Fort Queenscliff is the town's strongest historic anchor. Built up from the 1860s and redeveloped in the late 19th century, it became a command point in the defence network guarding the entrance to Port Phillip Bay.
The fort still sits on active Defence land, so visits are by guided tour rather than free wandering. That restriction is part of the appeal: you see guns, walls, lighthouse views, and military stories in a place that still feels controlled by its original purpose.