labyrinth of World War II tunnels under Garden Island appears as ready today as it was when first excavated in a hurry more than 80 years ago, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. The base’s underground network was dug out of sandstone starting in 1941 after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour.
There were fears that an aerial attack on Sydney could follow, and the five tunnels would provide an air-raid shelter for the 2500 or so essential dockyard staff based at Garden Island.
There was no room for the public. They could take their chances in the railway stations.
The tunnels, some with evocative names such as Petticoat Lane, North-West Passage and Lambeth Walk, have just been serviced as part of a multimillion-dollar three-year infrastructure upgrade at the defence base.
The full article is here.
