HEWN OUT OF ROCK.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 28 August 1914, Page 2

HEWN OUT OF ROCK.

J A peculiarity of the New South Wales Government Dockyard on Cockatoo Island, in Sydney Harbour is that it is hewn out of solid rock. Historically, Cockatoo Island is of much interest, as it was the site of a large prison in the days when British convicts were deported to Australia. The present oflices on the island are in the old prison buildings, the stone wafts, barred windows, and iron-doored cells . being still in evidence.

The formation of the island was originally quite unsuitable for a

dockyard, as the soild rock rose sheer from the water to a height of 60ft. to. 70ft. By using convict labour, however, the rock was gradually cut back, first to permit the building of graving docks, and later to make room for building slips and shops near water level. The work has been continued until at present two-thirds of the total area o# thirty-three acres has been wrought to a practically uniform level of about 15ft. above high tide.