BY G. A. MORELL, ESQ., C.E. 247 



Bradley Head, Shark Island, Clark Island, Point Piper, and Dar- 

 ling Point, and would command North Harbour, Middle Harbour, 

 the Sound, the Channels, Watsons Bay, Taylor Bay, Rose Bay, 

 Double Bay, and as far as Bushcutters Bay, besides the whole 

 of the approaches to the Harbour by sea; but this formidable 

 position could easily be rendered inaccessible by a battery on 

 Middle Head, except on the ocean side, where a landing could 

 be prevented. 



North Head is too distant and too isolated to be permanently 

 occupied, and Works erected thereon could only be advantageous 

 to us in the event of our being able to spare many of our troops. 



2. Middle Head is one of the best positions in Port Jackson, 

 but unless strongly fortified at the gorge by a ditch and wall about 

 400 yards long, enclosing an area of nearly 15 acres, it would prove 

 insecure, as an enemy could bring boats at night into Hunter Bay 

 and Obelisk Bay to land large bodies of troops to attack the 

 batteries of Middle Head in the rear, and by preventing our 

 re-enforcements reaching other positions from the attacked point, 

 facilitate the tactics of his fleet. Vessels steaming 5 knots per 

 hour, on entering by the East Channel, would not be exposed to the 

 fire of Middle Head batteries more than six (6) minutes within 

 a range of 2000 yards, and would keep during that time more 

 than 1000 yards from these batteries ; on entering by the West 

 Channel vessels would be exposed twenty (20) minutes at a less 

 range than 2000 yards, but as soon as they had rounded George 

 Head they would have no more to fear from the batteries of 

 Middle Head, and in the case of landing parties attacking these 

 batteries, they might prevent re-enforcements from reaching in 

 time other positions attacked by a fleet. If reliance could be 

 placed on obstructions across the Channel to prevent the ingress 

 of ships, Middle Head strongly fortified might prove the best 

 position in Port Jackson ; but as permanent obstructions that 

 would keep out our own vessels as well as an enemy's are out of 

 the question. Middle Head cannot be considered strategically the 

 best position for Head-quarters on the North Shore. 



3. George Head, if we have temporary obstructions is of 

 more importance. The height of its crest in close communication 

 with roads, the impossibility of an enemy surrounding it, from 



