19C - War of the Antipodes - New South Wales Plans

The government of New South Wales met at the Governor General’s home near the harbour. In the ground floor dining room they were updated by the secret agent Chesty Bond who had infiltrated the Victorian government and discovered their plans.

After his update some of the ministers were extremely agitated and afraid. The Victorians were nearly ready to strike and New South Wales was completely unprepared. How could they withstand this vicious onslaught by the Victorians. The Prime Minister stood with his Minister for War and calmly stated that there was nothing to worry about. “Plans and preparations are afoot, and I apologise for the secrecy but you can see the issues at stake – our survival and that of our state!” he told the cabinet.

He went over to the cupboards and pulled out a map of Sydney, a map of Australia and some strange drawings.

A birds eye view of Sydney in 1888 - Fort Macquarie is located on Bennelong Point - where the Opera House is now.
The Governor General's House is behind the fort in the Botanical Gardens. Further back is Parliament House. The Observatory is located by itself on a hill on the right hand side of the view.

A map of NSW used by the government in planning their defense against Victoria.

“Gentlemen, we are prepared. Our army does not just consist of our brave soldiers, our red coats and lancers, cannon and artillery, our defences in Sydney do not just consist on Fort Macquarie, Dawes Point Battery, Fort Denison and Bare Island. Victoria has its secret weapons and so do we”

“When Francis Greenaway designed the first buildings on Observatory Hill, he wanted to build an arsenal in the fort there to help defend the city. We have made that dream come true. Our scientists have developed weapons of inconceivable power that can strike down any of these new airships that they can see with a range of over five miles. Within the walls of the observatory are two of these ‘radium’ guns, fully operational! Furthermore, additional radium guns are being prepared to defend our major towns of Newcastle, Bathurst, and Nowra.”

“But what of our soldiers outside the city. Surely they will be destroyed or helpless in the face of these Victorian EAMMUs. We can’t just defend the city, we need to defend the state!” said the agitated minister of farming.

“Sir, all is in hand. For I have not yet finished describing our weapons. Like the Victorians we have also developed a new terrifying weapon of war. The Kingsgrove Armoury Novel Ground Assault Rapid Offensive Operations, or KANGAROO. Roo if you like” he smiled. “These weapons can bounce large distances, are armed with cannon and Gatling guns of the latest type, armoured against rifles and shrapnel”

“We believe that the Victorians do not intend to strike too soon. When the radium guns are installed in each of the towns we can make all of this public. The Victorians will have to back down and peace will reign across this continent at least.”

The meeting broke up after the fourth bottle of port was finished and the ministers retired to their homes.

The main NSW barracks is the Victoria Barracks located a few miles south of the city center.

The NSW army on display

The NSW army. From the left, Infantry, Artillery and Gatling guns, the famed NSW Lancers on the right and at the back the KANGAROO's

The NSW Infantry Battalions - five strong

A close up of the Gatling Guns and Artillery

NSW secret Weapons - Radium Guns and KANGAROOs

A close up of the Radium Guns

A profile of the KANGAROO - the Commander is in the front pouch and the gunner sits in the body. The head contains a cannon while the two arms are Gatling guns. Any excess steam escapes from the chimney tail that also serves to balance the KANGAROO when it is at full speed.

Steam Valley Chapter 6 - Reverend Darkwin

Reverend Darkwin was fascinated by the theory of evolution and decided to put it into practice.

A resident of Essex the Reverend moved to Steam Valley to avoid the trouble that his types of forced genetic evolutionary experiments tend to generate. Luckily he was able to secure an old church for his base so he felt right at home.

The Reverend has already provided some income to his backers.

 His first experiments were concerned with breeding flying monkeys. These have been a great success and teams of flying monkeys are now delivering telegrams in many of the major cities of Europe. In London, they have thrived in the densely populated metropolis and living off pigeons are now a welcome sight as they flap and glide across the sky. Many large homes now have a landing area specifically for the monkeys.

Flying Monkeys on their landing platform.

His other experiments have also been successful but have raised many worrying concerns. The Reverend has expanded the brains of his captive gorillas and made a small army. The gorillas are armed with specially modified guns that are suitable for their large hands. The Reverend has suggested that they be used as light infantry and therefore their uniform is the same colour as the English Rifle units from the Napoleonic wars. The Reverend anticipates that they will fight in the same way, moving through the bush and woods, attacking the enemy where they least expect it and then disappearing into the terrain when the battle is done.

Gorilla Light Infantry

To assist them he has also evolved a very large silver back gorilla that carries the squad’s artillery piece, especially designed for use by the gorillas. With a monkey spotter perched on his shoulder and an assistant gorilla to load the artillery rounds, they make a valuable addition to the fire power of the unit.

Gorilla Artillery Team

They are led by their unit commander “Caesar” who has a penchant for cigars.
The British army, can see the usefulness of the unit, when teamed with a steady unit of red coats of course, in dealing with the pesky natives in the various jungle ridden parts of the Empire.

The Reverend and his daughter, plus Ceasar and at the back Mr Charles Darlost - an early failed experiment

19C - War of the Antipodes - Victorian Airships

One part of the Victorian plans of continental conquest was the requirement for an Airship that could carry their armies at great speed in either attack of defense.

Not able to build them of the size and complexity of those in Europe, nonetheless, they were still able to do the job at short notice and with the limited manufacturing capabilities on hand.

A combination of river barges together with small railroad engines to supply the motive power, these airships with their anti-gravitarium thrusters below were going to carry the Victorian army to victory. Or so the Victorian government hoped.

Here for the first time are photos of the airships.

As one of the airships leaves its "hanger", another flies overhead.

The airship on a test flight

Here we see the entire Victorian airship force in line astern flying over the barracks in Melbourne. Their cleverly painted blue colour and white steam from the funnels lets them merge into the sky.