Malabar Headland Bunkers: Safety Warning & History Guide
If you've walked the spectacular Boora Point Walking Track at Malabar Headland, you've likely seen the grey, hulking silhouettes of the WWII coastal defence batteries. The Malabar Battery is a haunting relic of Sydney's wartime past, but today it carries a warning far more urgent than its history. It's one of the Sydney sites in Hidden Gems NSW, listed for viewing from the track only.
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Important: The bunker complex is off-limits and the Artillery Track is closed by NSW National Parks due to safety concerns. This isn't just about preserving history. The structures are dangerously unstable.
Quick Facts
- Status: Closed. Don't enter, climb on or add to the structures.
- Location: Malabar Headland National Park (eastern section)
- The risk: Structural collapse, "concrete cancer" and unstable soil
- Best way to see them: From a safe distance on the Boora Point Walking Track, in daylight
Why the Malabar Bunkers Are Closed
Plenty of people are tempted to hop the fence for a photo, but the Malabar bunkers are uniquely dangerous for two reasons.
1. The "soft soil" threat
Unlike many of Sydney's sandstone headlands, the earth around the Malabar bunkers is incredibly soft, friable soil. Decades of erosion and underground tunnelling have left the ground "hollowed out".
- The risk: The soil is so unstable it could collapse under the weight of a person simply leaning against a structure or standing on a seemingly solid patch of grass.
2. Concrete cancer and unsecured shafts
The structures are over 80 years old and have been battered by salt air.
- Concrete cancer: The steel reinforcement inside the concrete has rusted and expanded, causing big chunks of ceiling and wall to flake off without warning.
- Hidden vertical shafts: Unsecured ammunition hoists and ventilation shafts drop several storeys into pitch-black underground rooms, and they're often hidden by overgrown weeds.
Respecting the Local Residents (the Bats)
Beyond the danger to people, the bunkers are now critical habitat for a colony of eastern bent-wing bats. This protected species relies on the dark, undisturbed tunnels to survive. Entering the site doesn't just risk your safety; it directly threatens the colony.
How to See the Bunkers Safely (Boora Point Walking Track)
You can still appreciate the history and the incredible views of Malabar Headland without breaking the law or risking a fall.
- Check the rifle range: The eastern section of the park, including the Boora Point Walking Track, is closed when the ANZAC Rifle Range is in use: every Saturday, the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month, and some weekdays (8am to 5pm). Red flags, "rifle range in use" signs or closed gates mean it's shut. Check the NPWS alerts page before you leave.
- Stick to the track: The Boora Point Walking Track has stunning panoramic ocean views and a clear view of the Battery Observation Post from a safe, stable distance. Stay on the signposted track and behind the fences.
- Whale watching: From May to November, the cliffs near the bunkers are one of the best spots in Sydney to see migrating humpback whales.
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Malabar Headland Bunkers FAQs
Can you go inside the Malabar bunkers?
No. The bunkers are closed and unstable, with crumbling concrete, soft ground and hidden shafts. View them from the signposted Boora Point Walking Track only.
Is the Boora Point Walking Track open?
It's in the eastern section of the park, which closes from 8am to 5pm every Saturday, the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month and some weekdays when the rifle range is in use. Check NPWS alerts before you go.
Is the Artillery Track open?
No. NSW National Parks has closed the Artillery Track due to safety concerns.
When can you see whales from Malabar Headland?
Humpback whales pass the cliffs from May to November.
