Over fifty men and women who lived and/or worked on Cockatoo Island have shared their stories. From life during World War II to shipbuilding, participating in the trade union movement, or spending their childhood on the island, their words and memories are a window into life on the island as far back as the 1940s and the significance of the industrial spaces and buildings we see today.

Working on Cockatoo

Jim Weniger was a shipwright on Cockatoo Island. He served his apprenticeship in the 1950s and worked on Cockatoo Island until it closed down in 1992. Jim describes what it was like working as a shipwright on the island during its hey-day. Interviewer: David Dunstan.
Listen to Jim Weniger Audio file (MP3 - 1.89 MB)

Building ships

John Jeremy was the last Chief Executive Officer of Cockatoo Dockyard. He spent his working life on the island, beginning in 1960 as an apprentice ship's draughtsman and then qualifying as a naval architect at the University of NSW. John explains the role of Cockatoo Island as a shipbuilding facility in the 1960s. Interviewer: John Glascott.
Listen to John Jeremey Audio file (MP3 - 1.4 MB)

Working Conditions

Jim Morton started as an apprentice at Cockatoo Island as a fitter and turner in the early 1950s. He ended his career as part of management as production manager. He was at Cockatoo Island for over forty years right up until it closed in 1992. Working conditions were very different in the 1950s to what they are today. Jim describes what it was like for those working in the fitting shops. Interviewer: Sue Boaden.
Listen to Jim Morton Audio file (MP3 - 1.82 MB)

Harry Brennan was an apprentice on Cockatoo Island from 1944 until 1949. In 1949 Harry left Cockatoo Island to join the NSW Police, retiring at the age of 60 at the rank of Chief Inspector. Harry talks about some of the health hazards experienced by those constructing the ships. Interviewer: Julie Evans.
Listen to Harry Brennan Audio file (MP3 - 1.02 MB)

Hartley Giller was born in 1915. He served his apprenticeship at Cockatoo Island as an electrical fitting apprentice from 1933 until 1936. He worked on both the HMAS Swan and the HMAS Yarra. In this excerpt, he describes his daily journey from home to Cockatoo Island.
Listen to Hartley Giller Audio file (MP3 - 2.17 MB)

World War II

Neville Chidgey was a naval cadet and studied naval architecture. He began working at Cockatoo Island at the beginning of 1942. Neville happened to be visiting Cockatoo Island the night of the 31st May 1942 when three Japanese midget submarines entered Sydney Harbour. Here he speaks about his reaction to the event. Interviewer: Glenys Withers.
Listen to Neville Chidgey Audio file (MP3 - 1.88 MB)