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You are here: Home / Naval Heritage Sites / Cockatoo Island / Shipbuilding

Cockatoo IslandShipbuilding

· Sep 18, 2017 ·

Shipbuilding was a major activity at Cockatoo Island for 116 years. In that time over 290 ships totalling some 150,000 light-displacement tons were built on the island. Many were warships of considerable complexity and, for many of the ships, the propulsion machinery and other fittings were also built on the island.

The dredger Glaucus was built at Cockatoo Island in 1903
The dredger Glaucus was built at Cockatoo Island in 1903

Shipbuilding began in about 1870, when the Department of Public Works, Harbours and Rivers Branch began the construction of tugs, barges and dredgers, work which continued into the twentieth century. By the time the Commonwealth took over the Dockyard in January 1913, about 146 vessels had been completed (surviving records are not sufficiently complete to determine the exact number). They included the first mild-steel ship to be built in Australia, the 56-ton tug Hinton, which was imported in parts from England and assembled at Cockatoo Island in 1886.

The early shipbuilding slipways were located on the eastern shore in front of the engineers workshop
The early shipbuilding slipways were located on the eastern shore in front of the engineers workshop

Most of the shipbuilding in the nineteenth century was carried out on the shoreline to the east of the Engineers Workshop (Building 138). This area continued to be used for shipbuilding until 1915, when a Tool Room was erected on the site of the last building ways.

The launching of HMAS Warrego on 4 April 1911
The launching of HMAS Warrego on 4 April 1911

The larger ships which were built by the NSW Government at Cockatoo Island, like the dredgers Latona and John Stewart, were built on the new southern shipyard slipways, south of the Fitzroy Dock. It was here that the destroyer Warrego was assembled from parts imported from Scotland.

The second HMAS Torrens entering the water from No 2 slipway on 28 September 1968
HMAS Torrens entering the water on 28 August 1915

Warrego’s sisters Huon, Torrens and Swan were built during World War I. The southern shipyard was used again during World War II, but was unused for shipbuilding after 1946. The submarine weapons workshop was built on the site and remains there today.

HMAS Brisbane was launched on 30 September 1915 before a large crowd of spectators
HMAS Brisbane was launched on 30 September 1915 before a large crowd of spectators

The NSW Government created the northern shipyard in 1912 to build the cruiser Brisbane for the Royal Australian Navy. The slipway (known as No. 1) was expanded and strengthened after the launch of Brisbane in 1915, and was the best slipway on Cockatoo Island. It continued to be used until 1984. Notable ships launched from No. 1 slipway included Australia’s first aircraft carrier, HMAS Albatross in 1928, the first all-welded warship built in Australia, HMAS Voyager, in 1952, the largest roll-on roll-off passenger ship built in the world at that time, Empress of Australia, in 1964 and the last ship (and largest warship yet built in Australia) the fleet underway replenishment ship, HMAS Success, in 1984.

HMAS Success at full power during sea trials in 1985
HMAS Success at full power during sea trials in 1985

In 1938 the northern shipyard was expanded by the construction of another slipway which became known as No. 2. HMA ships Warrego, Warramunga and Bataan were built there during the World War II. It was strengthened and re-aligned in 1964 for the construction of HMAS Torrens, launched in 1968.

The second HMAS Torrens entering the water from No 2 slipway on 28 September 1968
The second HMAS Torrens entering the water from No 2 slipway on 28 September 1968

Ships were also built on a small slipway next to the Camber Wharf, the present site of the island’s roll-on roll-off ramp, and on No. 5 slipway south of the Sutherland Dock. The floating crane Titan was the last to be launched from that slipway, in 1917.

Cockatoo Dockyard also built many small craft for dockyard service, for ships built on the island, and lifeboats for merchant ships. The exact number is unknown.

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Cockatoo Island

  • Early History — The Penal Era
  • The Dockyard Era
  • The Commonwealth Naval Dockyard
  • Shipbuilding
  • Ship Repair
  • Submarines
  • General Engineering
  • Other Activities
  • Dockyard People
  • Cockatoo Island Today
  • Dockyard Timeline
  • Dockyard Records

Additional reading for Cockatoo Island

  • I Name this Ship….
  • HMS Australia and the William Droudge Mystery
  • Occasional Paper 28: Cockatoo Island – An Historical Account
  • Cockatoo Island - An Historical Account
  • Cockatoo Dockyard and the American Fleet Cruisers
  • First of the Line - HMAS Albatross, first aircraft carrier
  • Spectacle Island Command 1894 - 1900

World & National Heritage Sites

  • Cockatoo Island
  • HMAS Sydney II and the HSK Kormoran Shipwreck Sites
  • HMVS Cerberus

Commonwealth Heritage Sites

  • Chowder Bay Naval Facilities
  • Royal Australian Naval Transmitting Station ACT
  • Royal Australian Naval College ACT
  • Garden Island WA
  • Naval Offices QLD
  • HMAS Cerberus
  • Admiralty House, Garden and Fortifications
  • Beecroft Peninsula NSW
  • Spectacle Island Explosives Complex NSW
  • HMAS Penguin
  • HMAS Watson

The NHSA acknowledges support provided by the Australian Department of Environment and Energy which made these pages possible.
Greater detail on building history, the natural and Indigenous significance to these sites is available by accessing the National Heritage List.

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