Battery Observation Post and Radar Room (Radio room obscured)

At Northern Junction, passing through the farm gate to the (Left hand side of the interpretative panel) you are now moving towards the gun battery. To the south east (Right hand side - across in the adjacent paddock) you can see the collection of structures forming the Battery Observation Post (BOP) complex.

These structures include : 

 - Battery Observation Post (grass covered turf on roof)
 - Radar Room and Radio Room (adjoining)
 - Above ground Wireless Room
 - Emu Observation Post

Plus their associated Engine Rooms. All these structures are included in a Restoration Plan drafted in 2001.

Above Ground Wireless Room

The first structure you see on the right hand side is the Above Ground Wireless Room built in 1937. The bulk of the building is constructed below ground with only 750mm standing above ground. The building can be accessed from either end by a set of stairs. The 'room' consists of three rooms (1 large and 2 small).

There is a good view from here down into Mullet Bay. The plantings on the slope to the left of the beach were carried out by Downtown Rotary. The planted pohutukawa on the right hand slope were part of the Project Crimson project and were planted in 1994/95.

Battery Observation Post (BOP) - Radio Room - Radar Room

Also completed in 1937 and partly recessed into the ground, the Battery Observation Post provides a 220 degree field of view.

 The radar room was built adjacent to the BOP and to the rear is a radio room. The area between these three spaces was in filled to provide an access lobby.

The doors were made of steel plate with steel windows and shutters. The BOP housed all the range finding equipment

There are plinths used for mounting equipment upon. There is also a network of open channel floor drains and piped services can still be seen extending from the radio room to the radar room. The radio room (the smallest room) features the remains of radio switching gear mounted on the west wall.

There are depressions in the ground nearby (slightly downhill from the structures heading east).

They were earth dugouts (shrapnel pits) with timber roofs overlaid with turf built for the safety of personnel.

There is an excellent view to be had from here across to the gun emplacements.

The picture on the interpretative panel at the Northern Junction showing the Battery Commander and the last test firing of the guns in 1957 was taken just outside the Battery Observation Post.

Emu Observation Post (EOP)

This was the naval anti submarine observation post manned by Navy personnel. It was used in the detection of enemy ships and submarines by monitoring the indicator loops and ASDIC arrays laid underwater out in the Gulf. Its other role was observation of the contact minefield.

Again partly recessed into the ground and accessed by a set of stairs. It had its own power supply, fuel store and rest room. It is subdivided into a number of rooms to allow the operation of all the various equipment. It is difficult to see this structure from the track to the emplacements; the EOP is located downhill from the two farm water tanks.

Both the EOP and the BOP had their own engine rooms where power was generated.

Their interiors are divided into two rooms - the larger is the generator room, the second is the fuel store.

The Emu engine room is partly recessed into the ground and accessed by a set of stairs; they were diesel generators with armoured cables in shallow trenches taking the electricity to where it was needed