Fort Glanville

⭐⭐⭐☆☆ A fascinating slice of history, but not without its shadows. Fort Glanville is one of those places that every South Aussie should visit at least once. Tucked behind the dunes at Semaphore Park, it’s one of the best-preserved colonial-era forts in the country – complete with cannons, drill halls, and reenactments that take you straight back to the late 1800s. The volunteers from the Fort Glanville Historical Association do a cracking job bringing it all to life. I’ve got my own piece of history here too – back on 13 March 1986, I was serving as a musician in the Royal Australian Navy, and had the honour of playing the euphonium for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II when she visited the fort and the newly built visitor centre. She spent almost an hour here, and it’s a memory I won’t forget in a hurry. There’s even a plaque at the site that marks the occasion. That said, it’s important to recognise Fort Glanville for what it is: a symbol of South Australia's colonial past – a time when British imperialism was quite literally fortified with stone, steel, and gunpowder. It was built to “protect” the colony, but like many heritage sites across this country, it tells only part of the story. The Kaurna people, the traditional custodians of this land, are barely acknowledged here. There’s a missed opportunity to talk honestly about how colonisation displaced First Nations peoples from Yarta – this Country. If you’re heading down Semaphore way, it’s worth popping in on one of their open days. Just go with your eyes open – and maybe ask a few questions about whose stories are being told… and whose are left out.