Cockatoo Island, Sydney

Cockatoo Island, Sydney

The Cockatoo Island is one of the largest islands in Sydney Harbour, and a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List of 11 Australian Convict Sites recognized for illustrating the system of deportation and forced labor which transformed the penal processes in European colonizing nations in the 18th - 19th centuries.

The Cockatoo Island is one of the largest islands in Sydney Harbour, and a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List of 11 Australian Convict Sites recognized for illustrating the system of deportation and forced labor which transformed the penal processes in European colonizing nations in the 18th - 19th centuries. The island was originally settled by the Aborigines, and operated as a penal establishment between 1839 and 1869. Cockatoo Island is an integral part of the country's maritime heritage as the site of one of Australia's biggest shipyards which operated here between 1857 and 1991.

Located at the junction of the Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers, the island is a short 30 minute ferry ride away from Circular Quay. Take an audio tour and explore the island's convict and shipbuilding history. Visitors can also stay overnight in the campground or holiday houses.