Biloela House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Biloela House
Location	Cockatoo Island, New South Wales, Australia
Commonwealth Heritage List
Official name: Biloela Group
Type	Listed place (Historic)
Designated	22 June 2004
Reference no.	105263
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Biloela House is a very old and important building located on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of a special group of historic buildings that are protected because of their history. This house was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004, meaning it's officially recognized as a significant part of Australia's past.

The Story of Cockatoo Island and Biloela House

From Prison to Shipyard: Cockatoo Island's Past

Cockatoo Island has a long and interesting history. It became a prison in 1839. This happened after the Governor of New South Wales, George Gipps, decided to send convicts there. These were prisoners who had been sent from Britain.

One of the first jobs for the convicts was to dig huge underground silos. These silos were used to store grain, like wheat. Later, a large dock called the Fitzroy Dock was built on the island. This dock was finished in 1857 and was used to fix ships for the Royal Navy. Cockatoo Island soon became Australia's main government shipyard.

A New Name and New Uses

In 1869, the prisoners left the island. The prison buildings then became a school for girls and a place for young women who needed help. This happened in 1871. At this time, the island's name was changed to Biloela. The shipyard area was separated from the school by a fence.

After the girls left in 1888, prisoners were sent back to the island. The prison continued until about 1909. Meanwhile, the shipyard grew even bigger. Another large dock, the Sutherland Dock, was built in 1890. The New South Wales Public Works Department declared Cockatoo Island the state's main dockyard.

A Commonwealth Dockyard and War Efforts

After Australia became a federation in 1913, Cockatoo Island became the Commonwealth Dockyard. This meant it was managed by the Australian government. The island played a very important role in building and fixing ships for the Royal Australian Navy. It was especially busy during the First World War. The old prison buildings were then used as offices and for other purposes.

From 1933, a company called Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Co Ltd leased the dockyard. The island was incredibly important during the Second World War, helping with the war effort. After the war, the dockyard continued to operate, even adding facilities for submarines. The dockyard finally closed in 1992. Today, the island is managed by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.

Biloela House Through the Years

Biloela House was built around 1841. It was originally designed by Colonel George Barney, a very important engineer in New South Wales at the time. It was built as a home for the superintendent, who was in charge of the island. The building was made bigger soon after it was built. More extensions were added in 1859-60 to house the new Engineer in Chief.

During the time it was a girls' school, the house was lived in by the registrar of the Sydney water police. By 1898, the house was divided into two parts. These parts became living quarters for unmarried male and female prison warders. When the Commonwealth government took over in 1913, the northern part became the shipyard manager's home, and the southern part became offices.

Other Important Buildings and Silos

Near Biloela House, there is a smaller cottage called the Clerk of Petty Sessions Cottage. It was built before 1845 and also designed by Colonel George Barney. This cottage has always been a home. Over the years, it was used by the foreman shipwright and later by the dock master.

The main buildings in this area, along with the old prison barracks, are special. They are the only large convict public works complex in New South Wales that was paid for by the British government, not the local colony.

The underground grain silos on the island are also very unique. Governor Gipps decided to build them in 1839 to store grain. This was important because food supplies were uncertain in the early colony. The convicts dug these silos out of the sandstone rock on Cockatoo Island. They were sealed very well, so no weevils (small bugs that eat grain) could get in.

By 1840, 20,000 bushels of wheat were stored in the silos. More silos were being built. Eventually, over twenty silos were dug. Later, in the 1870s or 1880s, these silos were used to store water instead of grain. Some were destroyed when new buildings were constructed. The silos that are still on the island are believed to be the only group of convict-cut rock silos in Australia.

What Biloela House and its Area Look Like

The Biloela House area includes:

• Biloela House itself, which used to be the superintendent's home.
• A stone cottage located to the west of Biloela House.
• The remaining underground grain silos to the south-east of Biloela House.
• Part of the small sandstone cottage to the south-east, known as the Clerk of Petty Sessions Cottage.

This area is located at the very top of Cockatoo Island. This means it has amazing views of Sydney Harbour, which makes it a very beautiful place.

Architecture and Design

Biloela House is built in a style called Old Colonial Georgian. It has an "L" shape. The small cottage next to it is rectangular. Together, these two buildings form a courtyard. Both buildings are made of unpainted sandstone, which gives them a similar look. The windows are mostly casement windows, which open outwards. The roofs are hipped (sloping on all sides) and covered with corrugated iron. There is also a picket fence around the area.

The Clerk of Petty Sessions Cottage is a simple, single-story building. It was originally made of sandstone but has been extended with brick and fibreboard. Its roof is also hipped and covered with corrugated iron, and it has several chimneys. There's an enclosed verandah that faces a grassy area with a walled garden.

The silos are shaped like bottles and are perfectly round inside. There are believed to be nine of them, though some might not be fully complete. A mark on the rock surface shows how wide the silo is underground. The opening at the top is square and has a lip to keep water out, plus a metal plate covering it. Each silo could hold between 3,000 and 5,000 bushels of grain.

Condition of the Buildings

In 1997, a report said that Biloela House had a new roof. The stone walls of the north and south parts of the house were mostly in good condition. The inside of the north part was generally good, but the south part needed some work. The Clerk of Petty Sessions Cottage was in very good condition and had recently been painted and re-roofed. As of May 2001, the remaining silos were also in good condition.

Why Biloela House is a Heritage Site

The Biloela House area was listed on the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004 because it meets several important criteria:

Important Historical Processes

The buildings in the Biloela Group were mostly built in the early 1840s. They are very important because they show how convicts were managed in the Australian colonies. The group also shows Cockatoo Island's role as a major government shipyard.

Rarity and Uniqueness

This group of buildings, along with the prison barracks, is the only convict public works complex in New South Wales that was paid for by the British government. The silos on the island are also believed to be the only major group of silos in Australia that were dug out of rock by convicts.

Showing Characteristic Values

Because it's the only complex of its kind funded by the British government, the buildings in this group are important examples of convict structures from that time period.

Beautiful Aesthetic Qualities

Located at the highest point of Cockatoo Island, the Biloela Group has amazing views of Sydney Harbour. Its sandstone buildings remind people of the convict era and have significant beauty.

Technical Achievement

The silos were dug out very carefully and show the high level of skill of the stonemasons who built them.

Connection to Important People

The Biloela Group is closely linked to Colonel George Barney. He was the commander of the Royal Engineers and played a very important role in engineering in New South Wales during that time.