Fort Lytton National Park

Fort Lytton is one of several coastal fortifications built along Australia's coast in the 19th century to safeguard shipping lanes and ports from possible enemy raids.

From 1881 until the 1930s, Fort Lytton was Brisbane's front line of defence and is regarded as the birthplace of Queensland's military history. Regular training camps in military warfare were a highlight of Queensland's political and social calendar.

This classic example of a coastal fortress was surrounded by a water-filled moat, and its heavy armaments were concealed behind grassy ramparts connected by underground passages. After World War II, the fort had outlived its usefulness and fell into disrepair until petroleum refining company Ampol took over the site in 1963. The fort became a national park in 1988 which today protects this important link with our military past.

From central Brisbane: travel east along Lytton Road. Drive through the Hemmant Industrial area, then swing left to South Street and through the gate to Fort Lytton.

From Wynnum: drive west to the end of Tingal Road, left into Pritchard Street towards Brisbane and right into South Street to the park entrance.