- Author
- Ward, Samantha
- Subjects
- History - general, Ship design and development
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- June 2003 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
1960s
Cockatoo Dockyard received very few orders for naval vessels. Indeed, they were very disappointed when in 1962 the Government ordered two guided-missile destroyers, Hobart and Perth, from the United States. HMAS Brisbane was ordered a year later. Several ships were constructed at Cockatoo after this time, however the dockyard was forced to look for outside work. Cockatoo won the contract to build the merchant ship Empress of Australia.
1970s
The service and refit of the Oberon class submarines took place and operated up to 1991 when the RAN decided to purchase Collins class submarines. Refitting of submarines lasted at least 12 months. In order to free up Sutherland dock, they decided to built a ‘slave dock’ – a type of floating pontoon which was for the exclusive use of the submarines. It proved to be a very useful asset, as once the submarine was loaded onto the slave dock, it could be towed to any berth around the island.
The decline in shipping in Australia, and the size of new container ships, meant that Cockatoo Island dockyard was no longer viable. HMAS Success was the last ship to be built before Cockatoo closed in 1992.
1990s
The Commonwealth regained control of Cockatoo Island in 1992/93. A lot of the plant and machinery was sold and some 40 buildings were demolished. Several wharves were also removed because of their decaying condition. The island has been vacant since.
2000s
Cockatoo Island is now being administered by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, which is responsible for planning the future of some of the land on Sydney Harbour. Considerable work is under way to restore the island for the future enjoyment of the Australian public.
Ships Built at Cockatoo Dockyard:
| 1912-16 | HMA Ships Huon, Torrens, Swan – torpedo boat destroyers. These ships were the first warships wholly built in Australia for the Royal Australian Navy. |
| 1913-16 | HMAS Brisbane – Town class cruiser |
| 1917-22 | HMAS Adelaide – Chatham class cruiser |
| 1918-20 | Dundula, Eudunda – cargo ships |
| 1922-24 | Fordsdale, Ferndale – refrigerated cargo steamers, the largest merchant ships ever built in Sydney. |
| 1924-25 | Cape Leeuwin, Cape York – lighthouse steamers |
| 1926-28 | HMAS Albatross – seaplane carrier, Australia’s first aircraft carrier. |
| 1930-31 | Cape Otway – lighthouse steamer |
| 1934-36 | HMA Ships Yarra, Swan – escort sloops |
| 1938-41 | HMAS Kookaburra, Koala, Kangaroo, Karangi – boom defence vessels |
| 1938-40 | HMAS Parramatta, Warrego – escort sloops. |
| 1940-42 | HMAS Bathurst, Goulburn, Bendigo, Wollongong, Cessnock, Glenelg, HMIS Madras, Bengal – Bathurst class minesweepers |
| 1938-42 | HMAS Arunta, Warramunga, Bataan – Tribal class destroyers |
| 1941-43 | River Clarence, River Hunter – cargo steamers |
| 1942-46 | HMAS Barcoo, Barwon – River class frigates |
| 1944-50 | HMAS Tobruk – Battle class destroyer |
| 1946-59 | HMAS Voyager, Vampire – Daring class destroyers. These were the first all-welded warships built in Australia (with HMAS Vendetta, built in Victoria). Vampire is on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. |
| 1947-49 | Wonga, Yelta – steam tugs |
| 1951-63 | HMAS Parramatta, Stuart – Type 12 frigates |
| 1962-65 | Empress of Australia – passenger/ vehicle ship, the largest ship of its type built in the world at that time. |
| 1964-68 | HMAS Stalwart – escort maintenance ship |
| 1964-71 | HMAS Torrens – River class destroyer escort |
| 1974-77 | A S Mayne – bucket dredge |
| 1979-86 | HMAS Success – Durance class fleet underway replenishment ship (AOR). Success is the largest naval vessel built in Australia to the beginning of the 21st century and the largest ship ever built in the port of Sydney. |