
Oliver Hill Gun Battery
Oliver Hill Battery has two 9.2-inch naval guns installed in 1937 — the massive guns with their 32-km range were intended to sink Japanese warships approaching Perth, and the tunnel system connecting the gun positions is accessible on guided tours by the heritage railway.
- 2
Rottnest Island Heritage Railway
The Rottnest Island Heritage Railway was built to transport ammunition and supplies to Oliver Hill Battery — the narrow-gauge railway now carries tourists on a 7-km journey to the gun battery, providing a unique heritage transport experience.
- 3
Bickley Battery
Bickley Battery is a smaller coastal gun position on the island's north coast — the two 6-inch guns installed in 1937 covered the northern approaches to Fremantle and are now preserved as heritage structures in a coastal scrub setting.
- 4
Geordie Bay Internment Cottages
Geordie Bay was used to intern German and Italian enemy aliens during WWII — the limestone cottages built in the early 20th century for holiday accommodation served as an internment camp, and the bay's peaceful character makes the wartime use difficult to imagine.
- 5
Wadjemup Lighthouse
Wadjemup Lighthouse (1849) is the oldest lighthouse on Rottnest — the white tower guided ships approaching Fremantle through the island's dangerous reefs, and the lighthouse precinct includes the lighthouse keeper's quarters converted to heritage accommodation.
- 6
Searchlight Positions
The wartime searchlight positions on the island's high points were designed to illuminate Japanese ships at night for the gun batteries — the concrete emplacements on the ridgelines give panoramic views across the island and sea approaches in all directions.