Fort Glanville Conservation Park
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Fort Glanville Conservation Park represents a significant period in South Australia’s European colonial history. The fort remains largely unaltered since it was built in 1880 to boost Australia’s defence strategy. Visitors are treated to full historical re-enactments by members of the Fort Glanville Association, including military drills and cannon firing.
Open days and re-enactments
The fort is open from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm on the third Sunday of every month between September and May. Group tours available anytime by arrangement.
Guided tours and historical re-enactments operate during these times.
Entry fees include a guided tour and re-enactment:
- Adult — $15.00
- Child (under 14) — $7.00
- Concession — $7.00
- Family — $35.00
Tours
The fort is open for tours every Tuesday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Walk-ins are welcome, however bookings are necessary for groups of more than 10 people.
Standard tour — $10.00 per person
Visitor information, bookings and park management:
Black Hill National Park and Wildlife Service Office
Phone: (+61) 7133 7300
Email: DEW.NPWSNorthLofty@sa.gov.au
Fort Glanville Historical Association
Group bookings and general enquiries
Phone: (+61 8) 8264 4798
Email: russell.sheldrick@bigpond.com
Fort Glanville Historical Association website
Emergency contacts:
Medical, fire (including bushfire) and police emergency situations
Phone: Triple Zero (000)
Police Assistance
Phone: 131 444 for non-urgent police assistance
National Parks and Wildlife Service SA – Emergency After Hours Duty Officer (voice messages only, text messages are unavailable to be received)
Phone: 0427 556 676
Injured wildlife:
Within the park
Please contact the Black Hill National Park and Wildlife Service Office on (+61) 7133 7300 or the duty officer on 0427 556 676.
Please contact a local wildlife rescue group for assistance of animals outside of the park.
Marine mammals
If you find a sick or stranded marine mammal (including whales, seals, sea lions and dolphins), please contact Black Hill National Park and Wildlife Service Office on (+61) 7133 7300 or the duty officer on 0427 556 676
Fort Glanville Conservation Park is located at 359 Military Rd, Semaphore Park, 12km north west of Adelaide. Access is via Military Road.
If you’re in your own vehicle, you can find this park on the map.
There is also public transport to this park from the Adelaide city centre.
Dogs are not permitted in this park.
Discover which parks you can walk your dog in on our find a park tool or read 12 dog-friendly walks in Adelaide Parks by Good Living for inspiration.
Assistance dogs are permitted in most public places and are therefore welcome in South Australia’s parks and reserves. Assistance dogs must be appropriately restrained on a lead and remain under your effective control at all times while in a park or reserve.
As per the dogs in parks and reserves policy, if the dog is not an accredited assistance dog, they must be trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate that disability and meet standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for a dog in a public place. However, refusal may be given if the person with the disability is unable to produce evidence the dog is an assistance dog with the appropriate training.
Before taking your assistance dog into a park that does not normally allow dogs, it is highly recommended that you contact us so we can provide you with the latest information on any potential hazards within specific parks that may affect your dog. Please contact the park via the contact details provided under the contact tab or contact the visitor service centre via email.
The fort can be hired for a variety of uses, including concerts and community activities. The parade ground and visitor centre (which has kitchen facilities) is also available for hire.
Phone: (+61 8) (+61) 7133 7300
There are toilets, public transport and guided tours available within the park.
- Read about the family fun that awaits you at Fort Glanville on the Good Living blog.
- Mobile phone coverage is good in most areas of the park.
- Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Dead wood plays a vital role in providing shelter for animals and adding nutrients to the soil.
Flora and fauna species lists
To download flora (plants) and fauna (animals) species lists for this park, use the ‘Create Simple Species List’ tab under ‘Flora Tools’ or ‘Fauna Tools’ in NatureMaps.
Aboriginal peoples have occupied, enjoyed and managed the lands and waters of this State for thousands of generations. For Aboriginal first nations, creation ancestors laid down the laws of the Country and bestowed a range of customary rights and obligations to the many Aboriginal Nations across our state.
There are many places across the State that have great spiritual significance to Aboriginal first nations. At some of these places Aboriginal cultural protocols, such as restricted access, are promoted and visitors are asked to respect the wishes of Traditional Owners.
In places where protocols are not promoted visitors are asked to show respect by not touching or removing anything, and make sure you take all your rubbish with you when you leave.
Aboriginal peoples continue to play an active role in caring for their Country, including in parks across South Australia.
Fort Glanville stands as a monument to Australia’s colonial defence strategies. In the 1870’s, fearing sea-based threats from Russia due to potential conflict between Britain and Russia, the Australian colonies planned coastal fortifications to protect major ports and coastal cities.
Three forts were planned for South Australia: Glanville (opened in 1880), Largs (opened in 1884) and Glenelg. The forts were to be connected by a road built behind the coastal dunes for military use — hence the name Military Road. A heavily armed gunboat (HMCS Protector), a torpedo station on Port River and signalling stations completed the plan.
Fort Glenelg was never built and within twenty years Fort Largs was upgraded, resulting in Fort Glanville becoming less important. Following Federation, Fort Glanville ceased to be operational. Since that time, Fort Glanville has served as a military detention centre, depression era accommodation, Boy Scout headquarters and, following its sale to the government, a caravan park. In the 1970s, its important heritage value was recognised. Once the caravan park was relocated, restoration work began and continues today.
Fort Glanville was constructed during the period 1878 – 80. It is a ‘luntte’ or crescent-shaped earthwork, reinforced by 160 cm of concrete and 60 cm brick retaining walls, affording both camouflage and protection. The front and sides of the fort were defended by a ditch, which was itself defended by a caponier (musketry gallery) at the north-east corner. The rear and southern walls were defended by the loopholed rear defence wall, barracks and stockade.
Expense Stores
Ammunition for the 64 pounder guns was located in the expense store near each gun. Battery Two 10-inch guns provided the fort with formidable fire power, having a maximum of 6500 yards (6014 metres). The smaller 64 pounder guns, located on each flank, could engage targets 5000 yards (4550 metres) away, and supported the larger guns. By 1889 however, the battery was superseded by the more modern breech-loading artillery installed at Fort Largs. The southern 10-inch gun carriage has been re-created.
Loading Gallery
With their large carriages, the 10-inch guns were able to swivel, making it possible to load them in two minutes under the protection of the loading gallery. Ammunition in the form of 400 lb (182 kg) projectiles and 130 lb (60 kg) charges of gunpowder were raised to the loading gallery above the magazine by hoists. From here they were rammed by a mechanical loading system into the muzzles. The complete loading system has been re-created for the southern gun.
Magazine
The magazine provided storage for gunpowder and shells for the 10-inch guns.
The Caponier
The caponier served as an important defensive feature. Its covered passage gave access to the supplementary gunpowder stores and the side-arm and tackle store.
The Garrison
Between 1880 and 1882, the fort was staffed on weekends on a temporary basis by the South Australian Volunteer Artillery ‘B’ battery. In 1882, the South Australian Permanent Artillery became the colony’s first home recruited ‘regular’ force. With Fort Glanville as their base, their prime purpose was to defend the colony. Officers’ quarters were separated from the enlisted men in the barracks, as were their mess facilities. Accommodation was limited, and tents for volunteers were pitched outside the fort for weekend training camps.
This fort is open to the public on the third Sunday of every month, from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, between September and May.
Fort open days are an affordable and fun afternoon out for ‘history buffs’ and families alike. The Fort Glanville Historical Association members provide a unique and entertaining living history through uniformed re-enactments of military activities. Cover your ears and smell the gun powder smoke in the air during the cannon and carbine firing drills.
Take your kids and watch them get put through their paces by the drill sergeant as he takes them through a mock traditional military parade. Don’t forget your camera as this always proves to be entertaining viewing for parents and grandparents!
Learn about the history of the fort as you wander through the small museum at the fort entrance. See war relics, military equipment and historical photos of the fort as it once was.
Entry fees include a guided tour and re-enactment:
- Adult — $15.00
- Child (under 14) — $7.00
- Concession — $7.00
- Family — $35.00
Tours
Tours are also run on these Sundays; however no booking is necessary, you also have the option to explore the fort and small museum in your own time.
Walk-ins are welcome, however bookings are necessary for groups of more than 10 people.
Standard tour — $7.00 per person
The fort is open for tours every Tuesday, from 9 am to 2pm.
Walk-ins are welcome, however bookings are required for groups of more than 10 people. The full tour of the fort takes approximately an hour and a half; shorter/longer tours are available to booked groups via arrangement.
Standard tour — $7.00 per person
Fort Glanville is always on the hunt for new volunteers to help during re-enactments and open days. If you have a passion for military history or just want to get involved with your local community please don’t hesitate to contact us.
If you think you might be interested in volunteering opportunities within this park please contact our Volunteer Support Unit.
There are no specific bushwalking trails within this park.
Can I have a fire or barbecue?
- Wood fires, solid fuel, gas fires and liquid fuel fires are prohibited throughout the year.
- Ensure you are familiar with the fire restrictions for this park.
Closures and safety
This park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and may also be closed on days of Extreme Fire Danger.
You can determine the current fire danger rating by checking the Fire Ban District map on the CFS website.
Check the CFS website or call the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline 1800 362 361 for:
- Information on fire bans and current fire conditions
- Current CFS warnings and incidents
- Information on what to do in the event of a fire.
Listen to your local area radio station for the latest updates and information on fire safety.
Every national park is different, each has its own unique environment, it is important to be responsible while enjoying all the park has to offer.
Please ensure that you:
- leave your pets at home
- do not feed birds or other animals, it promotes aggressive behaviour and an unbalanced ecology
- do not bring generators (except where permitted), chainsaws or firearms into the park
- leave the park as you found it — there are no bins in national parks, please come prepared to take your rubbish with you.
- abide by the road rules (maintain the speed limit)
- respect geological and heritage sites
- do not remove native plants
- are considerate of other park users.
- Important: Collection of firewood within National Parks is prohibited. Dead wood plays a vital role in providing shelter for animals and adding nutrients to the soil.
Open days and re-enactments (third Sunday of the month — September to May)
Entry fees include a guided tour and re-enactment.
Adult — $15.00
Child (under 14) — $7.00
Concession — $7.00
Family — $35.00
Tuesday tours (1:00pm — 4:30pm)
Standard tour — $7.00 per person
Bookings are essential for 10 people or more.
This park is not included in the park pass system.