“Fort Scratchley was built in 1882 to protect the city against a possible Russian attack. However, its guns were not fired in anger until 8 June 1942, throughout the shelling of Newcastle. The Australian government funded the project after reaching an agreement with Newcastle City Council in 2004 and decided to increase its funding from an estimated A$5.5 million to almost A$10 million after getting a second agreement in 2007. The government wanted to ensure that the site was repaired correctly as it sees it as a special place in Australia’s military history. Both the Barracks and Function Centre are accessible by wheelchair.”
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