By Kate Shilling — 20th February 2023
When embarking on your bespoke family history holiday, we always try to include a historic stay in your itinerary. There’s something particularly special about ‘built’ heritage that resonates in our psyche, and there’s nothing quite like staying in a home or apartment that holds its own character and backstory – even if unrelated to our own family tree.
From old-world staircases to stained glass windows and sweeping verandas, historic stays stir up nostalgia and remind us that our own lives form part of a rich tapestry of heritage, wherever we live.
Spend a few days on Cockatoo Island / Wareamah and immerse yourself in stories of Sydney’s First Nation and convict ancestry. This poignant destination was a central meeting place for Sydney’s First Peoples some 60,000 years before European settlement took place. The Island is also home to convict precinct with original sandstone ruins.
In 1839, the island became a penal establishment, and for the convicts sent here, life on the island was harsh. They lived and worked under brutal conditions with convicts forced to quarry sandstone on site to construct the prison quarters, mess hall, guardhouse, as well as the 1857 Fitzroy Dock - the only surviving example of a dry dock built by convicts.
Stroll the solitary confinement cells that were rediscovered in an archaeological dig in 2009. Built in 1841, when viewing these notorious cells, it’s not hard to imagine the extreme harshness of prison life for convicts on the Island.
During 1857 - 1991, Cockatoo Island / Wareamah’s dockyard was a large contributor to Australia’s shipbuilding industry. Take a walk through the Docks Precinct, Ship Design Precinct, and the Industrial Precinct, and you’ll get a sense of the island’s significant maritime history. During both World Wars, dock workers supported the Allied powers, and during WWII the island acted as the main ship repairing facility in the South West Pacific, with around 250 ships converted or repaired.
Adding to its colourful history, Cockatoo Island / Wareamah was also home to the Biloela Reformatory School for Females from 1871 - 1880, with the prison buildings housing neglected and orphaned girls, as well as young girls who had broken the law. Sadly, living conditions were poor and the girls were cruelly punished.
Today, the island is an iconic destination is just a short ferry ride from Circular Quay, often playing host to special events held throughout the year, such as live music, art exhibitions, and Indigenous cultural events.
This UNESCO World Heritage Listed Island offers holiday houses and apartments among beautiful gardens and historic sites.
The Federation-style Heritage Holiday Houses, built around 1915 were first home to the island’s Medical Officer, Dr Thomas William Francis and the Engineering Manager, Mr. Jack Payne. The beautiful period details showcase ornate fireplaces, decorative plasterwork, high ceilings and a grand central staircase, with incredible views across to Hunters Hill. Each house can accommodate up to 12 guests.
The Harbour View Apartments were once occupied by the island’s dockyard launch driver and coxswain. Choose from various apartments, each featuring high ceilings, cast iron fireplaces, polished floors, and stylish contemporary bathrooms. The glittering city skyline and Sydney Harbour views are the perfect backdrop for a romantic dinner.
Image: Take advantage of the self-guided audio tour on the Island, available daily from 10am - 3pm, featuring immersive sound effects and archival interviews with former workers and residents, painting a vivid picture of the Island's bygone days across 26 audio stops.
