Rodd Island facts for kids
Rodd Island, view from Russell Lea
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| Etymology | Brent Clements Rodd |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Iron Cove |
| Coordinates | 33°51′49″S 151°09′12″E / 33.86361°S 151.15333°E |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Port Jackson |
| Area | 6,700 m2 (72,000 sq ft) |
| Administration | |
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Australia
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| State | New South Wales |
| Largest settlement | Sydney |
| Demographics | |
| Population | unpopulated |
Rodd Island is a small island in Sydney, Australia. It is about 6,700 square meters in size. You can find it in the middle of Iron Cove, a bay on the Parramatta River. The island is surrounded by suburbs like Drummoyne and Rodd Point.
Rodd Island is west of the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. Today, no one lives on the island. It is part of the Sydney Harbour National Park. Over time, the island has had other names, including Rabbit Island, Rhode Island, Snake Island, and Jack Island.
Contents
The History of Rodd Island
How Rodd Island Got Its Name
The island is named after Brent Clements Rodd. He was a person who had a long connection with the island and the area around it. Mr. Rodd first tried to buy the island from the government in 1842. His family lived nearby and used the island for fun activities.
He tried to buy the island again in 1859 and even paid a deposit. However, the sale never finished. In 1879, the island became one of the first public parks in Sydney Harbour. Even though Mr. Rodd was a lawyer, he never managed to buy the island or get his money back!
Rodd Island as a Science Lab
From 1888 to 1894, Rodd Island was used as a science laboratory. Scientists from the Pasteur Institute worked there. They were trying to find a way to control Australia's huge rabbit population. They researched using a tiny germ called the chicken cholera microbe.
A famous scientist named Louis Pasteur sent his nephew, Doctor Adrien Loir, to Australia for this research. Buildings were built on the island for their experiments. Pasteur was interested because he was doing similar research in France. The Premier of New South Wales, Henry Parkes, even offered a large reward to anyone who could solve the rabbit problem.
However, the rabbit research did not go well. So, from 1890, the lab started making vaccines. These vaccines helped protect sheep and cattle from diseases like anthrax.
Famous Visitors and Recreation
In 1891, the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt visited Sydney. Her dogs were kept on Rodd Island for a short time. This was done to make sure they were healthy before entering Australia. Doctor Loir suggested this. Sarah Bernhardt often visited the island to see her dogs.
After 1894, the science labs were taken down. The building where the scientists lived became a dance hall. This dance hall is still there today. Two small summer houses and a gazebo were also built around this time. The island was managed by a group called the Rodd Island Recreation Trust.
More changes were planned for the island. But these plans stopped because of a serious illness outbreak in Sydney in 1900. After this, the Sydney Harbour Trust took over managing the island. They made the island twice as big by adding land and building sea walls. Once the illness was gone, the island became a popular place for recreation again.
Rodd Island in World War II and Today
During the Second World War, starting in 1944, the island was used by the US Army. They used it as a training base for their soldiers. After the war ended, the island went back to being a recreation area.
In February 1982, Rodd Island became part of the Sydney Harbour National Park. Today, it is a popular spot for picnics. It is also used as a venue for events and parties. Doctor Loir's old house was fixed up and opened to the public in 1996.
