About

Cockatoo Island

Current Programs

Volunteers are vital to the ongoing maintenance and restoration of Cockatoo Island.
There are three main groups of volunteers based at Cockatoo Island:

Heritage Restoration Volunteers

The heritage restoration volunteer team consists of mostly retired tradesmen and women and engineers. They include boilermakers, carpenters, shipwrights, electricians, electrical and structural engineers, but even those without specific technical skills are welcome. Good handyman skills and a passionate interest in maritime machinery and industrial heritage are all that's required. The team's restorations include the Captain's barge from HMAS Sydney and Mort's Dock Steam Crane, one of the oldest surviving steam cranes in Australia.

Heritage Restoration Volunteers

Gardening Volunteers

The Cockatoo Island gardeners have planted out many areas of Cockatoo Island, including both ornamental gardens around the newly refurbished holiday houses and native gardens around the campground. They have transformed the once barren and neglected gardens into beautiful reminders of the island's past.

Garden Restoration

Visitor Services Volunteers

Visitor Services volunteers meet and greet visitors as they arrive on the island at the Visitor Information Centre. Volunteers help orientate visitors with Visitor Guides and Audio tours, plus provide sales assistance should visitors wish to purchase a momento of their visit. Please note: visitor centre volunteers also staff our visitor centre at North Head in Manly.

To become a Cockatoo Island volunteer or for more details contact Catherine Enright:
Phone: (02) 8969 2100
Email: info@harbourtrust.gov.au
Apply to join our Volunteer Team

Visitor Services Volunteers