Cockatoo Island, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Located at the junction of the Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers, Cockatoo Island is a former imperial prison, industrial school, reformatory and gaol. It was also the site of one of Australia's biggest shipyards during the twentieth century. The first of its two dry docks was built by convicts and was completed in 1857. The island's maritime industrial activity ceased in 1992. Cockatoo Island was inscribed on the World Heritage List in July 2010.
The island is managed by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust is an Australian Government agency established in 2001 to preserve and rehabilitate a number of defence and other Commonwealth lands in and around Sydney Harbour. These lands were off limits to the public, some for over 100 years...
which is also responsible for seven other lands around Sydney Harbour. The Harbour Trust is revitalising the island as a landmark harbour attraction with cultural events and heritage interpretation. Today Cockatoo Island retains many remnants of its past. Its prison buildings have been World Heritage listed, part of a serial listing of 11 Australian Convict Sites
Australian Convict Sites
"Australian Convict Sites" is a World Heritage property consisting of 11 remnant penal sites originally built within the British Empire during the 18th and 19th centuries on fertile Australian coastal strips at Sydney, Tasmania, Norfolk Island, and Fremantle; now representing:" ....
. Large workshops, slipways, wharves, residences and other buildings retain the texture of the island's industrial past.
In late March 2005 the Harbour Trust, in partnership with an event organiser, held the Cockatoo Island Festival
Cockatoo Island festival
Cockatoo Island Festival was a music festival held on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, over Easter of 2005, organised by Mixed Industry and The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. See the section below on 'Progress' for details of more recent events...
. The event put the island on Sydney's cultural map and initiated a range of cultural activities including contemporary art installations, exhibitions and festivals. The island is a major venue partner of the Biennale of Sydney
Biennale of Sydney
The Biennale of Sydney is an international festival of contemporary art, held every two years in Sydney, Australia. It is the largest and best-attended contemporary visual arts event in the country...
.
The Harbour Trust opened a camp ground on the island in 2008 http://www.cockatooisland.gov.au/camping. The camp ground attracts some 20,000 campers a year and is a popular spot for watching Sydney's renowned New Year's Eve fireworks. In 2010, the island attracted a capacity crowd of over 2000 campers to view NYE fireworks. Other island holiday accommodation consists of five renovated houses and apartments with harbour and city views.
Sydney Ferries services Cockatoo Island as part of its Woolwich/Balmain ferry route and Parramatta RiverCat route. Day visitors are welcome, and can picnic, barbecue, visit the cafe, wander at leisure or take an audio or guided tour. Cockatoo Island is open daily and there is no admission charge.
Regular events and art installations are a feature of the island.
Cockatoo Island has grown into a versatile cultural venue on Sydney's cultural calendar
Culture of Sydney
The cultural life of Sydney, Australia is extremely dynamic, diverse and multicultural. Many of the individual cultures that make up the Sydney mosaic are centred on the cultural, artistic, ethnic, linguistic and religious communities formed by waves of immigration...
. In 2008, it was a major venue partner of the 16th Biennale of Sydney
Biennale of Sydney
The Biennale of Sydney is an international festival of contemporary art, held every two years in Sydney, Australia. It is the largest and best-attended contemporary visual arts event in the country...
, attracting over 80,000 visitors over 12 weeks. In 2010, the event attracted over 156,000 people. In 2009, Cockatoo Island hosted the Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival is Australia's largest and most attended annual cultural event running every January since it was first held in 1977. Its program features around 80 events including contemporary and classical music, dance, circus, drama, visual arts and artist talks...
's "All Tomorrow's Parties" music festival. The 2 day festival included twenty-four bands over four stages across the island, and was curated and headlined by Nick Cave, attracting an audience of over 11,000. The island hosted the World's Funniest Island
World's Funniest Island
World’s Funniest Island was an Australian comedy event held on the third weekend in October on Cockatoo Island, in Sydney Harbour. The first World’s Funniest Island event took place 17–18 October 2009...
Comedy Festival in October 2009, with 200 comedy acts appearing over a weekend, attracting over 8,000 visitors.
The island is also increasingly used as a venue for private events both large and small. Part of the blockbuster X-Men Origins: Wolverine
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a 2009 American action film based on the Marvel Comics' fictional character Wolverine. The fourth installment in the X-Men film series, it was released worldwide on May 1, 2009...
was filmed there in 2008. Reality television programs have also used the island as a location.
Early history
Before the arrival of Europeans, Cockatoo Island was probably used by the Aboriginal tribes of Sydney's coastal region.In 1839 it was chosen as the site of a new penal establishment by the Governor of the colony of New South Wales, Sir George Gipps. Between 1839 and 1869 the island was used as a convict prison. Initially, prisoners were transferred to Cockatoo Island from Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
, and were employed constructing their barracks and rock-cut silos for storing the colony's grain supply. By 1842, approximately 140 tonnes of grain were stored on the island.
Later, quarrying on the island provided stone for construction projects around Sydney, including the seawall for Circular Quay. Between 1847 and 1857, convicts were used to dig the Fitzroy Dock, Australia’s first dry dock
Dry dock
A drydock is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform...
, on the island. An estimated 1.5 Mcuft of rock was excavated with 480000 cubic feet (13,592.1 m³) forming the dock itself.
In 2009, an archeological dig on the island uncovered convict era punishment cells under the cookhouse. These cells give a valuable insight into the conditions convicts lived under on the island.
One prisoner on Cockatoo Island was the Australian bushranger
Bushranger
Bushrangers, or bush rangers, originally referred to runaway convicts in the early years of the British settlement of Australia who had the survival skills necessary to use the Australian bush as a refuge to hide from the authorities...
, Captain Thunderbolt
Captain Thunderbolt
Frederick Wordsworth Ward was an Australian bushranger renowned for escaping from Cockatoo Island, and also for his reputation as the "gentleman bushranger" and his lengthy survival, being the longest roaming bushranger in Australian history.-Early years:Frederick Ward was the son of convict...
, who escaped in 1863 to begin the crime spree which made him famous. His wife had swum across to the island with tools to effect his escape, following which they both swam back to the mainland.
Fitzroy Dock
The dock was designed by Gother Kerr Mann, the island's Civil Engineer, and built between 1847 and 1857 utilising convict labour. The foundation stone of its ashlar lining was laid on 5 June 1854 by Governor Charles Augustus FitzRoyCharles Augustus FitzRoy
Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy, KCH, KCB was a British military officer, politician and member of the aristocracy, who held governorships in several British colonies during the 19th century.-Family and peerage:...
, with the dock being named in his honour. When completed in 1857, the dry dock was 316 feet (96.3 m) in length and 76 feet (23.2 m) in breadth, with an entrance 60 feet (18.3 m) wide. was the first sailing vessel to enter the dock in December 1857. The Fitzroy Dock was lengthened in 1870 and 1880 to be 643 feet (196 m).
Sutherland Dock
The dock was constructed under the supervision of the engineer Louis Samuel between 1882 and 1890. The dock was named after John Sutherland, the Secretary for Public Works and was large enough to accommodate ships of 20,000 tonnes. The dock was modified in 1913 and in 1927 to accommodate Royal Australian Navy ships.Industrial School, Reformatory and Gaol
In 1864 the island was split between the NSW Department of Prisons and the Public Works Department, which expanded the dockyard around the foreshores. In 1869 the convicts were relocated to Darlinghurst GaolDarlinghurst Gaol
Darlinghurst Gaol was an Australian prison located in Darlinghurst, New South Wales. The site is bordered by Victoria, Burton and Forbes streets, with entrances on Forbes and Burton Streets.-History:...
and the prison complex became an Industrial School for Girls and also a Reformatory.
Cockatoo Island Dockyard
Shipbuilding began on Cockatoo Island in 1870.In 1913 Cockatoo Island was transferred to the Commonwealth Government to become the Naval Dockyard of the Royal Australian Navy. The torpedo boat destroyer Warrego has the distinction of being the first naval ship launched at Cockatoo Island. Built in Great Britain, dismantled and shipped to Australia, Warrego was reassembled at Cockatoo Island and commissioned in 1912. This was the beginning of naval shipbuilding on the island. During World War I, the dockyard built, repaired and refitted many ships. At its peak during the war, some 4000 men were employed on the island.
In 1933, Cockatoo Island was leased to the Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company Ltd for 21 years. The lease was renewed in 1954 for a further 20 years and again in 1972 for 21 years.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Cockatoo Island was the main ship repair facility in the south-west Pacific. Some 250 ships were converted or repaired on the island. The Cunard liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were converted to troopships by Cockatoo Island workers in Athol Bight near Bradley Head in the harbour. In the eight months between August 1942 and March 1943, Cockatoo repaired four cruisers of the United States Navy - USS Chicago
USS Chicago
Four United States Navy ships have been named Chicago, after the city of Chicago, Illinois.* The was a protected cruiser launched in 1885 and active in World War I; later converted to a seaplane tender, then a barracks ship, finally being renamed Alton in 1928 and lost at sea, while under tow in...
, USS Chester
USS Chester
Two ships of the United States Navy have been named Chester, after the city of Chester, Pennsylvania.* The , was a light cruiser in service from 1908 to 1921....
, USS Portland
USS Portland
Two ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS Portland, named in honor of the cities of Portland, Maine, and Portland, Oregon.* The first, , was a Portland-class heavy cruiser, launched in 1932 and struck in 1959....
and USS New Orleans
USS New Orleans
USS New Orleans may refer to:, was a ship-of-the-line laid down in January 1815 but her construction was halted and she remained on the stocks, housed over, until sold in September 1883...
.
Many ships of the Royal Australian Navy were repaired. The cruiser HMAS Hobart
HMAS Hobart
Two ships of the Royal Australian Navy have been named HMAS Hobart, for Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania., a Leander class light cruiser acquired from the Royal Navy in 1938, and operating until 1962., a Perth class guided missile destroyer commissined in 1965 and decommissioned in 2000., lead...
suffered torpedo damage in the New Hebrides and limped into Sydney in August 1943 for major repairs and modernisation.
After the war, shipbuilding continued on the island. Orders were placed for two Battle Class and four Daring Class destroyers, the building to be shared by Cockatoo Island and Williamstown dockyards. In the 1950s, the government approved the construction of six Type 12 anti-submarine frigates, again shared between the two dockyards. Cockatoo Island also modernised and refitted many naval vessels.
In 1962, Cockatoo Island won the tender to construct Empress of Australia
Empress of Australia
"Royal Pacific" redirects here. For the hotel at Universal Resorts, see Universal Orlando Resort.The Empress of Australia was a ferry which was operated by the Australian National Lines. She sailed on Bass Strait between Melbourne, Victoria and Devonport, Tasmania until 1985. The ship had...
, which when completed in 1965, was the largest roll-on roll-off cargo passenger ship in the world. In 1963, the island won the contract to build the escort maintenance ship HMAS Stalwart
HMAS Stalwart
Two ships of the Royal Australian Navy have been named HMAS Stalwart.*HMAS Stalwart , an S class destroyer launched in 1918, decommissioned in 1925, and scrapped in 1937....
. In 1979, Cockatoo began construction of HMAS Success
HMAS Success
Two ships of the Royal Australian Navy have been named HMAS Success., an S class destroyer launched in 1918, decommissioned in 1931, and sold for scrap, a Durance class replenishment oiler launched in 1984 and active as of 2011-Battle honours:...
, the largest naval vessel built in Australia. It was handed over to the Navy in 1986 and may still be seen in Sydney Harbour from time to time.
From 1971 to 1991, Cockatoo completed 14 major refits of Australia's Oberon Class submarines and many mid-cycle and intermediate dockings, not to mention short-term repairs.
Significant vessels built or worked over the life of the dockyard include:, a launched on 4 April 1911. It was the first naval vessel launched from Cockatoo Island., a destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
launched in 1914, a light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
launched in 1915, a light cruiser launched in 1918, a seaplane tender
Seaplane tender
A seaplane tender is a ship that provides facilities for operating seaplanes. These ships were the first aircraft carriers and appeared just before the First World War.-History:...
launched in 1928
- Steam Tug WattleSteam Tug WattleSteam Tug Wattle is a vessel which is currently out of survey. She was launched in 1933 as a tug in Sydney, Australia. She ran commercial cruises around Melbourne and surrounding areas. She suspended her marine commercial service in 2003 and is currently located in No. 2 Victoria Harbour,...
launched in 1933 - Customs patrol vessel Vigilant, later , launched in 1938. It was the first aluminiumAluminiumAluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
ship built in Australia. - Three Tribal-classTribal class destroyer (1936)The Tribal class, or Afridi class, were a class of destroyers built for the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Australian Navy that saw service in World War II...
destroyers - Several s during World War II was constructed for the Royal Australian Navy at Cockatoo Island Dockyard as ship number 185 and launched on 20 December 1947, a destroyer launched in 1952 and now at the Australian National Maritime MuseumAustralian National Maritime MuseumThe Australian National Maritime Museum is a federally-operated maritime museum located in Darling Harbour, Sydney. After consideration of the idea to establish a maritime museum, the Federal government announced that a national maritime museum would be constructed at Darling Harbour, tied into...
in Darling Harbour - Empress of Australia, launched in 1964, the last ship launched from the dockyard in 1984.
World Heritage Listing
In July 2010, at the 34th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, Cockatoo Island and ten other Australian sites with a significant association with convict transportation were inscribed as a group on the World Heritage List as the Australian Convict SitesAustralian Convict Sites
"Australian Convict Sites" is a World Heritage property consisting of 11 remnant penal sites originally built within the British Empire during the 18th and 19th centuries on fertile Australian coastal strips at Sydney, Tasmania, Norfolk Island, and Fremantle; now representing:" ....
. The listing explains that the 11 sites present "the best surviving examples of large-scale convict transportation and the colonial expansion of European powers through the presence and labour of convicts". Of the 11 sites the Hyde Park Barracks
Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney
The Hyde Park Barracks is an internationally significant, impressive brick building and compound designed by convict architect Francis Greenway between 1818–19; originally built at the head of Macquarie Street to house convict men and boys....
, Old Great North Road, Old Government House
Old Government House, Parramatta
Old Government House is a former "country" residence of 10 early governors of New South Wales, located in Parramatta Park in Parramatta, New South Wales, now a suburb of Sydney...
at Parramatta are also within the Sydney region.
Cockatoo Island Events
Since 2005, Cockatoo Island has hosted a number of major events. They range from collaborations with the Sydney Writers' Festival to an international freestyle motocross competition. A summary is provided in the following headings.Cockatoo Island Festival
In 2005, a three day music and arts festival was held on the refurbished island, utilising abandoned buildings and warehouses as exhibition rooms, concert halls and shopping/food venues. The festival was headlined by local and international musical groups and artists.The festival attracted over 20,000 people and featured over 120 musical acts, as well as stand-up comedians, performance artists and more. A dedicated ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
service ran day and night to take ticket holders to and from the island. The festival did not return to the island in this format and was reborn elsewhere as The Great Escape
The Great Escape (festival)
The Great Escape was a music festival held at Newington Armory, located within Sydney Olympic Park that took place in 2006 and 2007. Initially held over the Easter long weekend for the first two events, in 2008 it was announced the festival would take place on the Labour Day weekend, however the...
in 2006.
Urs Fischer Installation
In 2007, Cockatoo Island hosted an art installation by New York-based Swiss artist Urs Fischer. The installation was a partnership with Kaldor Public Art ProjectsKaldor Public Art Projects
Kaldor Public Art Projects is an Australian arts organisation established in 1969 by John Kaldor AM. The organisation completes projects with international artists in public spaces, aiming to change the landscape of contemporary art in Australia with projects that resonate around the world.The...
.
Biennale of Sydney 2008, 2010
In 2008, Cockatoo Island became a major venue for the Biennale of SydneyBiennale of Sydney
The Biennale of Sydney is an international festival of contemporary art, held every two years in Sydney, Australia. It is the largest and best-attended contemporary visual arts event in the country...
. The contemporary arts festival attracted approximately 86,000 visitors to the island over 10 weeks. In 2010, the island hosted the 17th Biennale of Sydney. Over 120 works of art by 56 artists were exhibited and attracted approximately 157,000 people.
Sydney Festival 2009
In 2009, Cockatoo Island was the venue for a major component of the Sydney Festival, the Nick Cave curated All Tomorrow's PartiesAll Tomorrow's Parties
"All Tomorrow's Parties" is a song by The Velvet UndergroundAll Tomorrow's Parties may also refer to:* All Tomorrow's Parties , an annual festival in England...
music festival. The event attracted approximately 12,000 people.
Ken Unsworth Installations
In 2009, the artist Ken Unsworth's tribute to his wife, A Ringing Glass (Rilke) was an ambitious installation of galleries constructed inside the island's Turbine Shop. In 2011, Unsworth returned to Cockatoo Island with As I Crossed the Bridge of Dreams, a show incorporating dance, sculptural creations, music and song.World's Funniest Island Comedy Festival
In 2009, Cockatoo Island hosted the World's Funniest IslandWorld's Funniest Island
World’s Funniest Island was an Australian comedy event held on the third weekend in October on Cockatoo Island, in Sydney Harbour. The first World’s Funniest Island event took place 17–18 October 2009...
comedy festival. Held over two days, it attracted approximately 8000 people.
Underbelly Festival
In 2010, Cockatoo Island hosted the Underbelly Festival, a collaboration of 150 artists on innovative and experimental projects over a 10 day residency and festival finale.Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour Finale
In 2011, Cockatoo Island hosted the final of the world's leading freestyle motocross competition.Planning and Projects
Stewardship of Cockatoo Island was handed to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust http://www.harbourtrust.gov.au in 2001 to plan a new chapter for the island as publicly-owned urban park. In 2003 the Harbour Trust completed a Comprehensive Plan for Cockatoo Island and its other sites around Sydney Harbour.The Comprehensive Plan proposed the revitalisation of Cockatoo Island as a landmark harbour attraction with the revival of maritime activities, the interpretation of its rich colonial and industrial heritage, and the creation of parklands and spaces for cultural events.
The Harbour Trust has now produced a management plan for the island to provide more specific details of the proposals for the island.
Urban Islands
In 2009 the Urban Islands masterclass was taught "by 3 groups of international emerging architects on and about the controversial site of Cockatoo Island":Cross disciplinary creativity, experimental tactics and broad based participation are needed to inject Cockatoo Island with renewed life. The proposals developed in the 12-days play an active role in generating tangible proposals for Cockatoo Island, producing outcomes such as large-scale installations, futurologist proposals, media activism experiments, and greater harbour master planning visions.
One of the masterclass leaders was Geoff Manaugh, author of the influential BLDGBLOG
BLDGBLOG
BLDGBLOG is an architecture blog authored by futurist Geoff Manaugh, former senior editor at Dwell magazine and a contributing editor at Wired UK. It is acclaimed by The Wall Street Journal , The Atlantic and The Architectural Review....
. A second masterclass is planned for 2011.
External links
- Cockatoo Island Website
- Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Sites - Cockatoo Island
- Vintage aerial photograph by Frank HurleyFrank HurleyJames Francis "Frank" Hurley, OBE was an Australian photographer and adventurer. He participated in a number of expeditions to Antarctica and served as an official photographer with Australian forces during both world wars.His artistic style produced many memorable images but he also used staged...
at the National Library of AustraliaNational Library of AustraliaThe National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the... - Captain Thunderbolt