NIHA in conjunction with University of Newcastle will be holding open days at DELPRAT'S COTTAGE on the weekend of 21 MARCH.
More details soon. We will conduct tours of our new exhibition of the Industries of Newcastle, as well as inspections of DELPRAT'S GARDEN.

A NEW PROJECT - Delprat Garden
Work has started on a complete set of GARDENS around Delprat's Cottage.
This is no ordinary garden, it's a research project by University of Newcastle, to study PHYTOREMEDIATION.
As the garden is completed and the wide range of vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees start growing we will look at the process and results of this project. Next year we will have open days to show how Delprat's Cottage has come to life again.

Members of the Fortress Newcastle team conducted a field trip to Port Stephens today. Starting at the Nelson Head Inner Lighthouse we were met by representatives of the Tomaree Headland Heritage Group, Tomaree Museum, Marine Rescue and Port Stephens Historical Society. Our host Dennis Corr explained the work of the groups in the region to preserve their heritage, followed by a guided tour of the exhibits in the lighthouse cottage, the rescue service base and the Naval Control Observation Bunker. The party then moved to Tomaree Headland to discuss proposals for the Tomaree WW11 site. HMAS Assault was an important amphibious training base and has some remaining remnants. The final visit was to the site of Gan Gan training Camp.

The team working on the FORTRESS NEWCASTLE project is growing. We welcomed Bernie from FIGHTERWORLD to the team recently, and this week we welcome Bill and Laraine from Rathmines Catalina Association to the project. The team visited Rathmines and the worksite of the CATALINA restoration project. This will be an important and exciting attraction when it is installed at the former RAAF flying boat base at Rathmines. The team also visited the Anti-aircraft gun emplacement site at Wangi that protected the Rathmines base during the war. These are two of the sites that will be valuable parts of the Fortress Newcastle trail.
Catalina under restoration Terry from RCA explains the restoration and installation of the two Catalina engines. Bill lead us on a tour of the Rathmines site. One of the 4 gun emplacements at Wangi. Laraine explains the work being carried out to conserve the Wangi gun emplacements.

On 17 August members of the Fortress Newcastle team conducted the first field trip to remnant sites in the region of military installations of FORTRESS NEWCASTLE. This consisted of an inspection of the 131 Radar Station at Ash Island, followed by a visit to Fighterworld at Williamtown, the site of the RAAF Air Force Base. More field trips to all the remaining sites are planned for the near future. Research and information gathering on all Civil and Military activities is progressing well.