The Howitzer had been allocated to the City of East Ballarat in 1920 as part of the distribution of War Trophies and remained in Eureka Park. Ballarat, Australia for some 86 years. At the time of its placement, it was in full working order, but over the years, many parts have been taken and the remaining frame and formerly movable components, have rusted solid.

The Ballarat Council wanted to move the Gun from its place of rest in the Eureka Stockade Park in 2004, to make way for the 150 anniversary celebration of the Eureka uprising of 1854.
Their plans were to simply move the Gun to the Council yard with no plans to restore it.The Society recognised the importance of keeping War Trophies and approached Council with plans to restore and then re-display the refurbished piece to the public, as was the original intent when the piece was presented to the Council in 1920.

In fairness to the Council, they have subsequently given the Society some funding the restoration
Some Federal Government funding has also been obtained from Veterans Affairs, which has allowed the project to commence and some basic stripping of parts begun.

It's early days yet, and pictures will be pasted as they become available.

There has been a replacement of the two formally wood rims, in steel. The rims were formed from 4mm steel, folded to a "U" section and then rolled by a local structural steel fabrication business. The rolled sections were made longer than needed and cut back to half circles, then welded and trimmed. Stiffener webs were welded inside the rim to support the spoke pressure areas. The tyres were cleaned up internally. The tyre was heated to 700c (dull red) via the great assistance of a local foundry and their heat treatment furnace and dropped on to the cold rim. When the parts cooled down, they were a good tight fit.
The tyres are 5mm wider than the rim and needed special locators to ensure accurate positioning.

One of the original wood spokes, was selected for some body filler (bog, to you who fix cars). I was able to recreate the original contours by logic and a little artistic licence (no fee). The re-contoured spoke was then cut lengthwise to make a pattern and a second set of halves was produced in fibre glass so that the spokes could be poured 2 at a time. Some experimental casting was needed to establish the shrinkage of the length. The pattern was adjusted to suit.

The spokes are attached to the rims by means of a steel bracket and socket arrangement. The wheels were originally assembled in the normal manner, that is, spokes on to hub, rim sections on to spokes and the tyre shrunk on.

The bracket and socket were made in one piece by drop forging. It is intended to reproduce the same device in two pieces, being a plate steel bracket and a cast steel socket. A cast iron former was used to make the brackets.

There are 3 types of rim bracket. 6 plain & 3 each with tabs. The 3mm plate steel bracket is NOT flat but is curved as a short segment of the wheel. This was done in a 100 tonne workshop press, as the "U" shape was formed. The parts were all oversize then trimmed, after welding on the sockets and the position of any holes was established.

With a full set of brackets, sockets and spokes, the wheels can go together. Measurements have indicated that the rims are true within 2-3mm.

The final assembly required the rim/tyre assembly to be re-heated to around 700 deg C before the spokes were assembled into the sockets.

The expansion at 700 deg C was sufficient to allow the spokes to be inserted without incident and when cooled down, all the spokes became tight and secure. The inner part of the hub was then bolted to the wheel.

The pilot holes in the spoke brackets were opened up to full size (3/8"-10mm), rod inserted and hot riveted over.

Zinc rich primer was poured through the tyre bolt holes whilst the wheel was rotated. This ensured all the inner part of the rim/tyre assembly was coated.

There were more leaks (gaps) between the rim and tyre, hence the paint streaks all over. (Note to myself - paint the outside first to seal the gaps) (Doh!)

Progress to 2009

Little has happened in recent times because the Society had become aware that other WWI German trophy guns, installed in a local playground in a Caravan Park, need to be moved as the park was to change usage and had been sold.

As a result, the Society has entered into an agreement with Ballarat City Council to the effect that the Society will undertake to refurbish all the guns and return them to the People of Ballarat in a new display. In the near(?) future, it is intended to revamp this page to better reflect the scope of this project.