Belmont Anti-Tank Ditch
The Belmont Anti-Tank Ditch was an anti-tank trench constructed in 1942 as part of the southern perimeter defensive system of the Port of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, as part of Fortress Newcastle during World War II. The anti-tank ditch was located 12 kilometres south of Newcastle, south of the town of Belmont.
At the time it was anticipated that the Imperial Japanese Army may attempt a beach landing between Belmont and Swansea Channel along Nine Mile Beach. Barbed wire fencing and machine gun emplacements were constructed along the entire length of Nine Mile Beach.
The anti tank ditch was constructed where the sand spit peninsular is only about one kilometre in width and is partially taken up by Belmont Lagoon which is a large marshy lagoon which is connected to Lake Macquarie by Cold Tea Creek.
Cold Tea Creek was dredged and straightened and the creek formed the anti tank ditch, which was designed to prevent enemy tanks proceeding north to Newcastle.
Anti-tank defences included two interlocking rows of concrete tetrahedrons tank traps or Dragons Teeth were located on the southern bank of the ditch to obstruct the movement of tanks. Twenty seven acres of dense scrubland to the immediate south of the ditch was cleared to deny cover to enemy forces and pile driven vertical timber posts or Dumble Tank Stops were located every five feet along the northern bank of the ditch to form a vertical barrier to any tanks that gained access to the ditch. The concrete tetrahedrons and vertical timber posts extended in straight lines from within Lake Macquarie to the sea.
A temporary bridge over the anti tank ditch was built of timber. In the event of attack it could be collapsed quickly into the ditch by the withdrawal of five bolts.
Many of the pile driven vertical timber posts or Dumble Tank Stops are still visible; however are slowly succumbing to the elements. Two concrete tetrahedrons have been relocated to the Ken Lambkin Reserve to form a memorial, and sit on the southern bank of the creek mouth.
The 8th Garrison and 32 Brigade of the Australian Army were responsible for the defence from Adamstown, Dudley, Redhead to Blacksmiths of the southern perimeter defensive system of the Port of Newcastle.
References
- Lake Macquarie City Council
- National Archives
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& localities
- Adamstown Heights
- Arcadia Vale
- Argenton
- Awaba
- Balcolyn
- Balmoral
- Barnsley
- Belmont
- Belmont North
- Belmont South
- Bennetts Green
- Blackalls Park
- Blacksmiths
- Bolton Point
- Bonnells Bay
- Boolaroo
- Booragul
- Brightwaters
- Buttaba
- Cameron Park
- Cams Wharf
- Cardiff
- Cardiff Heights
- Cardiff South
- Carey Bay
- Catherine Hill Bay
- Caves Beach
- Charlestown
- Coal Point
- Cooranbong
- Croudace Bay
- Dora Creek
- Dudley
- Edgeworth
- Eleebana
- Eraring
- Fassifern
- Fennell Bay
- Fishing Point
- Floraville
- Freemans Waterhole
- Garden Suburb
- Gateshead
- Glendale
- Highfields
- Hillsborough
- Holmesville
- Jewells
- Kahibah
- Kilaben Bay
- Killingworth
- Kotara South
- Lakelands
- Little Pelican
- Macquarie Hills
- Mandalong
- Marks Point
- Marmong Point
- Martinsville
- Mirrabooka
- Morisset
- Morisset Park
- Mount Hutton
- Murrays Beach
- Myuna Bay
- New Lambton Heights
- Nords Wharf
- Pelican
- Pinny Beach
- Rankin Park
- Rathmines
- Redhead
- Ryhope
- Seahampton
- Silverwater
- Speers Point
- Sunshine
- Swansea
- Swansea Heads
- Teralba
- Tingira Heights
- Toronto
- Valentine
- Wakefield
- Wangi Wangi
- Warners Bay
- West Wallsend
- Whitebridge
- Windale
- Windermere Park
- Woodrising
- Wyee
- Wyee Point
- Yarrawonga Park
points of interest
- Avondale College
- Belmont Anti-Tank Ditch
- Blackalls Park railway station
- Cardiff Locomotive Workshops
- Charlestown Square
- Cockle Creek Smelter
- Eraring Power Station
- Fernleigh Track
- Glenrock Lagoon
- Lake Macquarie
- Lake Macquarie Petrified Forest
- Mount Sugarloaf
- RAAF Base Rathmines
- South Waratah Colliery
- Teralba Colliery
- Toronto railway line
- Toronto railway station
- Wangi Power Station
- Watagans National Park