A site formerly used by the British military to strengthen the defences of the western part of the island has undergone painstaking restoration and will now be used for didactic, research and outreach purposes as an observatory and field centre.

A collaboration between the HSBC Malta Foundation, the University of Malta and the Mġarr local council, the I-Land Observatory and Field Centre represents a unique new concept in natural and cultural heritage management in Malta. The parties had originally embarked on plans for this project nearly eight years ago with restoration works getting under way in 2013.

The centre overlooks Fomm ir-Riħ Bay and spans the area formerly known as the Kunċizzjoni Electric Light Engine Room, built between 1897 and 1917, and features rare military building characteristics.

According to Alex Torpiano, dean of the Faculty for the Built Environment at the University of Malta, the site used the latest military technology available for its time. Although only a few upright sections remain in the perimeter, the site made early use of barbed wire for coastal defence.

Other defence features included prickly pear plants, the scarping of part of the perimeter slope, rubble wall infantry field defences, a musketry gallery, a fire trench and maxim machine guns.

Louis F. Cassar, director of the Institute of Earth Systems at the University, explained that the centre will be used to showcase not only the site’s history and heritage, but also the various assets in the vicinity. These include the unique landforms, the geology, the rural landscapes and the very context within which this extreme end of the Victoria Lines of defence was constructed.

An exhibition narrating the unique history of the site overlooking Fomm ir-Riħ Bay is open to the public.

At the opening ceremony, HSBC Malta CEO Andrew Beane, who was formally educated in history, said: “This project has been a labour of love for us. It reminds us that we can learn something together if we keep one eye on the past while keeping one eye on the future, and to do so in a way that brings together the community, the university and other partners.”

University rector Alfred Vella added: “This project extends the university’s work outside of the campus and into the community and affects research that will circle back into cutting-edge studies.”

Also present at the opening was Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government and Communities Silvio Parnis, who lauded this initiative, saying that it is a reminder of a local council’s importance for its residents, while Mġarr mayor Paul Vella spoke of the change of use of the premises.

“This place was built for keeping ‘the other’ from coming in and in-vading the area,” Mr Vella said.

“Today, we are opening it up for all to come, visit and explore the bravery and brilliance of those who planned and erected this building.”

An exhibition featuring the history and the various stages of the often-complex restoration works is now open to the public.

For more information one may contact the Mġarr local council on 2152 0011.

Schoolchildren exploring the exhibition on display in the musketry room.

One of the exhibition panels.