Cockatoo Island Shipyard today
Dec 5, 2021 12:53:03 GMT 12
Dave Homewood, mcmaster, and 1 more like this
Post by nuuumannn on Dec 5, 2021 12:53:03 GMT 12
Hi guys, something I've been meaning to post as I've done it on another forum, and since my bubble is in voluntary lockdown owing to someone I'm close to being present at a known COVID cluster I thought I'd add these pictures here because I'm bored.
As y'all probably know, Cockatoo Island was one of Australia's biggest shipyards and is a fascinating place to wander about today, being a UNESCO World Heritage site, although that alone is not the only reason to visit. My visit took place because my late uncle used to work there as a shipbuilder and was involved in the refurbishment of the Royal Australian Navy's Oberon Class submarines, I went with my auntie who, although she had visited the island before, to witness the launch of the supply vessel HMAS Success, the largest military ship built in Australia up to that point, in 1984, hadn't been back since her husband's passing.
Access to Cockatoo Island is by ferry only and from the many ferry wharves at various points around Sydney's suburbs, the workforce came every day After docking at Parramatta Wharf, the workers went through this gate, which was attached to the island's administration block.
DSC_3920
Useful statistics.
DSC_3922
Looking toward the administration building, we can see the Parramatta Wharf and the building currently in use as the cafe and shop, which was adjacent to the metal work shops, which have since been pulled down.
DSC_3913
This image is taken from the lawn of the island's manager's house, which we'll see later and is looking toward what was known as the Cruiser Dock, between the waterfront and the hill in the now empty space were the boiler shops and light fabrication sheds. These were pulled down due to the precarious condition of the buildings, as well as the presence of toxic materials in their construction.
DSC_3911
These are the canteen in the foreground, tool store and electrical repair and component assembly shops, looking toward what was named the Destroyer Dock.
DSC_3852
The vast open ceiling of one of the main machine workshops.
DSC_3853[/url
A view of the interior of the machine and large component assembly shop.
DSC_3858
This is inside the enormous turbine room, which today is used for various indoor events, making a good concert space, apparently, according to my cousins.
DSC_3865
This is Fitzroy Graving Dock, the first major dockyard built in Australia, by convicts between 1847 and 1857, looking toward the naval weapons workshops. Note the 5-tonne cranes.
DSC_3861
Fitzroy Dock from above, this is where most of the work was done on the navy's submarines, naval repair work to ships taking place in both Fitzroy Dock and the adjacent Sutherland Dock.
DSC_3902
Running beneath the centre of the island were two transit tunnels that led workers to the other side of the complex without having to go right round, this one taking a dogleg and emerging at the north face of the island adjacent to the workshops near the Cruiser Dock.
DSC_3867
This is Sutherland Dock from the waterfront, the primary naval dockyard that housed some of the navy's biggest and most prestigious ships at one time or another.
DSC_3877
This was known as No.1 Dock, or the Main Dock and was built between 1882 and 1890 and housed the battlecruiser HMAS Australia, as well as almost all of the RAN's subsequent big cruisers, as well as the carrier Melbourne, after its collisions with other warships having had new bow sections grafted on in this dock on both occasions.
DSC_3904
In this view of the Sutherland Dock, the naval stores buildings and paint shop can be seen on the dock's opposite bank. The dock is in use as a marina today.
DSC_3897
This is the tip of the naval wharf, the Sutherland Wharf, now occupied by pleasure boats, including this pretty brigantine the Søren Larsen. Built in Denmark in 1947, the ship has found a permanent home in Sydney.
DSC_3883
More to come.
As y'all probably know, Cockatoo Island was one of Australia's biggest shipyards and is a fascinating place to wander about today, being a UNESCO World Heritage site, although that alone is not the only reason to visit. My visit took place because my late uncle used to work there as a shipbuilder and was involved in the refurbishment of the Royal Australian Navy's Oberon Class submarines, I went with my auntie who, although she had visited the island before, to witness the launch of the supply vessel HMAS Success, the largest military ship built in Australia up to that point, in 1984, hadn't been back since her husband's passing.
Access to Cockatoo Island is by ferry only and from the many ferry wharves at various points around Sydney's suburbs, the workforce came every day After docking at Parramatta Wharf, the workers went through this gate, which was attached to the island's administration block.
DSC_3920 Useful statistics.
DSC_3922 Looking toward the administration building, we can see the Parramatta Wharf and the building currently in use as the cafe and shop, which was adjacent to the metal work shops, which have since been pulled down.
DSC_3913 This image is taken from the lawn of the island's manager's house, which we'll see later and is looking toward what was known as the Cruiser Dock, between the waterfront and the hill in the now empty space were the boiler shops and light fabrication sheds. These were pulled down due to the precarious condition of the buildings, as well as the presence of toxic materials in their construction.
DSC_3911 These are the canteen in the foreground, tool store and electrical repair and component assembly shops, looking toward what was named the Destroyer Dock.
DSC_3852 The vast open ceiling of one of the main machine workshops.
DSC_3853[/urlA view of the interior of the machine and large component assembly shop.
DSC_3858 This is inside the enormous turbine room, which today is used for various indoor events, making a good concert space, apparently, according to my cousins.
DSC_3865 This is Fitzroy Graving Dock, the first major dockyard built in Australia, by convicts between 1847 and 1857, looking toward the naval weapons workshops. Note the 5-tonne cranes.
DSC_3861 Fitzroy Dock from above, this is where most of the work was done on the navy's submarines, naval repair work to ships taking place in both Fitzroy Dock and the adjacent Sutherland Dock.
DSC_3902 Running beneath the centre of the island were two transit tunnels that led workers to the other side of the complex without having to go right round, this one taking a dogleg and emerging at the north face of the island adjacent to the workshops near the Cruiser Dock.
DSC_3867 This is Sutherland Dock from the waterfront, the primary naval dockyard that housed some of the navy's biggest and most prestigious ships at one time or another.
DSC_3877This was known as No.1 Dock, or the Main Dock and was built between 1882 and 1890 and housed the battlecruiser HMAS Australia, as well as almost all of the RAN's subsequent big cruisers, as well as the carrier Melbourne, after its collisions with other warships having had new bow sections grafted on in this dock on both occasions.
DSC_3904 In this view of the Sutherland Dock, the naval stores buildings and paint shop can be seen on the dock's opposite bank. The dock is in use as a marina today.
DSC_3897 This is the tip of the naval wharf, the Sutherland Wharf, now occupied by pleasure boats, including this pretty brigantine the Søren Larsen. Built in Denmark in 1947, the ship has found a permanent home in Sydney.
DSC_3883 More to come.
