Five Creepy Islands in Sydney Harbour

Sydney has some nefarious and idiosyncratic history. Nowadays it’s presented with a shiny, modern patina of progress. Although little more than a century ago the story was less chirpy and cheerful and more like a bad episode of Survivor.

1. Cockatoo Island

This island has a somewhat grim intriguing history, matched by its demeanor – a menacing and spooky looking naval outpost. Originally there was a prison here, then a reformatory school for girls, a naval college for boys, and finally a shipbuilding facility. Nowadays, Cockatoo Island has undergone a cultural renaissance and is home to regular cultural events including the Sydney Biennial and Film Festival. Photos below courtesy of Hasitha Tudugalle.

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2. Fort Denison

Before white settlement, this place was known by the Eora people as Matewanye. Fort Denison was once a creepy marooning point for convicts, left to fend for themselves with little water or food. Known as Pinchgut by convicts, the story of struggle was showcased in a 1959 film Four Desperate Men, which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Fort Denison has well and truly moved on though, and is now a swanky reception venue.

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3. Bare Island

This barren island has always struggled with its identity. Located 30 metres from the coast of La Perouse; predictably Captain Cook christened this place Bare Island because of its dry soil. He then used it as a sentry point for ward off invaders. The crumbling old fort on the island was decommissioned a century later in 1902. After this Bare Island was briefly a retirement home for war veterans, before being handed over to the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service. Nowadays its known for the great snorkelling on the surrounding reefs.

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4. Rodd Island

Formerly a factory, scientific research facility and training base for the US Army during WWII. Nowadays Rodd Island can be hired out exclusively for functions at $1,250 per day or non-exclusively for $7 per person.

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5. Goat Island

This island was originally used as a naval storage facility. Then as a sandstone quarry manned by convicts. One unfortunate convict Charles Anderson aka the ‘Tattooed Seaman’, was chained to a rock on Goat Island and had to fish from there in order to survive. More recently the island was used as a set for the Australian TV series Water Rats.

Walsh Bay looking towards Goat Island, no date. Image Source