In the 1850/60s there was great anxiety about the imminence of a Russian attack on the Colony of Victoria. To counter this threat, batteries were placed on beaches around Port Phillip Bay. When a Russian vessel, the Svetlana, entered the bay in 1862 there was no gunpowder at Queenscliffe to give the salute. There was a growing sense that the colony needed a stronger navy to protect the vulnerable Victoria against the Russian and French threats.
by cityofportphillip on March 23, 2016Please login to comment on this item