MAGNETIC ISLAND WWII FORTIFICATIONS (09/10/09)
Despite the main attraction of the island being the spectacular beaches there are also some interesting bush walks in the interior of the island. We decided to take a look at the ruins of the WWII fort built here to defend industrial Townsville from Japanese warships. 
The remains of one of the large gun turrets now largely overgrown with bush. These guns were only fired once during the war- a warning shot at an American ship which turned up unannounced!
The gun emplacements were disguised from enemy bombing raids with fake boulders made to blend in with the natural landscape. The crumbling remains of these chicken-wire and cement constructions are still in place.
High trees and thick bush quickly hide any traces of the fort leaving uninterrupted views of the island.
Magnetic Island is also home to one of the largest Koala colonies in the whole of Australia. Despite this we only managed to spot this one sleepy individual.
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