17 October 2006

Between 1885 and 1905, when it was believed that we were under threat from naval forces, fortifications for the protection of the Otago Harbour and Dunedin were built on the headlands at Taiaroa Heads (later known as Fort Taiaroa).

Six emplacements were constructed, with the installation of the most up-to-date guns at that time: the 7-tonne, 7-inch and the 3.5-tonne 64-pound rifled muzzle-loading guns (RML). However, by about 1912, RMLs had become obsolete and were no longer required. Some of these guns, rather than being destroyed, were donated to Dunedin for display at public parks and reserves.

There they remained for a number of years. However, in 1936 some members of the council became concerned that these guns, along with the German and Turkish trophy guns also on display around the city, could incite thoughts of war among the younger generation of men. So, in the wisdom of our city leaders, it was decided that all the guns must go.

Rather than undertake the task themselves, the contract was let to a local scrap metal merchant. But, after cutting up the carriages and mounts, the merchant soon realised that the job was beyond him and the cost of removing these huge barrels by far outweighed their scrap value – so he gained permission to bury them where they stood.

The New Zealand Antique and Historical Arms Association (NZAHAA) was first formed in Christchurch in 1959. More branches throughout New Zealand followed, including the Otago branch in 1962.

NZAHAA members collect and preserve arms, artefacts and their histories. They meet regularly, visit places of interest, hold the occasional “shoot” with varying types of weapons, and sell or auction many interesting artefacts and weaponry.

In 1971, the Otago branch began a project to preserve the six-inch Armstrong Disappearing Gun at Fort Taiaroa, which, at that time, was destined to be destroyed and buried.

After a great deal of physical effort, lobbying and fundraising, the group was successful. By 1978, the gun had been restored, with the gun pit and passages cleaned and painted. The Otago Peninsula Trust began work on the access tunnel to the gun in 1984 and it was finally opened to the public in 1987. The Disappearing Gun is now a major tourist attraction.

In 1970, the NZAHAA Otago began trying to locate the Queen’s Gardens guns, but without success. However, renewed interest by some current members was gathering momentum. During the last couple of years, the Dunedin City Council gave the association approval to locate and move the guns from the Queen’s Gardens.

The project took a lot of planning. The areas were grid searched by “prodding”, then a team of students from Otago University’s geology department searched the site with a magnetometer – confirming where the guns had been laying for the last 70 years.

At 7.00am, the small group of enthusiasts from the Otago NZAHAA set to, wondering what they would find. Local businesses supported them by providing a digger, crane and transport.

There were some serious looking faces for a while as the digger moved earth, but nothing still showing; however, after another prod and we heard the sound of “steel on steel”, the smiles and digging intensity increased.

Eventually, as the barrel of the 7-tonne 7-inch gun was uncovered and lifted by crane into the light of day – after 70 years underground – the applause that came from about 250 onlookers was gratifying, showing the interest in military history.

By 10.30am both guns were able to be loaded onto a transporter. They were taken to a local engineering company, where they will remain in storage while they dry out over the next few months and members start the long and exacting process of restoration. The condition of the guns was quite surprising; the rifling in the barrel was quite evident, as were the exterior markings.

Thoughts are already moving ahead to guns in the parks. Perhaps, in time, more of these “guns of the past” may be uncovered and perhaps may even return to their original emplacements at Fort Taiaroa.

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