Established by the Federal Government, the Harbour Trust protects and manages extraordinary foreshore sites on Sydney Harbour. Our portfolio includes Cockatoo Island, Headland Park (Mosman), Macquarie Lightstation, North Head Sanctuary (Manly) and Sub Base Platypus (North Sydney).
Each site is rich in heritage value, with artefacts from Sydney’s naval, industrial and convict history as well as strong ties to First Nations countries.
Striking a balance between innovation and conservation, our role is to breathe new life into these locations, creating vibrant public domains where visitors can engage with local history and enjoy unique experiences.
The Harbour Trust acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters and sky of Sydney Harbour, and the sites under our stewardship.
Spent a lot of time down there on the subs when they came in. Used to meet the boats down there when they came in and removed certain valves off the torpedo tubes to take them back to Garden Island to be re calibrated. Other times I would be down the torpedo tubes sanding gas check rings. One time we spent 6 weeks down there scraping chocks for the search and attack periscopes. Great team of blokes and we had a good time doing it as well. Used to look forward to going down there for a change. They were great days spent with an awesome crew working on the O class subs.
Seriously one of Australia's most important training facilities and construction sites. It should be modernised and used for what it was designed. The history is important yes, but you could not find a better location for the dry docks etc. Getting the tradesman there would require accomodation to be built due to housing and rental costs in Sydney but the National Security of having a working dockyard would be of far greater importance the any other applications.
So hold on what happened to the 29 mobs of the Darug Nation ? You had Darug men on the opera house on Australia day. You use Darug language and at this very moment apparently files and HDDs are getting wiped at Dhawaral Land Council. Nothing worse than cultural theft for gain.
My son (11 yrs old) and I camped overnight on Cockatoo a few weeks ago. We took our bikes on the ferry down Parramatta river, rode around the island for the day learning about both the convict and maritime history, pitched a tent near the power building and woke up with the best view of Sydney harbour. All for $60 dollarydoos and the cost of a ferry ride. He really got a sense of the history and importance it played in Sydney's past, and had an adventure at the same time. Thanks to Sydney Harbour Trust for making it possible. I loved it, and so did he.
Where is the acknowledgement of the benefits Europeans have had on past, present and future citizens of Australia? Shame to see such a proud base defamed like this.
As a £10 POME who lived in Sydney for 5 years in 1970 your organisation and volunteers have done an amazing job of "sharing Sydney with the world, even though I missed it thank you
I was an apprentice boilermaker at Garden Island Dockyard who spend six months at Cockatoo Island in 1965, while there I worked on the construction of HMAS Stalwart and HMAS Torrens, it was the best experience I could have had.
Hi there I started my apprenticeship in 1978 as a boilermaker, I had 10 years working at the dock I left just before the commissioning of the HMAS Success. It was a crying shame when they closed it down, great place to learn and trade , I fondly remember taking guided tours around the yard when I was a apprentice, TAFE class schools ext , I was awarded best app boilermaker from 1st year through to 4th year, and I remember John Jeremy giving me my award, great memories, still reflect my time at Cockatoo ' THANKS '
Hi.. .My dad was an engineer on the Island & my older brother started his aprenticeship there around 1980... My dad dragged us kids along for the Launching of the HMAS Success.. i sat for hours as a kid listening to speeches lol ANYWAYS im looking now as in a couole weeks we are staying on the island for the weekend. We booked the converted fire station. Cant wait.. dejavu !
Delightful to see John Jeremy and others telling the story of Cockatoo. I served in the Navy from 1964 and in the following 20 years experienced many refits in Cockatoo. Later with other parties in the Defence Industry we greatly benefitted from the contributions that John Jeremy gave towards our marine engineering endeavors.
I was trained as a boatbuilder by a man who did his time on the island. It made a vital contribution in the World Wars. Now we face the threat of another conflict. We need a good dockyard again, along with the skilled workers to build and repair ships.
If you ever wanted to feel good about Australia, then you cannot do better than this. Our maritime history has had primary significance in creating our culture and country. Thank you.
Thank you so very much for telling the story instead of talking about it. It’s wonderful! Is there additional inside knowledge or secret business that you share with outsiders? I know these stories are knowledge networks still passing information that’s thousands of years old. And that you and your people are among the last of the guardians of that knowledge. I’m trying to find out if what I think is true: that secret business contains information about attaining higher levels of consciousness/awareness. Do you know who I might talk to regarding this?
What a great interview of how your tour guiding journey began. The fact that you are now a "self proclaimed" Fort Nut and first woman volunteer in this sector shows your keen interest in our heritage and the importance of keeping it secure for futures to come. Looking forward to a tour with you Robyn!
