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The Cashmere Caverns were excavated in WW2 in great secrecy by the army. These caverns were to be used as a military headquarters and communication centre in the event of a Japanese attack. They are located under the lower slopes of the Port Hills behind the Princess Margaret Hospital . The house and the estate owned by the Cracroft Wilson family was commandeered. Railways were built for access and for the removal of waste soil. The largest cavern was 7 metres high, 10 metres wide and 30 metres long. Prestressed concrete was used to line the caverns. The officers were to come down from the house by stairs while others were to enter through the access tunnels. As the army was vacating the beautiful Cracroft Wilson House fire broke out and it was burnt to the ground. After the war access to the caverns was "lost" until 1987. Today the caverns are home to the Canterbury Ring Laser . |
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