Fort Denison
Old fort in the Sydney Harbour National Park
About
Fort Denison, part of the Sydney Harbour National Park, is a heritage-listed former penal site and defensive facility occupying a small island located north-east of the Royal Botanic Garden and approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) east of the Opera House in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. The island may have been known as Mattewanye or Muddawahnyuh in the Eora language , and as Pinchgut Island.
The site contains time gun, navigational aids and tide gauge facilities. Correctional and military facilities were designed by George Barney and built from 1840 to 1862 by William Randle. The property is owned by the Office of Environment & Heritage. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. In 1978 the former fortress was listed on the (now defunct) Register of the National Estate, and is currently used as a national park, nature reserve, tourist facility, and as a function space.
Nearby
More to see within walking distance
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Bridge across Sydney Harbour in Australia
0.9 mi awaySydney Opera House
Performing arts centre in Australia
0.6 mi awayAttack on Sydney Harbour
1942 World War II attack by Japan
0.5 mi awayRoyal Botanic Garden, Sydney
Botanic gardens in New South Wales, Australia
0.8 mi awayCadmans Cottage
Heritage-listed building in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
1.0 mi awaySydney Conservatorium of Music
Music faculty of the University of Sydney
0.9 mi awayPlaces to eat nearby
Finding places to eat…
Traveler reviews
Tickets & tours
Tickets and tours for Fort Denison
We may earn a commission from some of these links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Photos from Unsplash, Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA); facts from Wikipedia; maps © OpenStreetMap contributors, weather from Open-Meteo. Huginn’s tips are AI-written — check prices, hours and entry rules before you go.