Friday 6 August 2010

Cockatoo Island, cranes

Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour. In 1839 it was chosen as the site of a new penal establishment and convicts built prison barracks, a military guardhouse and official residences. The island was used for the colony's ship repair and shipbuilding activities after the first dry dock was completed by convicts in 1857. It became Australia's biggest shipbuilding and dockyard facility in the 20th century. The island's maritime industrial activity ceased in 1992 but many of the workshops and equipment have been retained as an attraction. More cranes can be seen here.

64 comments:

  1. Great blue skies and the cranes serve as an exclamation point! Have a great weekend!

    Sylvia

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  2. Your series on Cockatoo Island is interesting. I like to know the history of places and things.

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  3. Your version of our Pearl Harbor.




    Aloha from Honolulu :)

    Comfort Spiral

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  4. I can tell that you were as hooked on this island as Ann and I were last year when we visited for Biennale. In fact, we enjoyed the island more than the art. At least, I did.

    More maestro please ...

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  5. Hey, those cranes look just like the Eiffel Tower (or a mining headframe) ;-)

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  6. That's exactly how I felt too, Julie. This island really is fascinating.

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  7. There is an 'island hopping' adventure coming up during October. NP&WS have asked me to take photos for them. This year it includes Goat, Shark & Clark. I shall let you know when they provide me with the schedule.

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  8. Thanks Julie. Please do. That sounds like a great way to visit them.

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  9. Amazing way to measure time and life. Please have a great Friday.

    daily athens

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  10. "many of the workshops and equipment have been retained as an attraction" = grinning :D

    the skies are lovely in their royal blue garb.

    www.ewok1993.wordpress.com

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  11. Cool pictures! Very interesting. Your Sydney sky looks just like our California sky!
    Thanks!

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  12. I love those cranes and all the other industrial detrius out there. Fabulous place for photography.

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  13. That's a great photo, and the information you gave about the area was interesting.

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  14. Very interesting post. I love the way the cranes look against the sky.

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  15. IThe cranes look great against the solid blue sky.

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  16. Great shots and a nice bit of history! I love the cloudless blue sky!

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  17. Hi! Cranes are the coolest piece of man-made machinery! They make a very eye catching skyline !
    Happy weekend!
    Maria

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  18. Very interesting history on the island. If you dont tell, many would think it is an island for birds only. Have a nice weekend.

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  19. G'day, thanks for visiting, fab sky drop over the cranes..enjoy ur day :)

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  20. I know your country better by you...Thanks
    nice shot.
    nice weekend, dear
    graceolsson.com/blog

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  21. Nice to know where this is in :)
    Happy Weekend!

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  22. Interesting history about Cockatoo Island... nice blue sky too!

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  23. interesting shot! and the other one below , too. happy weekend!

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  24. Must be very interesting to see how it started !

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  25. Interesting history! Have a great weekend!

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  26. Oh I love to shoot cranes. Great shots!

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  27. Great skies over an interesting spot showcasing Sydney's history. It's so good that some history is preserved.

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  28. Interesting information. The crane is certainly eye-catching.

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  29. I wouldn't have thought of the remains of a shipyard as a tourist attraction, but it sounds like it was a good decision.

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  30. Very interesting how they left them for looks! You have some clear blue skies there. We don't get that here in Florida too often! I mean we get a lot of sunshine, but there always seem to be clouds.

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  31. Wonderful to see the silhouettes of the cranes against the clear blue sky.
    Enjoy your weekend!

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  32. Interesting history. What is it used for today, tourism??

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  33. An interesting look at some Australian history. Happy Skywatching!

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  34. Diane, it's slowly being redeveloped into a tourist attraction with some new parks created, camping ground and accommodation. It's becoming a big venue for festivals, exhibitions and events.

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  35. Great shot... Happy Sky Watch Friday!

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  36. The size of the shipyard cranes reaching skyward is awesome!

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  37. Wow, interesting photos and I love the post below too.

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  38. Great blue sky over there. I think it`s very hot too.
    Wish you a great weekend:-)

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  39. Looks like it was once a busy place with all of that equipment. Beautiful blue sky!

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  40. Hi Jim
    I love these structures against the sky - such a contrast. Great skies over in your world. Not so blue in Melbourne. Good shots. Have a nice weekend.

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  41. Thanks for sharing the history of the place. Great shots :)

    Thanks for dropping by

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  42. The first picture looks like a silhouette of some large strange metal creature...

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  43. Thanks for imparting such important information at all. Nice post! your blog is also impressive one.Bridge crane.

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Thanks for visiting my blog. Please leave me a message. Jim.

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