Wollongong's WW2 Tank Trap

For many years the story of Wollongong's World War Two tank trap was forgotten by all except those who had witnessed it. Noel Murray was a boy of just 8 years old when the war came to his backyard carving a great big ditch all the way from shores of Port Kembla Beach to his home at the top of Mt Kembla and wrote about it in his book MEMORIES OF TIMES GONE BY, 2008. The threat of invasion was real and the fortifications were top secret at the time. Most of the tank trap was filled in after the war, but high up on the escaprment a portion still remains. Local legends Neil Bott and Kembla Lodge volunteer their time every second Sunday of the month to take people on historical walk and talk tours for free. Here's a snippet from this month's walk to Wollongong's very own WW2 tank trap remains that thankfully never saw use. Visit Kembla Jottings for details on their next historic Walk and Talk Tour.

[@newcastledefence1272]

Found the following:
05 December 1942
"The Dapto Anti Tank Obstacle is falling into a serious state of disrepair. On the Eastern end between Perkins Beach and Lake Illawarra the piles and defensive wire are being covered with sand.
On the Western between Mullet Creek and Mount Kembla, heavy rain has caused piles and revetment to fall in, and the obstacle is quite open to the passage of A.F.Vs in several places."
Note: "A.F.V. - Armoured Fighting Vehicles."

[@newcastledefence1272]

22 October 1943
"LHQ have directed that all wiring and defensive works in WOLLONGONG and NEWCASTLE beach areas will be dismantled." ... "5. Major works, such as removal of tank obstacles etc will NOT be undertaken without prior approval of HQ 1 Aust Div."