Fort Lytton
Fort Lytton was constructed during 1880-82, as the colony of Queensland provided for its own defence needs following the withdrawal of the Imperial garrisons in 1869. It was part of a defence scheme recommended by designed by Colonel Sir William Jervois, Royal Engineers, in 1877. Jervois’ scheme, which included other Australian colonies, was the first co-ordinated system of coastal defence implemented in Australia.
The construction of Fort Lytton was overseen by Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Scratchley, Royal Engineers, and Queensland’s Colonial Architect FDG Stanley. It protected the upstream port of Brisbane throughout the 19th century and through two world wars. As a place selected for annual training camps for volunteers, militia and regular troops, the Fort has had a strong association with military activity in Queensland. It remained a military establishment for almost 80 years and retains additions and alterations which illustrate the evolution of defence planning, changing military requirements, and the evolution of technology from the 1880s to the end of WWII.
With the support of Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Queensland Military Historical Society (Inc) is privileged to be able to call the Fort its home. The Society will continue to develop its collection and museum as an integral part of the site, as it explores the history and heritage of the armed forces in Queensland.
Our Society
Our Society was established at Victoria Barracks, Brisbane in 1983 with the aim of operating a museum that would collect and preserve Queensland’s military heritage. It was known as the Victoria Barracks Historical Society. The museum was opened in June 1984 and had a focus on pre-Federation and World War One army history.
The Society vacated Victoria Barracks in 1999 and eventually moved to the Australian Legion Memorial Club in Church Street, Fortitude Valley, opening a new basement Museum there. Subsequently the Society amalgamated with the Australian Legion of Ex Servicemen & Women in 2001.
In 2017 the Society changed its name to become the Queensland Military Historical Society (Inc), realigning its purpose to promote understanding of Queensland’s military history through research and scholarship, and the development and exhibition of our collections. Our collections span local military history from 1824 to the present and include significant artefacts and documents. In 2018 the Society began the long process of re-establishing itself at Fort Lytton National Park. We are currently preparing a building to house and display our collections. Our new museum will open later in 2019.
