Cockatoo Island Prison Barracks Precinct

Cockatoo Island Prison Barracks Precinct is a colonial-era prison complex on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour containing multiple sandstone buildings from the 1800s. The site includes a barracks block, dining hall, guard room, and officers' accommodation arranged around a central courtyard.

The complex was established in 1839 when Governor George Gipps relocated convicts from Norfolk Island to create a new penal settlement in this location. The site later operated as an industrial school and eventually became part of Commonwealth Dockyard operations before its use changed.

The precinct's U-shaped barracks layout and fine sandstone details show how colonial authorities organized prison life and daily routines. Walking through the structures, you can see how the design kept different groups separated while maintaining order within the compound.

The precinct is located on an island in Sydney Harbour and can only be reached by ferry. The buildings are open to explore, though some areas may have restricted access, so checking conditions beforehand helps with planning your visit.

This is the only remaining imperial-funded convict prison works in New South Wales, constructed between 1839 and 1857. The sandstone blocks were quarried and cut by prisoners themselves, making the buildings themselves products of their labor.

Location: New South Wales

GPS coordinates: -33.84790,151.17030

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:05