Parramatta River Ferry and Cockatoo Island

Thursday morning we took the Parramatta River Ferry from Parramatta to Circular Quay. On the way we had the opportunity to see many outlaying areas of Sydney along with a stop on Cockatoo Island. We highly recommend spending half a day exploring on the Parramatta River Ferry as you can get off and on along the way.

Cockatoo Island is now a World Heritage site and is free to visit once you arrive on the island. Cockatoo Island  began in 1839 as penal colony. For 30 years prisoners from Sydney were sent to Cockatoo Island.  In 1871 Australia opened the Industrial School for orphaned girls and a Reformatory for girls convicted of crimes. Eventually a boys orphanage was added. Eventually it was turned back into a prison for petty criminals and was used as that until the navy needed it for a shipyard during WWI. It was used as a shipyard until 1991. It is now a protected site by UNESCO and a campground.

Everywhere we have been so far has had numerous school children on field trips. Cockatoo Island was no exception. There were numerous high school groups touring the island, including a group of art students drawing the old machinery.