Cockatoo Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cockatoo Island Sydney, New South Wales
Cockatoo Island Location in Sydney
Nearest town or city	Woolwich and Birchgrove
Postcode(s)	2110
Area	0.179 km2 (0.1 sq mi)
Location	4 km (2 mi) northwest of CBD
Managing authorities	Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
Website	Cockatoo Island
Localities around Cockatoo Island: Woolwich Parramatta River Lane Cove River Spectacle Island Cockatoo Island Goat Island Iron Cove Balmain Birchgrove

Cockatoo Island

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Part of	Australian Convict Sites
Criteria	Cultural: iv, vi
Inscription	2010 (34th Session)

former Cockatoo Island Dockyard, view from Birchgrove

Cockatoo Island, view from Woolwich

Cockatoo Island from the Gladesville Bridge

Cockatoo Island Wareamah is a special island in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. It sits where the Parramatta River and Lane Cove River meet. This island is so important that it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cockatoo Island is the biggest of several islands in the harbour. It used to be covered in trees and was a sandstone hill. The island was originally about 18 meters (59 feet) above sea level and 12.9 hectares (32 acres) in size. Now, it's bigger at 17.9 hectares (44 acres) and most of its trees have been cleared.

The Indigenous Australians who lived here before Europeans arrived called the island Wa-rea-mah. They might have used it for fishing. However, we haven't found physical proof of their ancient heritage on the island.

From 1839 to 1869, Cockatoo Island was a convict prison. It was mainly used for prisoners who had committed more crimes after being sent to Australia.

The island also became one of Australia's largest shipyards. It operated from 1857 to 1991. Convicts even built the first of its two dry docks. Cockatoo Island is famous for showing how a busy shipyard worked for a long time. It has the most complete record of shipbuilding in Australia. This helps us understand how maritime and heavy industries grew from the mid-1800s.

In 2010, UNESCO named Cockatoo Island a World Heritage Site. Since 2001, the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust has looked after the island.

Exploring Cockatoo Island Today

The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust manages Cockatoo Island. They also look after seven other areas around Sydney Harbour. The Trust is making the island a popular harbour spot. They host cultural events and share its history.

Today, you can still see parts of Cockatoo Island's past. Its old prison buildings are now World Heritage listed. They are part of a group of 11 Australian Convict Sites.

Many large workshops, slipways, and other buildings are still there. However, major buildings were taken down after the dockyard closed in 1991. Most of the old tools and machines are gone. This makes it hard to imagine exactly how the island worked as a dockyard for over 100 years.

In 2005, the Harbour Trust held the Cockatoo Island Festival. This event helped make the island a popular place for culture in Sydney. Now, it hosts many art shows, exhibitions, and festivals.

The Harbour Trust opened a camping and glampsite on the island in 2008. About 20,000 campers visit each year. It's a great place to watch Sydney's famous New Year's Eve fireworks. In 2010, over 2,000 campers watched the fireworks from the island. You can also stay in five renovated houses and apartments with amazing harbour views.

Sydney Ferries can take you to Cockatoo Island. Ferries run on the Woolwich/Balmain route and the Parramatta RiverCat route. Day visitors are welcome! You can have a picnic, barbecue, visit the cafe, or take a tour. Cockatoo Island is open every day, and there's no entry fee.

The island often hosts events and art displays. Cockatoo Island has become a key cultural spot in Sydney.

Island's Past: Convicts and Ships

Before Europeans arrived, Indigenous Australians used Cockatoo Island. In 1839, Sir George Gipps, the Governor of New South Wales, chose it for a new prison. From 1839 to 1869, it was a convict jail.

At first, prisoners from Norfolk Island were sent here. They built their barracks and large rock-cut silos. These silos stored grain for the colony. By 1842, about 140 tonnes (154 tons) of grain were kept on the island.

Later, stone from the island was used for building projects in Sydney. This included the seawall for Circular Quay. Between 1847 and 1857, convicts dug the Fitzroy Dock. This was Australia's first dry dock. They dug out a huge amount of rock for it.

In 2009, archaeologists found old convict punishment cells under the cookhouse. These cells show us what life was like for prisoners on the island.

A famous Australian bushranger named Captain Thunderbolt was once a prisoner on Cockatoo Island. He escaped in 1863 and became well-known for his crimes. Some stories say his wife swam to the island with tools to help him escape. Then, they both swam back to the mainland. However, there isn't strong proof for this story.

From 1871 to 1913, people often called the island "Biloela" instead of Cockatoo Island. They wanted to avoid the bad reputation from its convict past.

Fitzroy Dock: Australia's First Dry Dock

Cockatoo Island dry dock in 1872

The Fitzroy Dock was designed by Gother Kerr Mann, the island's Civil Engineer. Convicts built it between 1847 and 1857. Governor Charles Augustus FitzRoy laid the first stone in 1854, and the dock was named after him.

When it was finished in 1857, the dry dock was 316 feet (96 meters) long and 76 feet (23 meters) wide. Its entrance was 60 feet (18 meters) wide. The ship HMS Herald was the first to enter the dock in December 1857. The Fitzroy Dock was made longer between 1870 and 1880, reaching 643 feet (196 meters).

Sutherland Dock: For Bigger Ships

The Sutherland Dock was built between 1882 and 1890. Engineer Louis Samuel oversaw its construction. It was named after John Sutherland, who was in charge of Public Works. This dock was big enough for ships weighing 20,000 tonnes (22,000 tons). It was changed in 1913 and 1927 to fit Royal Australian Navy ships.

Industrial School and Gaol

In 1864, the island was split into two parts. One part was for the NSW Department of Prisons. The other was for the Public Works Department, which expanded the dockyard. In 1869, the convicts moved to Darlinghurst Gaol. The prison then became an Industrial School for Girls and a Reformatory.

Cockatoo Island Dockyard: A Naval Hub

Mural of a cockatoo on the top island.

Shipbuilding started on Cockatoo Island in 1870. In 1913, the island was given to the Australian Government. It became the Naval Dockyard for the Royal Australian Navy. Before World War I, five slipways were either improved or built on the island. Numbers 1 and 2 are still there today.

The torpedo boat destroyer HMAS Warrego was the first naval ship launched at Cockatoo Island. It was built in the United Kingdom, taken apart, and then sent to Australia to be put back together. During World War I, the dockyard built, repaired, and refitted many ships. At its busiest during the war, about 4,000 men worked on the island.

In 1933, Cockatoo Island was leased to the Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Company. This lease was renewed several times.

In 1995, local people helped save the island. A group called Friends of Cockatoo Island was started by Jack Clark and his wife Mary Shelley Clark. They fought to protect the island and other old Defence sites in Sydney Harbour. Their efforts led to the government creating the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. This Trust helps protect many harbour sites, including Cockatoo Island.

Important Heritage Listings

In July 2010, Cockatoo Island became a World Heritage Site. It was listed with ten other Australian places linked to convict transportation. These 11 sites show the best examples of how convicts were transported and how European powers expanded using convict labor. Besides Cockatoo Island, other listed sites in Sydney include the Hyde Park Barracks, Old Great North Road, and Old Government House at Parramatta.

Other parts of Cockatoo Island also have special heritage listings. These are on the Commonwealth Heritage List:

• Cockatoo Island Industrial Conservation Area
• Prison Barracks Precinct
  • Convict Barracks Block
  • Military Guard Room
  • Mess Hall
• Underground Grain Silos
• Biloela House precinct
• Fitzroy Dock
• Sutherland Dock
• Power House & Pump House

Fun Events on Cockatoo Island

Since 2005, Cockatoo Island has hosted many big events. These include partnerships with the Sydney Writers' Festival and motocross competitions. Here are some of the events:

Planning for the Future

In 2001, the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust took over Cockatoo Island. They planned to make it a public park. In 2003, they created a plan to bring the island back to life. This plan included bringing back maritime activities, sharing its rich history, and creating spaces for cultural events. In 2010, the Harbour Trust updated their plan for the island.

Getting to Cockatoo Island

When the island was a working dockyard, Sydney Ferries Limited ran services to the island for workers.

In April 2007, the ferry wharf reopened for a trial. This was when the island reopened for tourists. Since then, ferry services have grown. Today, Sydney Ferries Parramatta River services stop at the island. There are also all-stops Cockatoo Island ferry services from Circular Quay. The wharf is served by First Fleet and RiverCat ferries.

See also

In Spanish: Isla Cockatoo (Nueva Gales del Sur) para niños