Four men, various engineering jobs, standing with ship propeller at Cockatoo Island, circa 1940s

A powerhouse of industry for over a century (1857 to 1991), Cockatoo Island was once Australia’s major shipbuilding and repair facility. The buildings that make up this historic precinct, including the cathedral-like Turbine Hall, feature exposed steel beams, soaring ceilings, sandstone details and fascinating relics from this golden era.

Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (7465405)