Cockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour and has played a key part in Australia’s convict and maritime history since it was first put to use way back in the 1830’s. Today it holds a proud place amongst UNESCO World Heritage locations for is convict heritage and later became Australia’s first shipbuilding centre. In fact, the last ship built on Cockatoo Island was finished as recently as 1983. Julie and I had a rare spare day up our sleeve and caught the ferry over to the island to explore its fascinating history.
Settlers who were sent to prison on Cockatoo Island were frequently the worst offenders and their life on the island was marked by hard manual labour, poor living conditions, scant food and no hope for escape because none of them were able to swim. One prisoner who did manage to swim ashore was the notorious horse thief Frederick Ward who managed to evade authorities and become known across northern New South Wales as the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt. Also referred to as the Gentleman Bushranger, he committed a long string of robberies and was finally shot and killed by police in 1870 after more than seven years on the run.
In the 1840’s a growing number of ships would arrive in the new colony and many needed repairs after their long journey from Mother England. There was also a growing demand to build new boats as well. Cockatoo Island was chosen as the site for the first shipbuilding dry dock, partly because of the cheap prisoner labour. By 1857 Fitzroy Dock was built to help maintain the Royal Navy’s fleet.
By 1869 the prison was finally closed but only two years later the facilities were turned into a Reform School for orphaned girls and juvenile delinquents who roamed the streets of Sydney. These girls lived in no better conditions than the prisoners and there was no effort to reform them or help prepare them for a better life. By 1880 this experiment was deemed a failure and the Reform School was closed.
Shipbuilding was the island’s main focus for over 100 years and by World War I hundreds of ships had been repaired or built at the facilities. World War II saw a flurry of activity in the ship yards as grand cruise liners were converted to troop carriers and hospital ships. After the war the Navy continued to commission ships built there, including some that are still in service today like HMS Success.
If you are in Sydney and never had the chance to explore Cockatoo Island then jump on the ferry from Circular Quay or King Street and spend a few hours exploring this fascinating place. Cockatoo Island is full of important history and fascinating stories that have helped make Sydney the amazing city it is today.