Fort Denison

"Pinchgut" redirects here. For the opera company in Sydney, see Pinchgut Opera.

Fort Denison
Mattewanye (Dharuk)
Fort Denison pre-1885.
Interactive map of the Fort Denison area
Former names	Pinchgut
Etymology	Sir William Thomas Denison
General information
Status	Built as a fortress. Decommissioned circa 1930s. Now used as a national park; reserve; tourist facility; function space
Type	Military fortress; gunnery
Architectural style	Colonial fortification, castellated style
Location	Sydney Harbour, North of Woolloomooloo
Construction started	1841
Completed	14 November 1857 (1857-11-14)
Closed	circa 1930s
Height
Observatory	Martello tower
Technical details
Material	Sydney sandstone
Fort Denison with its Martello tower
Location within inner Sydney
Location	Port Jackson, Sydney Harbour National Park
Nearest city	Sydney
Coordinates	33°51′18″S 151°13′32″E
Operator	NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
Owner	Government of New South Wales
Website	fortdenison.com.au/national-parks.html
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Fort Denison; Pinchgut; Mattewanye (Eora name)
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	985
Type	Fortification
Category	Defence
Builders	William Randle
Register of the National Estate
Official name	Fort Denison, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Designated	21 March 1978
Reference no.	1856
References

Fort Denison, part of the Sydney Harbour National Park, is a heritage-listed former penal site and defensive facility occupying a small island located north-east of the Royal Botanic Garden and approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) east of the Opera House in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. The island may have been known as Mattewanye or Muddawahnyuh in the Eora language , and as Pinchgut Island.

The site contains time gun, navigational aids and tide gauge facilities. Correctional and military facilities were designed by George Barney and built from 1840 to 1862 by William Randle. The property is owned by the Office of Environment & Heritage. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. In 1978 the former fortress was listed on the (now defunct) Register of the National Estate, and is currently used as a national park, nature reserve, tourist facility, and as a function space.