We started our day by visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cockatoo Island which is at the junction of the Parramatta and Lane Cove River in Sydney Harbour. It was originally heavily timbered and was an excellent source of sandstone.
Between 1839 and 1869, Cockatoo Island operated as a convict penal establishment, primarily as a place for the worst of the worst. Later it was also prison/school for wayward girls.
Cockatoo Island was also the site of one of Australia's
biggest shipyards, operating between 1857 and 1991. The first of its two dry
docks was built by the convicts. The island is significant for its long-running
dockyard and the shipbuilding complex which included areas for key functions such
structural and operational layouts.
In its later years, it housed one of the most important turbine and generator repair shops in Australia.
Some of the facilities are still open for viewing. Actually you can rent a tent and camp there.
In the afternoon we went to the Rocks. John being an old navy seadog knew of many of
the old historical pubs in the area.
Unfortunately, a couple of the more important pubs were closed on
Mondays. So, we did have drinks in a couple of pubs and later had dinner in the
area. The one pub I really enjoyed was the Lord Nelson.
We ended up walking about 9k during the day. Thank goodness it was a comfortable temperature in
the mid 20s.
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