Cockatoo Island, stack and tower

The chimney stack and the water tower from the industrial past of Cockatoo Islandstill dominate the skyline. The coal fired powerhouse and brick chimney stack were built in 1918, to provide electricity for the island. The concrete tower is the tallest of three that provided water to the island. For a distant view of how they dominate the skyline of the island, there's a shot here from across the harbour.

Click here to view all participants of Skywatch Friday

Cockatoo Island, houses

These historic houses that sit high on the cliff on Cockatoo Island were built in the Federation architectural style. The houses were once home to the medical officer and engineering manager when the island was a busy shipyard. They are available as holiday accommodation these days. 

Cockatoo Island, Sutherland Dock

Cockatoo Island has a long history of ship repair and shipbuilding activities. Sutherland Dock was built with free labour between 1882 and 1890. Nearby Fitzroy Dock was built using convict labour between 1847 and 1857. The shipyard closed in 1992 and the island is now being revitalised as a public attraction on Sydney Harbour.
Click here to view all participants of Watery Wednesday

Cockatoo Island, Biennale, art

The old turbine workshop provided a spectacular setting for the art work during the 17th Biennale of Sydney. The works shown here by artist Rohan Wealleans are 'He with Glands of Wasp' (2009), 'He of 109 Names and One Tusk' (2009) and 'Janicot Vader' (2009). They really look great bathed in natural light and an industrial backdrop.

Click here to view all participants of My World Tuesday

Cockatoo Island, Biennale, art

Cockatoo Island featured 120 works by 56 artists during the 17th Biennale of Sydney. Being a former industrial site, the island provides some interesting surroundings for the art work such as this one, Kasbah created by Kader Attia. This art work is made from rooftop materials collected from improvised dwellings and shanty towns on the fringes of cities across the world, complete with television antennas and satellite dishes. Visitors were invited to walk along an uneven path across them.

Cockatoo Island, walkway

This walkway along the northern shore of Cockatoo Island is punctuated by trees and benches. The rusty steel benches are a reminder of the shipbuilding history of Cockatoo Island and provide views of the Parramatta River and the nearby northern suburb of Woolwich.

Click here to view all participants of Scenic Sunday

Cockatoo Island, Fitzroy Dock

Cockatoo Island has a long history of ship repair and shipbuilding activities. Fitzroy Dock was the first dry dock, built using convict labour between 1847 and 1857. Shipbuilding began on the island in 1870 with the construction of dredges, barges and tugs. Nearby Sutherland Dock was built with free labour between 1882 and 1890. In 1913, Cockatoo Island became the naval dockyard of the Royal Australian Navy and grew to become Australia's biggest shipbuilding and dockyard facility. The shipyard closed in 1992 but many of the workshops, docks and equipment were retained.

Click here to view all participants of Weekend Reflections

Cockatoo Island, cranes

Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour. In 1839 it was chosen as the site of a new penal establishment and convicts built prison barracks, a military guardhouse and official residences. The island was used for the colony's ship repair and shipbuilding activities after the first dry dock was completed by convicts in 1857. It became Australia's biggest shipbuilding and dockyard facility in the 20th century. The island's maritime industrial activity ceased in 1992 but many of the workshops and equipment have been retained as an attraction.

Click here to view all participants of Skywatch Friday

Cockatoo Island, Biennale, Inopportune:Stage One

The former Turbine Hall at Cockatoo Island made an ideal space for the 17th Biennale of Sydney artworks. Inopportune:Stage One was created by artist Cai Guo-Caing in 2004 and has been displayed in a number of contemporary art museums overseas. The art installation features a cascade of nine cars with sequenced multichannel light tubes of varying lengths to simulate a car bombing.

Cockatoo island, Biennale, ferry

The Royale, Regal and Proclaim are restored deck timber ferries that provided free ferry services between the art exhibitions during the 17th Biennale of Sydney. The services ran between Pier 2 at Walsh Bay, the Commissioner's Steps at Circular Quay and Cockatoo Island.
Click here to view all participants of Watery Wednesday

Cockatoo Island, Biennale

Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour, located at the junction of the Parramatta River and the Lane Cove River. These are the administrative building (left) and main entrance (right) from the ferry wharf during the 17th Biennale of Sydney, an exhibition of contemporary art. During its history, Cockatoo Island has been the site of a prison, reformatory, industrial school and shipyard. The heavy industry ceased in 1992 when the shipyard closed and ten years later it became a major venue for art exhibitions and festivals.

Click here to view all participants of My World Tuesday

Cockatoo Island

Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour, located at the junction of the Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers. The island was originally heavily timbered in red gums which attracted many sulphur-crested cockatoos. This view is from the northern suburb of Woolwich.