![]() ![]() The island’s shipping history is evident around every corner and the rusted and rustic machinery along with its spectacular backdrop, make it very popular with photographers. Minimal works continued though the eighties, and in 1991, the dockyard was officially shut down.įollowing extensive remediation works, Cockatoo Island was opened to the public in 2007. Local shipping contracts and repairs kept things busy on the island until the sixties when activity began to slow due to international competition, and by the 1970’s there was a sharp decline in operations. The island became a major hub for allied shipping repairs during World War Two. Cockatoo Island became home to the Royal Australian Navy in 1913 and in 1916 HMAS Huon was built here. Conditions for the girls were not much better than those endured by the convicts though, and reports of inhumane treatment led to the closure of both facilities in 1880.įrom the mid 1800’s, the island had also been used for shipbuilding and maintenance and these operations expanded over time. When the convicts were transferred to Darlinghurst Gaol in 1869 the buildings were repurposed for an industrial school and reformatory for girls. Many remnants of these building survive today and are inscribed on UNESCO and Commonwealth heritage lists.Īmong the many convicts sent to the island was horse rustler Frederick Ward, who eventually escaped to become the bushranging ‘Captain Thunderbolt’. The land was transformed from 1839 when Cockatoo Island became part of the greater penal colony of New South Wales.Ĭonvicts sent here lived in pretty dreadful conditions by all accounts and daily performed backbreaking work excavating rock to construct prison buildings. The Eora people lived in this area for thousands of years, fishing and hunting on Cockatoo Island and using it for ceremonial purposes before Europeans arrived. The island is still seen as one of the best surviving examples of convict transportation and forced labour and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. For the prisoners, life on the island was cruel, but their efforts were crucial to the ambitious building projects of the new colony. ![]() But as that is not an option at the moment, here’s a little background to the island’s story. Cockatoo Island became a penal establishment in 1839. In non-Covid times you can pick up an audio tour from the information centre. As a staging ground for art installations it is also very popular, and as a vantage point for Sydney sunsets and fireworks displays, it’s hard to beat. The map outlines a suggested walking route, gives a little history and points to the cafes and other facilities on the island.Ĭockatoo Island’s unique history and location attracts day trippers and campers, photographers and history buffs year round. You can pick up a map like this one from the visitors centre. But isn’t that the best way to see a place? SummaryĬockatoo Island is just a short ferry ride from Circular Quay. Granted, I did wander back and forth a bit, meandering rather than following a prescribed route. I visited Cockatoo Island recently to see Biennale and managed to rack up 8000 steps. ![]()
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