Bare Island

Bare Island is an islet in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The islet is located about south east of the Sydney central business district, within Botany Bay, close to the bay's northern headland. Containing fortification facilities, Bare Island is listed on the State Heritage Register and is significant as an almost completely intact example of late nineteenth century coastal defence technology.Bare Island is connected by a footbridge to the suburb of La Perouse. The heritage-listed military fort and tunnels can only be visited by guided tour. The waters around the island are popular with scuba divers.HistoryBare Island was part of the traditional land of the Gweagal and Kameygal Aboriginal tribes. In 1770, it was described as ‘a small bare island’ by early explorer, Lieutenant James Cook.In 1877 it was decided that a fort was to be built on the island. Botany Bay was considered the back door into Sydney, thus making the city vulnerable to a seaborne attack. The construction of a fort on the island would reduce the odds of an attack from this entry point. Plans for the construction of a fort were drawn up by the Colonial Architects Department and tenders in 1880. Government tender for construction was awarded to John McLeod and Co, who also built the Georges Head and Middle Head fortifications. The fort was armed with two RML 9 inch 12 ton guns, two RML 80 pounder guns, a RML 10 inch 18 ton gun in an armoured casemate, and two fivebarreled 0.45inch Nordenfelt guns.