{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox building | name = Princess Royal Fortress | image = File:PRINCESS ROYAL FORT.jpg | image_size = | caption = View from fortress to King George Sound and Atatürk entrance | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_label = Princess Royal Fortress | pushpin_mark = | pushpin_relief = | former_names = | alternate_names = | construction_start_date = | completion_date = | building_type = Heritage listed fortress | location = [[Albany, Western Australia|Albany]], [[Western Australia]] | coordinates = {{coord|35|01|50.6|S|117|54|40.5|E|type:landmark_region:AU|name=Princess Royal Fortress|display=inline,title}} | embedded = {{Infobox designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = State Register of Heritage Places | designation1_offname = | designation1_type = State Registered Place | designation1_criteria = | designation1_date = 29 November 1996 | delisted1_date = | designation1_partof = | designation1_number = {{SRHP|26}} }} }} [[File:BUILDING AT PRINCESS ROYAL FORT.jpg|thumb|Light Horse memorial building]] [[File:PRINCESS ROYAL FORTRESS - ALBANY.jpg|thumb|Naval gun on display at the fortress]] [[File:National Anzac Centre, 2018 (01).jpg|thumb|National Anzac Centre 2018]] '''Princess Royal Fortress''', also known as '''Albany Forts''',<ref name=Her>{{cite web|url=http://www.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/about-us/education-research-events/heritage-awards/2015-wa-heritage-award-winners/princess-royal-fortress|title=Albany Forts (Princess Royal Fortress)|access-date=22 August 2015|year=2015|publisher=[[Government of Western Australia]]}}</ref> was a fortress on the northern shore of Atatürk entrance on [[Princess Royal Harbour]] on Mount Adelaide overlooking [[King George Sound]] in [[Albany, Western Australia]]. It now operates as a museum.
==Name== The fortress is named after Princess Royal Harbour, which [[George Vancouver]] had named in 1791 after Princess [[Charlotte Augusta Matilda]].<ref name=AR>{{cite web|url=http://albanyregion.com.au/princess-royal-fortress/|title=Princess Royal Fortress|access-date=22 August 2015|publisher=Albany Region}}</ref> The site occupies an area of approximately {{convert|11|acre|ha|0}}.<ref name=Gate/>
==Establishment== During the 19th century, the loss of the [[Port of Albany|port]] was deemed a potential threat to the state and the nation.<ref name=AR/> All the Australian states contributed the funds to build the fortress, and the [[British Government]] provided the guns. The fortress was the first federal defense project in Australia, without the country yet having a federal government,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whatsupdownunder.com.au/News/Attractions/Princess-Royal-Fortress-Albany-WA|title=Princess Royal Fortress - Albany - WA|date=8 November 2010|access-date=22 August 2015|publisher=Parable Productions|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208125009/http://whatsupdownunder.com.au/News/Attractions/Princess-Royal-Fortress-Albany-WA|archive-date=8 February 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and opened in 1893.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rainbowcoast.com.au/areas/albany/princess-royal-fortress.htm|title=Princess Royal Fortress |access-date=19 August 2015|publisher=Rainbow Coast}}</ref> Two gun batteries were dug into the hillside of Mount Adelaide: Fort Princess Royal with two [[BL 6 inch gun Mk II – VI|Mark IV 6-inch BL]] guns,<ref name=AAW>{{cite web|url=http://www.ozatwar.com/bunkers/princessroyalfortress.htm|title=Princess Royal Fortress, Albany, WA during WWII|year=2004|access-date=22 August 2015|author=Peter Dunn|publisher=Australians at war}}</ref> and Fort Plantagenet with one six inch gun.
==Fires and changes== In 1897, a fire, caused by an incendiary, destroyed the canteen, mess-room and library. The buildings were all [[weatherboard]], with matchwood lining and [[galvanised|galvanized]] metal roofs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33129710 |title=Fire at the Albany Forts |newspaper=[[Western Mail (Western Australia)|Western Mail]] |location=Perth, Western Australia |date=5 March 1897 |access-date=24 August 2015 |page=8 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
The fortress was staffed by eight officers and five men of the South Australian Permanent Artillery in 1902.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4897575 |title=The Albany Forts |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide, South Australia |date=14 November 1902 |access-date=24 August 2015 |page=4 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
A fire broke out in buildings at the western end of the forts in 1907. The [[quartermaster]] sergeant's office, the armament room and the stationery locker were burned to the ground.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33084040 |title=Fire at Albany Forts |newspaper=[[Western Argus|Kalgoorlie Western Argus]] |location=Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |date=1 January 1907 |access-date=24 August 2015 |page=34 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
In 1909, the [[BL 6 inch gun Mk II - VI|Mk VI]] gun at the Plantagenet battery developed a fault in the barrel, the gun was scrapped and Fort Plantagenet was abandoned. The remaining guns were replaced with emplaced [[BL 6-inch Mk VII naval gun|Mk VII]] guns in 1945, and the old guns were scrapped.<ref name=AAW/> From 1893 to 1956 the guns never fired a shot in anger. In 1956, with the advent of the [[missile]] era, all coastal defenses were made redundant and closed, including Princess Royal. Many of the military installations were demolished or dismantled. The buildings were alternatively used as school rooms, migrant hostels and then holiday camps,<ref name=AR/> by the 1970s the site was abandoned and succumbed to [[vandalism]].<ref name=Gate>{{cite web|url=https://www.albanygateway.com.au/visitor/tourist-attractions/princess-royal-fortress|title=Princess Royal Fortress, Forts Road (off Marine Drive), Mt Adelaide|access-date=22 August 2015|publisher=Albany Gateway}}</ref>
==Restoration== The fortress was extensively restored commencing in 1987<ref name=Gate/> and continued throughout the rest of the 1980s.<ref name=AAW/>
Eventually the site became a museum; within the fortress grounds are restored military equipment including shore batteries, [[Arsenal|armories]], [[barrack]]s, the 10th Light Horse display, trails and a collection of naval guns and torpedoes. The site is also home to the South East Asia Memorial, United States Submariners Memorial, and Merchant Navy Memorial. Over 25,000 tourists visit the fortress annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://albany.wa.gov.au/about-albany/things-to-see-and-do/|title=Things to See and Do|year=2015|access-date=19 August 2015|publisher=[[City of Albany]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719074022/http://www.albany.wa.gov.au/about-albany/things-to-see-and-do/|archive-date=19 July 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Two guns remain in their original positions along with an underground magazine, ruins, several transported buildings, some substantially reconstructed buildings, and a [[parade ground]]. The Military Institute, Guard House, Barracks and Repository Store are situated around the parade ground, whereas the location of the other buildings depends more on the site topography.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Places/AggregateDetails?IsCurrentlyStateRegistered=False&SearchToken=5d4a7fb6-3201-4e5d-889a-19e3ce8dc09b&placeNo=26|title=Albany Forts|access-date=22 August 2015|work=InHerit|date=8 February 2015|publisher=[[Heritage Council of Western Australia]]}}</ref>
==National Anzac Centre== The entire site underwent a major upgrade in preparation for the [[Anzac]] centenary commemorations in 2015.<ref name=Her/> The National Anzac Centre was constructed at a cost of {{AUD}}10.65 million<ref name=media/> and was opened at the site on 1 November 2014 by the [[Prime Minister of Australia]], [[Tony Abbott]] and the [[Prime Minister of New Zealand]], [[John Key]]. The date marked the centenary of the first Australian and New Zealand convoy's departure for war from Albany.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalanzaccentre.com.au/|title=The National Anzac Centre|access-date=19 August 2015|year=2015|publisher=National Anzac Centre}}</ref>
The National Anzac Centre was named the state's best Heritage Tourism Project at the Western Australian Heritage Awards in 2015.<ref name=ABC/> The centre received approximately 25,000 visitors in the first three months<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/about-us/education-research-events/heritage-awards/2015-wa-heritage-award-winners/national-anzac-centre|title=National Anzac Centre|access-date=19 February 2017|publisher=State Heritage Office}}</ref> and over 45,000 during its first six months of operation.<ref name=ABC>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-21/albany-wins-two-wa-heritage-award-gongs/6409178|title=Albany National Anzac Centre, Princess Royal Fortress win WA Heritage Awards|date=21 April 2015|access-date=22 August 2015|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref>
By September 2016, the centre was ranked as Australia's number one museum by [[TripAdvisor]] users and had attracted 136,000 visitors since opening.<ref name=media>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2016/09/National-Anzac-Centre-number-1-on-TripAdvisor.aspx|title=National Anzac Centre number 1 on TripAdvisor|date=14 September 2016|access-date=19 February 2017|work=Media Statements|publisher=[[Government of Western Australia]]|archive-date=20 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220011921/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2016/09/National-Anzac-Centre-number-1-on-TripAdvisor.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Engineering heritage award == The battery and magazine received a Historic Engineering Marker from [[Engineers Australia]] as part of its [[Engineers Australia#Engineering Heritage Recognition Program|Engineering Heritage Recognition Program]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/heritage/princess-royal-battery-magazine-1892 | title = Princess Royal Battery & Magazine, 1892- | publisher = Engineers Australia | access-date = 2020-05-07 }}</ref>
==See also== * [[List of places on the State Register of Heritage Places in the City of Albany]]
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
[[Category:Heritage places in Albany, Western Australia]] [[Category:1893 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Museums in Western Australia]] [[Category:State Register of Heritage Places in the City of Albany]] [[Category:Recipients of Engineers Australia engineering heritage markers]]