Cockatoo Island Industrial Conservation Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cockatoo Island Industrial Conservation Area |
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| Location | Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia |
| Official name: Cockatoo Island Industrial Conservation Area | |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 22 June 2004 |
| Reference no. | 105262 |
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Cockatoo Island Industrial Conservation Area is a special historic place on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, Australia. It's listed as a heritage site because of its important past. The island has been many things, including a convict prison and a major shipyard. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004.
Island's Story: A Timeline
Cockatoo Island is the biggest island in Sydney Harbour. Its name comes from the cockatoo birds that used to live there. Over time, the island has had five main uses or owners.
Early Days: Prison and Dockyard (1839-1864)
In 1839, Governor Gipps decided to use Cockatoo Island as a prison for convicts. These prisoners were moved from other places like Norfolk Island. Unlike other prisons, the convicts themselves built most of the buildings on Cockatoo Island. The British Government paid for this work.
One of the first big projects was cutting twelve grain silos into the rock in 1839. These were used to store grain. The convict barracks were also built around this time. They could hold 344 convicts.
The island was perfect for maritime activities because it was surrounded by deep water. In 1846, Governor Gipps decided to build a dry dock there. The Fitzroy Dock was built between 1847 and 1857 by convict labor. It was the first dry dock started in the Southern Hemisphere. Gother Kerr Mann, a famous engineer, designed it. The first ship used the dock in 1858.
During this time, more buildings were added to the prison. These included a mess hall and houses for prison officials, like Biloela House for the prison governors. Life for the prisoners was very tough.
NSW Government Takes Over (1864-1913)
Later, the island's dockyard and prison parts were managed separately. The dockyard grew, focusing on shipbuilding and repairs.
In 1871, the training ship Vernon was anchored near the island. It was for boys who needed training and a fresh start. These boys helped with shipbuilding and repairs at the dock.
A new, even bigger dock was approved in 1882. This was the Sutherland Dock, which was completed in 1890. It was built by private companies and free workers. New workshops were also built for repair work.
Over time, the prison buildings became an Industrial School for Girls and a Reformatory. However, male prisoners returned later. Eventually, all prisoners were moved off the island. The male prison closed in 1906, and the female prison closed in 1909.
In 1901, Australia became an independent nation. The New South Wales government took over the island. Electricity was installed, and the dockyards grew quickly. Many new workshops were built, mostly from brick.
Commonwealth Dockyard (1913-1933)
In 1911, the Royal Australian Navy was formed. In 1913, the Australian Government bought the island from New South Wales. They spent a lot of money to upgrade the dock and its equipment.
A new, larger Power House and chimney were built in 1918. This provided power for the dockyard's machines and pumps. The Australian Government ordered several naval ships to be built here. One of these, HMAS Heron, was the first steel warship built in Australia. It was finished in 1916.
Between the two World Wars, naval activity slowed down. Commercial shipbuilding became more important. However, during the Great Depression, all work on the island decreased. In 1928, the Sutherland Dock was made bigger. The government decided to lease the dockyard to a private company.
Private Company and World War Two (1933-1948)
In 1933, a company called Cockatoo Dock and Engineering Co. Ltd. leased the island. When World War Two started, Cockatoo Island became a very important place for repairing ships in the Pacific. This was especially true after the loss of Singapore.
Many large ships, including troop carriers like the RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth, were repaired here. Major ships from the Royal Australian Navy and the United States Navy also came for repairs. New buildings were put up, and roads were improved.
The Titan, a huge 150-ton floating crane, was very important during the war. It worked almost all the time, lifting heavy equipment for both naval and commercial ships. The workshops on the island were well-equipped for engineering, electrical work, and metalwork.
In 1947, a British company bought Cockatoo Dock and Engineering.
Vickers Cockatoo (1948-1992)
After the war, the island continued to be important. More offices and workshops were added. Two large concrete water towers were built on the higher part of the island.
In December 1992, the original lease ended. The Australian Government still owns the island. After 1992, about forty buildings were taken down because they were old or in poor condition.
What You Can See Today
Cockatoo Island Industrial Conservation Area covers about 18 hectares (44 acres) in Sydney Harbour. It includes the whole island down to the low water mark.
The island has many old buildings and structures that show its history. The way the island looks today has been shaped by people. They quarried rock and filled in land. You can see man-made cliffs, stone walls, steps, docks, cranes, and slipways.
The island is divided into different areas, each showing a part of its past:
- The old Colonial Prison area.
- The Docks area.
- Areas for timber boatbuilding and workshops.
- The powerhouse and slipways area.
- Technical offices and residential areas.
The style of the buildings often tells you when they were built.
Buildings from 1839-1864
Most buildings from this time were on the higher parts of the island. They include the prisoner's barracks (1839-42), the mess hall (1847-51), and the military guard house (1842). These were built in the Colonial Georgian style using local sandstone.
Other buildings include Biloela House (around 1841) for the superintendent. There are also underground water tanks and the rock-cut Fitzroy Dock. The dock still has its original entrance gate. The engineers and blacksmith's shop (around 1853) is one of the oldest industrial buildings left on the island.
Buildings from 1864-1913
During this time, fewer new buildings were constructed. Instead, old ones were changed for new uses. Additions were made to the dockyards, and some new warehouses were built. These include brick and stone buildings, and steel-framed buildings.
The Sutherland Dock was completed between 1882 and 1890. It was very long, at 690 feet. The heavy machine shop from 1896 is next to the older engineers and blacksmith's shop. Other buildings from this time include the boiler house (1908) and the engine house (1909).
Buildings from 1913-1947
Many new buildings were added as the dockyards expanded. Large industrial warehouse buildings were built in the middle of the island. These often had steel frames and corrugated iron walls. Examples include the estimating and drawing offices (1915-18) and the electrical shop (1915-16).
The large Power House from 1918, with its tall chimney, is still standing. It's made of brick with a steep roof. There are also residential buildings from this period, like semi-detached houses made of red brick with tiled roofs.
During the World War Two period (1933-48), many more warehouses were built. These were mostly steel-framed with corrugated iron. Other structures, like air raid shelters, show the island's importance during the war.
Buildings from 1948-1992
More warehouses were built in this phase. Many were steel-framed with corrugated iron. Some red brick warehouses with curved roofs were built after World War Two. A group of modern-style buildings includes the former weapons workshop from 1971.
The island also has many pieces of old equipment. The powerhouse is the only building that still has all its original equipment. This includes the system to pump water out of the docks, air compressors, and hydraulic pumps.
Around the dockyard, you can see different types of cranes from different periods. There are also wharves, slipways (for pulling ships out of the water), and shipbuilding berths. The island also has old trolley tracks, tunnels, and roads that were used to move goods.
Why Cockatoo Island is Important
Cockatoo Island is a special heritage site for several reasons:
- Its History: It shows how Australia developed, from being an Imperial convict prison in the 1840s to a major shipbuilding center. It was where the first steel warship in Australia, HMAS Heron, was built in 1916. During World War Two, it was the main ship repair facility in the Pacific.
- Its Uniqueness: It's the only surviving Imperial convict public works site in New South Wales. This means it's a rare example of how convicts were used for big government projects. The island also has a unique collection of dockyard equipment, buildings, cranes, and wharves that show 140 years of shipbuilding history.
- Its Industrial Look: The island's landscape clearly shows its past as both a prison and a dockyard. You can see how human activity shaped the island with cliffs, stone walls, docks, and cranes. The buildings show the different styles and methods used over 140 years of industrial work.
- Important People: The island is linked to important figures like Governor Gipps and engineer Gother Kerr Mann. It also represents key moments in Australia's history, such as Federation in 1901 and the creation of the Royal Australian Navy in 1911.
