Fort Largs
Coordinates: 34°48′36″S 138°29′38″E / 34.810086°S 138.493824°E Fort Largs is a historic defence site in the seaside suburb of Taperoo near Port Adelaide, approximately 18 km (11 mi) north west of Adelaide's centre. In the 1960s it was repurposed for use as the South Australian Police Academy. In 2012, new police academy housing was constructed on the east portion of the site and, as of 2014[update], the west portion of the site, including the historic defence constructions, was slated for redevelopment.
In June 2016 Renewal SA announced its preferred tenderer, AVJennings, for the redevelopment of part of the site for about 250 homes, with the heritage-listed WW II barracks to be converted to apartments, the Drill Hall to be retained as a community facility, and the historic fort to be owned and operated by the National Trust of SA.
In the late 1800s, visits of Russian ships in South Australian waters were of a friendly nature, but the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 was seen by Britain as part of a potential expansion plan by the Russian Empire into India, and the Australian colonies were advised to upgrade their defence capabilities. The inadequacy of defences in the colony was seen in 1862, when the Svetlana sailed into Port Phillip Bay (Melbourne) and the fort built had no gunpowder for its cannons to use to return a salute. William Jervois, a Royal Engineer, was commissioned to determine the defence capabilities of all colonies, with the exception of Western Australia. In his report, he was convinced that the Russian Empire would attack South Australian shipping in an attempt to destroy the local economy. As a result of Jervois' report, Fort Glanville and Fort Largs were built to protect Port Adelaide.
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