Cockatoo Island Industrial Conservation Area

Cockatoo Island Industrial Conservation Area is a preserved shipbuilding site in Sydney Harbour featuring dry docks, workshops, and maritime structures from different periods. The site contains buildings that show how ships were constructed and repaired, along with storage facilities and administrative structures from its working years.

The island began in 1839 with convicts excavating sandstone cliffs and building grain storage structures, laying the foundation for Australia's main shipbuilding facility. Over the following centuries it grew into a major shipyard producing vessels for the navy and commercial fleets.

The site shows how Australia transformed from a convict settlement into a shipbuilding nation through industrial development. The preserved workshops and machinery reflect this shift in what the community built here.

The island is accessible by ferry from Circular Quay, providing convenient public transport access. On-site pathways connect the main structures, with some buildings open to enter and guided tours available to learn more about the site.

Hidden beneath the island surface are twelve grain silos cut directly into bedrock by convict labor, showcasing early colonial engineering techniques. These underground chambers are remarkable because they demonstrate how substantial stone work was accomplished with basic tools.