One of the interesting places to visit in Australia tour package is the Fort Lytton is a national park located in Lytton Brisbane. The Fort Lytton National park, Brisbane is located at a 13 kilometres distance to the northeast of the Brisbane CBD. The park is located near the mouth of the Brisbane river on the southern bank. The Fort Lytton national park, Brisbane comprises of the heritage-listed Fort Lytton and the heritage listed Lytton Quarantine station that make for added attraction.

Fort Lytton national park, Brisbane is a pentagonal fortress. The park appears hidden behind a moat and grassy embankments that add to the quaint charm of the park. The Fort Lytton national park, Brisbane is the only fort in Australia with a moat.

History of Fort Lytton national park, Brisbane

Fort Lytton is where Queensland’s military history came into being. Fort Lytton was built in 1880-81 with the aim to protect Brisbane from an enemy, maritime attack. The Fort is the only landmark of a reserve that remained for 40 years as the central point of entire Queensland’s defence activity. The fort Lytton was designed by Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Scratchley and it was used for defensive purposes in Brisbane. The fort was used to this purpose till the end of Second World War.

What makes the fort interesting is that in order to guard the river ‘two six-inch muzzle loading rifled guns and two 64-pounder cannons’ were installed. The heavier guns were made to face the river. Several Barracks were set for the permanent Garrison. The garrisons were where several soldiers came to train. Fort Lytton was under the maintenance of the defense forces and soldiers who trained during the Boer War and two World Wars.
The Fort is a typical nineteenth century garrison – a pentagonal fortress concealed behind grassy embankments – surrounded for greater protection by a water-filled moat. Fort Lytton was strategically located at the mouth of the Brisbane River. The design of the fort was meant to support the controlled river mines and counter efforts by enemy ships.

It is these significant features of the fort Lytton that add to its beauty and take you back on a journey through history. The strategic appearance and placement of all things in and around the fort and the fort itself make the Fort Lytton national park, Brisbane a place worth visiting.

The Lytton Hill is worth visiting too. The hill has been used for non-military purposes. The Lytton hill has served as a place for customs lookout, signal and telegraph station and a reformation centre for boys. Lytton Hill also served as place to observe semaphone messages.

Heritage listing

In 2000, Lytton Quarantine station was listed on the Queensland heritage register. Fort Lytton too was listed on the Queensland heritage register in 1992.

Besides the heritage listed stations the Fort Lytton national park, Brisbane also serves as an ideal place to plan a picnic. IF you are planning on having a barbecue day then a visit to the Fort Lytton national park, Brisbane is a must go place. You can also visit the museum to discover the stories that dominate fort Lytton’s magnificent history.