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= = = Before the battlements on North Head were made, the early Maoris used the land for crops and gardens. In 1840 North Head became the sight of the first pilot station, for guiding ships into the harbour. = = = = Just less than seven years' later, North Head was put into use (as a battlement field) because it was feared the Russians were on their way. North Head construction work started in 1885. In 1885, 300 unemployed men were sent to North Head to build defences. This did not work out and they were replaced by between 30 - 40 prisoners who were kept in the barraks in the top of North Head. The prisoners were there from 1888 - 1914. = media type="custom" key="3834519"