Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Located at the junction of the Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers, Cockatoo Island is a former imperial prison, industrial school, reformatory and gaol. It was also the site of one of Australia's biggest shipyards during the twentieth century. The first of its two dry docks was built by convicts and was completed in 1857. The island's maritime industrial activity ceased in 1992. Cockatoo Island was inscribed on the World Heritage List in July 2010.
In late March 2005 the island was re-opened to the public for the 'Cockatoo Island 2005 Festival' Cockatoo Island Festival. The island is currently managed by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust which is currently revitalising the island as a landmark harbour attraction, with commercial maritime activity, cultural events and a campsite operating alongside interpretation of the island's heritage. Today Cockatoo Island retains many remnants of its past. Its prison buildings have been World Heritage listing one of 11 Australian Convict Sites. Large workshops, slipways, wharves, residences and other buildings retain the texture of the island's industrial past.
Always a Sydney landmark, Cockatoo Island commands magnificent views of Sydney Harbour. A campsite opened on the island in 2008, and campers can bring their own tents or take a camping package, which includes a pre-erected tent. The island's views of the Harbour Bridge and harbour make it a popular spot for watching the New Year's Eve fireworks, attracting over two thousand campers for its second New Year's Eve event in 2009. Two heritage dockyard residences are now also available as holiday houses.
The island has become much more accessible since Sydney Ferries increased their services to Cockatoo Island. It is now a stop on the Woolwich/Balmain ferry route as well as the Parramatta RiverCat route. Day visitors are also welcome, and can picnic, barbecue, visit the cafe, wander at leisure or take an audio or guided tour. Cockatoo Island is open daily and there is no admission charge.
Regular events and art installations are a feature of the island.
In the intervening years since the 2005 Cockatoo Island Festival, the island has grown into a versatile venue on Sydney's cultural calendar. It hosted the contemporary art exhibition the Biennale of Sydney in 2008, attracting over 80,000 visitors over 12 weeks, and is hosting the 2010 Biennale 12 May to 1 August 2010. Cockatoo Island also hosted the Sydney Festival's "All Tomorrow's Parties" music festival in January 2009. The 2 day festival included twenty-four bands over four stages across the island, and was curated and headlined by Nick Cave, attracting an audience of over 11,000. The island also hosted the World's Funniest Island Comedy Festival in October 2009, with 200 comedy acts appearing over a weekend, attracting over 8,000 visitors. Plans to repeat the comedy festival in 2010 were cancelled because of a shortfall in sponsorship, while discussions are continuing with Sydney Festival, the Biennale of Sydney and other cultural bodies for future events.
The island is also increasingly used as a a venue for private events both large and small. Part of the blockbuster X-Men Origins: Wolverine was filmed there in 2008.
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