Cockatoo Island Military Guard Room facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Military Guard Room |
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| Location | Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia |
| Official name: Military Guard Room | |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 22 June 2004 |
| Reference no. | 105258 |
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The Military Guard Room is a very old building on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, Australia. It was once a military building and is now a special heritage site. It's part of the old prison area on the island. This building helps us understand the island's long history, especially when it was a prison and a busy dockyard.
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A Look Back: The Island's Story
Cockatoo Island became a prison in 1839. This happened after the Governor of New South Wales, George Gipps, suggested it. Convicts were sent to the island to work. One of their first big jobs was digging out huge grain silos.
From Prison to Dockyard
In 1857, a large dry dock called the Fitzroy Dock was finished. This dock was used to fix Royal Navy ships. This made Cockatoo Island a very important place for ship repairs in Australia.
In 1869, the prisoners left the island. The prison buildings then became a school for girls and a place for young people to get a fresh start. The dockyard area was separated from the school by a fence.
When the girls' school closed in 1888, prisoners returned to the island. The prison operated until about 1909. Meanwhile, the dockyard grew even bigger. The Sutherland Dock was built in 1890. The island became the main state dockyard for New South Wales.
Commonwealth Control and War Efforts
In 1913, after Australia became a federation of states, Cockatoo Island became the Commonwealth Dockyard. It played a huge role in building and fixing ships for the Royal Australian Navy. It was especially important during the First World War. The old prison buildings were used as offices.
From 1933, a company leased the dockyard. The island became even more vital during the Second World War. After the war, the dockyard continued to operate. It even added facilities for submarines. The dockyard finally closed in 1992. Today, the island is looked after by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
The Guard Room's Journey
The Military Guard Room was built in 1842. It had a separate kitchen and toilet. A cell block was added a few years later, but it was later taken down. The buildings were designed by Colonel George Barney, a very important engineer in the colony.
Over the years, the guard room changed its purpose many times. When the girls' school was there, it was used as a sewing room. Later, it became a store and an office. After the girls left, it was used as offices and even a home for the resident engineer. Eventually, it went back to being used for prison purposes.
After the Commonwealth took control, it became a residence in the 1920s. After the Second World War, the roofs of the buildings were removed. Some of the stone was even taken to be used for other buildings on the island.
The guard room and other buildings from the convict era are very special. They are the only remaining group of convict buildings in New South Wales that were paid for by the British government, not the local colony. They are also one of the most complete sets of convict structures in Australia.
What the Guard Room Looks Like
The Military Guard Room is a single-storey building. It is shaped like a rectangle and built from large sandstone blocks. It has a separate kitchen building next to it. The style of the building is called Old Colonial Georgian.
Both the guard room and the kitchen no longer have roofs. Their window and door openings are rectangular. The walls finish at the top with flat stone slabs, which were like the eaves (the part of a roof that hangs over the walls).
Inside the guard room, you can still see iron rods on the walls. These rods would have held wooden boards where rifles were placed. Below them are iron hooks for hats. There is also a rebuilt stone chimney at one end. Both the guard room and the kitchen have floors made of stone slabs.
Condition of the Building
In 1997, a report noted that the stonework of the building was mostly in good condition. However, some of the iron parts showed signs of rust. By 2001, both buildings were still without roofs. The walls were in different states of repair, and some weeds and plants were growing on them.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Military Guard Room was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004. This means it's recognized as a very important historical place. Here's why:
- It shows us history: The guard room, built in 1842, is very important because it's linked to the early days of convict management in Australia. It also connects to other times in Cockatoo Island's history, like when it was a school for girls and a major shipyard.
- It's rare and special: This building is the only remaining group of convict public works in New South Wales that was funded by the British Empire. It's also one of the most complete collections of convict buildings in Australia. It's a rare and important example of a guard house from that time, and you can still see features that show how it was used.
- It represents its time: The guard room is part of a group of convict buildings that are unique. They are the only imperial-funded convict public works complex left in New South Wales. This makes the guard room a rare and important example of a guard house from that period, still showing how it was used.
- Important people were involved: The building was designed by Colonel George Barney. He was the Commanding Royal Engineer and played a very important role in the early colony.
