As a Harbour Trust volunteer you could be a part of successful restoration project such as these:

Cannon restoration

A 12 pounder Admiralty, this cannon is the same type as found on HMS Victory in the Napoleonic War. It was cast in 1797 by Walker & Co in Birmingham and may have come to Sydney as ballast in a ship and been placed around Sydney Harbour as part of the defence of Sydney.

Once obsolete, it was used as one of 15 bollards around Fitzroy Dock on Cockatoo Island until the 1970s when it was removed and restored. The carriage on which it stands today, was built by apprentices in 1976. After years of neglect, Heritage Restoration volunteers have partly restored and partly rebuilt the carriage and restored the cannon itself. The cannon is now placed on the NW apron near the Muster Station.

Mobile Crane

Manufactured in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1912 by Davis & Primrose, this freshly restored crane was originally located at the eastern end of the Sutherland Dock. Fitted with a two-cylinder steam engine, the mobile crane was placed on rails so it could be moved into position to unload items where needed along the dock.

The crane was carefully restored and returned to working condition in 2008 and 2009 by the volunteer Heritage Restoration Team.

Steam Crane

Built by Morts Dock & Engineering Company at Balmain and installed in 1891, this steam crane is the oldest steam crane on Cockatoo Island and is one of the few surviving steam operated cranes in Australia. With a jib length of 9.5m, it was part of the operating equipment of Fitzroy Dock for over a century.

The wooden platform was completely rebuilt in 2008 using old iron bark sourced from an original Cockatoo Island wharf. The Heritage Restoration volunteer Team completed the restoration in 2011.

Slipway No. 7

This slipway, hidden away behind the Shipwright's Shed on the southern apron, was built in the first decade of the 20th century to service small craft. It continued in this role until the dockyard closed and in the final years was used for dockyard launches only.

The sandstone rubble wall has been repointed, various pieces of metal work have been repaired and sections of the wooden boat carriage carefully replaced. With the winch restored to working order, this piece of Cockatoo Island heritage can once again be used as a working slipway, helping to reinstate the island's maritime past.

Fast Motor Boat Sydney

The historic 'Fast Motor Boat 45802', or Captain's Barge is the only remaining cabined example of this type of vessel in Australia, and possibly the world. Vospers in England originally built the 30-foot long timber boat in 1945. It is one of two vessels acquired by the Australian Navy in 1947 to serve as the Captains' barges to the aircraft carriers, HMAS Sydney (1948-73) and HMAS Melbourne (1955-83).

The boat has an innovative construction involving double diagonal mahogany planks, copper nailed with a linseed oiled canvas layer between. This has resulted in a strong vessel that is relatively light in weight.

This restoration project began in 2008. The work includes a new engine, overhaul of the propeller shaft & steering, refinishing of the original woodwork, a complete overhaul of the electrical system and a new coat of paint. This project has drawn heavily on the shipwright skills and maritime knowledge of the volunteer team. The FMB Sydney will once again become a working vessel, coordinated by the Harbour Trust volunteer Team and will assist in Harbour Trust activities.

Electric Crane

The electric crane that sits beside Fitzroy Dock was manufactured in 1942, by Joseph Booth & Bros Union Crane Works. It was fitted to Admiralty Floating Dock 17 (AFD17), which was completed by Devonport Dockyard in 1942. After service in Iceland, AFD 17 was towed to Australia for service in support of the British Pacific Fleet. It left Iceland in September 1944 on one of the longest ocean tows yet undertaken, and finally arrived in Sydney in June 1945. It remained at Cockatoo Island and was finally acquired by the Commonwealth in May 1948.

Moored at the Fitzroy Wharf, AFD 17 was used by Cockatoo Dockyard until 1964 when the dock was scrapped. This and another 5-ton crane were salvaged from the dock and refitted. They were both placed in service again beside the Fitzroy Dock where they continued to service ships in dock until the dockyard closed.

This crane is currently in an advanced state of disrepair and its restoration is a joint project between Harbour Trust volunteers and heritage conservationists with the restoration being completed by the end of this year. The volunteer team will be applying their wood working skills to this project, in the restoration of the wooden cabin.

Cockatoo Island Gardens

Once beautiful heritage gardens, left untended for many years have been restored to their former glory by the Volunteer gardening team. Heritage gardens surrounding the houses once again contain a great variety of plants from beautiful roses, banks of lavender and azaleas to bromeliads and lush ferns. Yet other gardens feature native plants including wattles & native grasses.

These gardens now serve to compliment the industrial aspect of the island and remind us of a former time when the island was called home by many.

Volunteer Speaker Program

Harbour Trust Volunteers can provide community groups with a fascinating presentation covering former colonial, military and convict sites, colourful and little known tales, and historic photographs.

Click here for more information on talks and speakers