Twin electric travelling jib crane (C226), Fitzroy Dock, Cockatoo Island Close-up of Twin electric travelling jib crane (C226), Fitzroy Dock, Cockatoo Island

The twin electric travelling jib cranes (C226 and C227), sitting on either side of Cockatoo Island’s Fitzroy Dock, were manufactured in 1942 by Joseph Booth & Bros Union Crane Works in Leeds, England. They were originally fitted to the Admiralty Floating Dock 17 (AFD17) which was built in Devonport, England, in 1942 and served in Iceland for ship repairs. After service in Iceland, AFD17 was towed to Australia for service in support of the British Pacific Fleet. The floating dock left Iceland in September 1944 on one of the longest ocean tows undertaken and finally arrived in Sydney in June 1945. Moored at the Fitzroy Wharf, the Admiralty Floating Dock 17 was used by Cockatoo Island Dockyard until 1964 when the floating dock was scrapped. The two 5-ton cranes were salvaged from that dock, refitted and placed back in service beside Fitzroy Dock where they continued to service ships in dock until the dockyard closed. Both have been restored by the Cockatoo Island Volunteer Restoration team.

The twin electric travelling jib cranes (C226 and C227), sitting on either side of Cockatoo Island’s Fitzroy Dock, were manufactured in 1942 by Joseph Booth & Bros Union Crane Works in Leeds, England. They were originally fitted to the Admiralty Floating Dock 17 (AFD17) which was built in Devonport, England, in 1942 and served in Iceland for ship repairs. After service in Iceland, AFD17 was towed to Australia for service in support of the British Pacific Fleet. The floating dock left Iceland in September 1944 on one of the longest ocean tows undertaken and finally arrived in Sydney in June 1945. Moored at the Fitzroy Wharf, the Admiralty Floating Dock 17 was used by Cockatoo Island Dockyard until 1964 when the floating dock was scrapped. The two 5-ton cranes were salvaged from that dock, refitted and placed back in service beside Fitzroy Dock where they continued to service ships in dock until the dockyard closed. Both have been restored by the Cockatoo Island Volunteer Restoration team.