Fort Scratchley closed Thursday citing a shortage of volunteers to man the city's historic hilltop fortification.
President Bob Harper said volunteer numbers were regularly strained during the winter months, as absences, illness and other circumstances often conspired against the historical society's narrow ranks.
The fort relies on volunteer guides to operate tours, conduct gun firings, maintain vehicles and machinery, as well as open the on-site museum and shop.
Some 80 volunteers, most of whom were over 70, saw more than 70,000 visitors flow through the gates in the last financial year, Mr Harper said, with estimates of about 2500 visitors during the society's last open day.
Still, Mr Harper said while the band who gave their time to the fort's preservation were dedicated, the society struggled to maintain its six-day opening schedule when absences compounded.
Secretary Rick Carter posted the closure notice on Thursday morning, August 13, but indicated that the fort would reopen by the weekend.
"For different reasons, we have about five guides off," Mr Harper said, including himself in the absentees having taken leave to support his wife after surgery.
"If anyone gets sick, or if anything happens, we're shorthanded."
"A lot of the fellas in the workshop who look after our vehicles are over 80. It doesn't take much to knock one or two with a cold. It's winter and people are going to pick up bits of bugs, and it can be a dangerous time for us if we're running close to the line with people."
"If you get a few people off, it can really have an impact."
National health data indicates volunteers over 70 years old were the second largest demographic behind people aged 40 to 54 to give their time formally through an organisation, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' General Social Survey in 2020.
The same survey, renewed in 2025, revealed the numbers for volunteers had remained stable at around five million nationally, but had not yet recovered to a pre-pandemic peak.
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"We're always looking for volunteers," Mr Harper said. "It's not that it is a bad place to work, it's just that we need to have people there. If we don't have our numbers there, we can't open the gates. If we don't have our gin crews available, we can't fire the guns."
"We have to have that core group of people around, but we need a bit of flexibility with some additional people who want to come and help out where they can."
"Everything is dependent on volunteers. My wife volunteers at the courthouse to support victims and witnesses. There are volunteers at the Newcastle Museum and Blackbutt, and the number of older people who are putting their hand up for that, whether we like it or not, is getting smaller and trying to spread a lot further."
Mr Harper said he joined the Fort Scratchley Historical Society because he had a love of history, adding that the history of the fort was in many respects a history of the region.
"It's our history," he said. "People tend to forget that war is not a thing that you want. My theory is that if we understand history, it helps us not make mistakes in the future."
Over the years the fort has played host to a variety of events, from commemorative anniversaries to arts shows, cultural celebrations, live theatre and film, as well as boasting its commanding panoramic view of of the city as a vantage point for air shows, ship visits, and harbour traffic.
Mr Harper said giving his time to the fort was deeply rewarding and urged anyone with an interest in the region's history to approach the society to inquire. He was understanding of the pressures of modern life, particularly during strained economic times, but said the fort welcomed all willing hands.
"You can't knock the people who are working for a living," he said. "They have to support their families and they have to live their lives. The only day we close is on Tuesday and that's to do maintenance."
"A lot of people are working two jobs - I know I was when I was a young person - but you have to love what you're doing too, and I love history. And, if you're interested, it is one of the most rewarding jobs out there."
"If somebody wants to come up and have a look, they don't have to commit. Come up and have a look."
