Cockatoo Island Prison Barracks Precinct facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prison Barracks Precinct |
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Convict building
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| Location | Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia |
| Official name: Prison Barracks Precinct | |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 22 June 2004 |
| Reference no. | 105256 |
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The Prison Barracks Precinct is a historic site on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. This area was once a prison for convicts. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on June 22, 2004. This means it is a very important place with a rich history.
Contents
History of the Precinct
From Prison to Dockyard
Cockatoo Island became a prison in 1839. This happened after the Governor of New South Wales, George Gipps, suggested it. Convicts were sent here after the prison on Norfolk Island closed. The prison area, including the Barracks Block, was built over several years. Convicts started living in these buildings from October 1841.
One of the first jobs for the convicts was to dig large holes for storing grain. These were called grain silos. To help Royal Navy ships, the Fitzroy Dock was built on the island. It was finished in 1857. The Cockatoo Island Dockyard soon became Australia's main government dockyard.
Changes Over Time
In 1869, prisoners moved from the island to Darlinghurst. From 1871, the prison buildings became a school for girls and a place for young offenders. A fence was put up to separate the dockyard from this new school area.
After the girls left in 1888, prisoners were sent back to the island. The prison continued until about 1909. Meanwhile, the dockyard grew bigger. The Sutherland Dock was built in 1890. The New South Wales Public Works Department officially named Cockatoo the state dockyard.
Commonwealth Control and Wars
After Australia became a nation in 1913, Cockatoo became the Commonwealth Dockyard. The island played a big role in building ships for the Royal Australian Navy. It was also very important during the First World War. The old prison buildings were then used as offices.
From 1933, a company called Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Co Ltd leased the dockyard. The island was crucial during the Second World War. After the war, the dockyard continued to operate. It even added facilities for submarines. The dockyard closed in 1992. Today, the island is managed by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
Buildings in the Precinct
The Prison Barracks Precinct includes several old buildings. These are the former convict barracks block, the mess hall, the military guard room with its kitchen, officers' quarters, and free overseers' quarters. There are also some old trees on the north-west side. Other convict buildings are part of the separate Biloela House area.
The barracks block was built around 1839-1842. It was designed by Colonel George Barney, a key engineer at the time. This building had hospital rooms, a kitchen, and a mess hall. It was later used by the girls' school and then by prisoners again. When the Commonwealth took over, it became offices.
The military guard room, with its own kitchen, was built in 1842. It was also designed by Barney. This room was used for sewing by the girls' school. Later, it became a store and office. After the girls left, it was used as offices and homes. After the Second World War, its roof was removed.
The mess hall was built between 1847 and 1851. It is located west of the convict barracks. It helped complete the enclosed area of the prison. After the prison and school periods, it was changed into offices. The windows were made larger, but the building is still mostly in its original form.
The military officers' quarters was built around 1845-1857. It was designed by the Commanding Royal Engineer. This building has always been a home. First for officers, then for the head of the girls' school, and later for the prison governor. It was also home to the engineering superintendent and general manager.
The free overseers' quarters was built between 1850 and 1857. It has been a home almost continuously since it was built. Many changes have been made to it over the years. A second quarters building to the east was built at the same time. It was later used for battery storage and then for chemistry. During the Second World War, it became an air raid shelter.
These buildings, along with Biloela House, are the only remaining convict public works built with money from the British Empire in New South Wales. They are some of the most complete groups of convict buildings in Australia.
What the Precinct Looks Like
The Prison Barracks Precinct is located on the highest part of the south-west side of Cockatoo Island.
Most of these buildings are made of sandstone. Their style is mainly Old Colonial Georgian or Victorian Georgian. This means they show the building styles from early colonial times. Even with changes over the years, they are important examples of their kind.
Main Buildings
- Barracks Block: This building is single-storey and shaped like a "U." It has an enclosed courtyard. It used to have hospital rooms, a kitchen, and a mess hall. The roof is pitched and made of different materials like corrugated iron. It also has a verandah. During the Second World War, parts of it were turned into air raid shelters.
- Military Guard Room: This is a single-storey, rectangular building with a separate kitchen. Both buildings no longer have roofs. The walls have stone slab eaves at the top. Inside the guard room, there are iron rods and pegs. These were used to hold rifles and hats. There is also a stone chimney. Both the guard room and kitchen have stone slab floors.
- Mess Hall: This building was originally separate from others. It has a nice gable (the triangular part of a wall under a pitched roof) at the east end. This makes it stand out. The ground floor windows are square. The upper floor has two attic windows with rounded tops. The gabled roof is covered with corrugated iron.
- Military Officers' Quarters: This building has one and two storeys. It is made of painted stone. The roof is covered with iron and is hipped (slopes down on all sides). It has verandahs on both floors. There is not much decoration. It has been changed and extended many times.
- Free Overseers' Quarters: The original part of this building is made of stone, partly painted. It is a small, single-storey building. The windows have many small panes of glass. The roof is gabled and made of corrugated iron. Parts of the verandah have been filled in. The second quarters building to the east was greatly changed. It became an air raid shelter with a concrete roof and blast walls during the Second World War.
The precinct is beautiful because of its sandstone buildings and early Georgian style. It strongly reminds us of the convict era. Being high on the island, its special qualities are kept safe above the industrial areas around it.
Condition of the Buildings
- Barracks Block: This building has been changed many times for different uses. Some changes made during the Second World War were quite damaging. While some old materials remain, a new roof was put on in the 1990s. Other repairs and painting were also done. Some stone decay was noted in a 1997 report.
- Military Guard Room: Both the guard room and its kitchen do not have roofs. The walls are in different states of repair. A report noted that the stonework was generally good. However, some iron parts had rust. There was also some weed growth.
- Mess Hall: This building is mostly complete. The stonework is in good condition, and the inside is generally fine. A report suggested that the roof of the main hall might need replacing. Some internal repairs had been done, but more were needed. The tie-rods in the roof trusses (support beams) might need tightening.
- Officers' Quarters: This building is in fair to good condition. It is divided into two living units. Some dampness and roof iron problems were noted. Some repairs were done in the 1990s.
- Free Overseers' Quarters: This building was painted in the 1990s. A report noted some dampness rising from the ground. Some wooden parts had to be replaced because of termites. The eastern quarters building has good stonework. However, its original look was greatly changed when it became an air raid shelter. This involved adding a concrete roof and blast walls.
Why it's a Heritage Site
The Prison Barracks Precinct was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on June 22, 2004. This is because it meets several important criteria:
- Criterion A: Its History
Built between 1839 and 1857, the barracks precinct is very important historically. It shows a direct link to how convicts were managed in Australia. It also connects to other periods of Cockatoo Island's history, like being a school for girls and a major government shipyard.
- Criterion B: Its Uniqueness
This precinct, along with the Biloela House area, is the only remaining convict public works complex in New South Wales that was paid for by the British Empire. It is also one of the most complete groups of convict buildings in Australia.
- Criterion D: What it Represents
As one of the most complete groups of convict structures in Australia, the buildings in this precinct are important examples of convict-built structures from that time.
- Criterion E: Its Beauty
Even with changes over time, the precinct has important aesthetic qualities. Its sandstone buildings, Georgian style, and the way the group reminds us of the convict era all make this place special.
- Criterion H: Important People
Several buildings in the precinct were designed by Colonel George Barney. As the Commanding Royal Engineer, he played a very important role in engineering in the colony for many years.
