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HomePrivacyTerms and conditionsAbout this site
© Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga 2026.
 
Fort Taiaroa (Including six-inch Armstrong Hydropneumatic Gun and Underground Chambers)

Harrington Point Road (end), TAIAROA HEAD

Private

Historic Place Category 1

List No. 369

Quick links:
List GalleryLocationDetails
The Russian war scares of the 1880s caused the New Zealand Government to erect batteries overlooking the harbours of the four main centres. The strategic position at Taiaroa Head gave excellent control over ships approaching Otago Harbour. Local stone was used by prison labour with outstanding skill to form the underground galleries and storage for the gun emplacement. The six-inch Armstrong hydro-pneumatic disappearing gun is still in sound condition except for incomplete breech mechanism. Fort Taiaroa is an excellent example for a military fortification of a bygone era and in its dramatic siting is most worthy of preservation.
Fort Taiaroa (Including six-inch Armstrong Hydropneumatic Gun and Underground Chambers), Taiaroa Head. CC BY-NC 2.0 Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons | Ben Hill | 08/05/2006 | Ben Hill - Wikimedia Commons
Fort Taiaroa (Including six-inch Armstrong Hydropneumatic Gun and Underground Chambers), Taiaroa Head. CC BY-NC 2.0 Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons | Ben Hill | 08/05/2006 | Ben Hill - Wikimedia Commons
Fort Taiaroa (Including six-inch Armstrong Hydropneumatic Gun and Underground Chambers), Taiaroa Head. CC BY-NC 2.0 Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons | Ben Hill | 08/05/2006 | Ben Hill - Wikimedia Commons
Fort Taiaroa (Including six-inch Armstrong Hydropneumatic Gun and Underground Chambers), Taiaroa Head. CC BY-NC 2.0 Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons | Ben Hill | 08/05/2006 | Ben Hill - Wikimedia Commons

List Entry Information

Overview

Status
Listed

List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1

Access
Private/No Public Access

List Number
369

Date Entered
25th November 1982

Date of Effect
25th November 1982

City/District Council
Dunedin City

Region
Otago Region

Legal description

Secs 71,72,73 Blk II Portobello SD

Detailed List Entry

Construction Details

Start Year

1880

Type

Original Construction

Notable Features

Six-inch Armstrong Hydropneumatic Gun & Underground Chambers

Reference

Report Written By

This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Otago/Southland Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. In 2013 the restored six-inch Armstrong Hydropneumatic Gun won a rare international award from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, in the United Kingdom Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board.

Further Information

Current Usages

Former Usages

General Usage:: Defence

Specific Usage: Gun Emplacement

Themes

Web Links

Overview

Status

Listed

List Entry Status

Historic Place Category 1

Access

Private/No Public Access

List Number

369

Date Entered

25th November 1982

Date of Effect

25th November 1982

City/District Council

Dunedin City

Region

Otago Region

Legal description

Secs 71,72,73 Blk II Portobello SD

Status

Listed

List Entry Status

Historic Place Category 1

Access

Private/No Public Access

List Number

369

Date Entered

25th November 1982

Date of Effect

25th November 1982

City/District Council

Dunedin City

Region

Otago Region

Legal description

Secs 71,72,73 Blk II Portobello SD

Construction Information

Construction Details

Start Year

1880

Type

Original Construction

Notable Features

Six-inch Armstrong Hydropneumatic Gun & Underground Chambers

Construction Details

Start Year

1880

Type

Original Construction

Notable Features

Six-inch Armstrong Hydropneumatic Gun & Underground Chambers

Reference

Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau

Other Information

This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Otago/Southland Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. In 2013 the restored six-inch Armstrong Hydropneumatic Gun won a rare international award from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, in the United Kingdom Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board.

Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau

Other Information

This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Otago/Southland Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. In 2013 the restored six-inch Armstrong Hydropneumatic Gun won a rare international award from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, in the United Kingdom Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board.

Further Information

Former Usages

General Usage: Defence

Specific Usage: Gun Emplacement

Former Usages

General Usage: Defence

Specific Usage: Gun Emplacement

Location

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Taiaroa Head Lighthouse, Otago Peninsula. Image courtesy of Hamish McNeilly
Taiaroa Head Lighthouse
Taiaroa Head Lighthouse, Otago Peninsula. Image courtesy of Hamish McNeilly
Taiaroa Head Lighthouse
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