Bilo battery gun site – a glimpse into Fiji’s war history

Nestled outside of Lami, along Veisari, Bilo Road is a historical site that stands as a physical reminder of Fiji’s involvement in the World War II.

Known today as the Bilo Battery Gun site, it was first constructed in January 1941 to protect the Suva Harbour from the possible Japanese invasion.

The Bilo Battery Gun site was strategically placed as a defensive strategy overlooking the Suva Harbor which until today, is the main entry point for cargo ships, trade and foreign vessels, to do business in Suva, Fiji.

According to a Global Archaeology site, after the bombing of the U.S Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in 1941, there was a potential threat to the Pacific particularly Fiji because of its central location in the Pacific Region.

Back in the days when Fiji was under the British Colonial ruling, Fiji also became an ideal location to base defense troops which led to the various set up of airstrips, raid shelters and defensive structures.

One of the four defensive structures that was constructed in Suva was the Bilo Battery Gun site in Veisari, Lami. The others were located near the Parliament House, Veiuto, at the Forum Secretariat/Nasonini area, and at Flagstaff Reservoir Hill.

Other gun batteries were located on the Western side of Viti Levu, mainly at Momi and Vuda. These Bilo Battery was home to two six-inch cannons and two 4.7’’ guns.

While the Bilo Battery Gun site did not see any action during the World War II, it stood ready to defend Suva from any potential threat from the enemy.

The Bilo Battery Gun site was in a hype of activities with soldiers, and military staff that helped to setup temporary military tents, trucks and medical facilities. However, after the construction of the Bilo Battery Gun site, Fiji was hit by a devastating cyclone in 1941, where the site suffered from damages.

While the damages were fixed, military training and planning continued. Three years after the construction of Bilo Battery Gun site, the New Zealand Army replaced the Fiji Defence Force.

Later on, they were in turn replaced by the United States Army. Then the U.S. Army pulled out of Fiji in 1944, to head to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea as the battle continued in the Pacific further North.

Today, managed and looked after by the landowners of Waiqanake and the Fiji Museum, the Bilo Battery Gun site along with other battery sites in Fiji, is marked as one of Fiji’s national sites.

Visit to the site

The Bilo Battery Gun site is open to open to the public which makes it an ideal place for a visit with a group of friends or family. This site is also a great for school excursions as students can learn and experience a bit of history of Fiji. 

To get there by public transport, get on a bus from the Lami bus terminal located at the Suva Bus Stand. This bus ride from Suva to Lami should take around 20 to 30 minutes and cost less than $2. If you’re new to the area, it is advisable to take a taxi to get to Bilo Road. The taxi fare will cost around $10.