Gavin Grimmer
In the above image (previous page), you'll notice the indication of a road going up to the Generator Room with the words "Slope" either side of it (to the left). This is obviously a road entrance into the Generator Room to enable coal to be trucked into the Coal Room (For the Steam Engines to drive the generators in those days).
If you consider these Reports in your book:
Pg 211: (prior to 1955) The hairpin bend on the northeastern side and just before the cattle grid was another entrance, it was 40 paces from the apex of the corner, this one you could drive a vehicle inside. Further along is another entrance which goes to a gun emplacement; this isn't the one that I am referring to.
Page 233: (1940-1943) Halfway up the hill on the eastern side and off a track there was a tunnel entrance with a pair of large iron gates on it, there was also a turn around area for the trucks which used to drive into the entrance.
and Page 205: (1950s to early 60s) Another way that I got into the tunnels was through a large entrance on the eastern side of the hill, it was below and to the right of the gun position that is next to the public car park overlooking Cheltenham Beach.
All three accounts get mixed up with the direction of east and west (a common mistake) as the descriptions in two of them clearly identify the position as being on the north western side i.e. "just before the cattle grid"/..."which goes to a gun emplacement" and "next to the public car park overlooking Cheltenham Beach."
Page 190: (1958 - 1962) An entrance I remember seeing was about half way up the hill and off to the left of the road which goes to the school, it was just before the hairpin bend and the cattle stop. It had double iron gates at the entrance and was quite big, a 15 cwt Bedford truck could easily go through, a short distance in beyond the iron gates was a pair of heavy wooden doors.
Page 187: (1962) There was also a large tunnel entrance near the hair pin bend. It was in the side of the hill just before you went over the cattle stop.
Page 199: (1960s to 70s) Major features like the big entrance that once stood adjacent to the present visitor's car park were covered over. That entrance was so big that trucks could drive into the hill at that point, I once climbed over the gates that blocked it and walked a short distance down the roadway, which inclined down and curved to the right. I remember the oval shape of it and the equally oval lights in the ceiling.
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Earth Cave
On one of my visits to North Head with Martin, I noticed this small cave that looked like a horizontal slot in the bank, so I decided to squeeze in and have a look.
NH Page 11
