Fort Nepean

Fort Nepean is a historic coastal defence fort located at Point Nepean at the tip of the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. Situated within Point Nepean National Park overlooking The Rip and Bass Strait, it formed part of the Port Phillip Heads fortifications from the 1870s. Notable for its gun batteries, tunnels and military buildings, it is known as the site where the first Australian shots of both World War I and World War II were fired.

Visitors can explore a preserved coastal fort complex within Point Nepean National Park. Expect historic gun emplacements, underground tunnels, barracks ruins, observation posts and information displays set on a coastal headland with views over The Rip, Bass Strait and Port Phillip. Access is via walking or cycling tracks or a shuttle bus from the park entrance (about 3.5 km). The site is largely outdoors with uneven surfaces, interpretive signage and guided tours available.

Fort Nepean was developed from the 1870s to 1880s as part of the Port Phillip Heads coastal defence system to protect Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay. It was progressively armed with large coastal artillery, including disappearing guns, and manned through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The fort fired the first Australian shots of World War I on 5 August 1914 to stop the German steamer SS Pfalz, and the first shots of World War II on 4 September 1939. It remained an active defence site until the 1940s and later became part of the Officer Cadet School Portsea.

Fort Nepean is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and is part of the Point Nepean National Park heritage area. It represents Victoria's colonial and Commonwealth coastal defence heritage and is valued for its military architecture, engineering and role in Australia's wartime history. The broader Point Nepean area also holds significance for its long use as a quarantine station and military training area.