Researchers discover hidden war treaures

Jessica Benton
A research team has uncovered a treasure trove of war relics spread across the Bellarine Peninsula in an Australian-first study.
Historian Bob Marmion, archaeologist Brad Duncan and engineer John Patrick have spent the past five years investigating former defence sites dating from the 1860s through to the Second World War.
Mr Marmion said the research covered a “huge” area with more than 200 sites from Breamlea to the tip of the peninsula and across to Drysdale.
The remains of forts and gun batteries, radar sites, bunkers, army camps and searchlights were among the discoveries, Mr Marmion said.
Unearthing an anti-tank ditch to stop Japanese tanks attacking Queenscliff was a highlight of the treasure hunt.
“No one has ever looked at how or why these sites were there,” Mr Marmion said.
“People know the obvious ones like Fort Queenscliff but we’re now looking at a whole network that goes back to the 1860s and which is built on old colonial foundations.”
Mr Marmion said the research would go into a book on the peninsula’s historic military defences.
The team would also create a 3D version of the sites for display at Fort Queenscliff’s museum, he said.
“We’re trying to record and interpret so we can let people know what’s out there. We really have a unique area of Australian war history right on our doorstep.”
Mr Marmion said anyone with additional information about military relics on the peninsula could phone him on 0408 326 311.