Heritage Holiday Houses

Although their architectural style is predominantly Federation Arts and Craft, they were also influenced by the Queen Anne Style. The first occupants were the island’s Medical Officer, Dr Thomas William Francis, and the dockyard’s Engineering Manager, Jack Payne.

Dr Thomas William Francis was born in England in 1863 and served as a general practitioner in Bundaberg, Queensland from 1888 until 1912. During this period, he was also the local Quarantine Officer. After a brief stay in Mosman on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Dr Francis was appointed Staff-Surgeon to the H.M.A.S Encounter – this coincided with the outbreak of the First World War. Subsequently, he was appointed as the Medical Officer (Civilian) to the Commonwealth Naval Dockyard at Cockatoo Island for a period of three years, with a consolidated salary of £400 per year. In December 1916, Dr Francis received an additional allowance of £100 in recognition of the additional medical services he had been performing. In February 2018, he opened a private medical practice in Randwick, having reached the rank of Fleet Surgeon at Cockatoo Island. Two months later, Dr Francis died at his residence in Randwick, having a months-long struggle with depression and ill-health. He was 54 years of age.

Jack Payne emigrated from England in 1912 after accepting the position of Engineering Manager at Cockatoo Island’s dockyard. When the dockyard passed from state to federal control in 1913, Payne continued in the position and, during his tenure, oversaw the installation of boilers in several naval ships. In 1921, Payne superseded Captain Julian James King-Salter as General Manager of the Dockyard, a position he held until his death. Following his promotion, Payne oversaw the construction of cargo liners, seaplane carriers and lighthouse steamers as well as the refitting and repairs of all naval warships based in Sydney. He was very popular amongst the workers at the dockyard and was responsible for winning contracts when work became scarce during the early years of the Great Depression. Payne died at the age of 60 in 1932 after collapsing in his office on the island. His funeral was attended by so many mourners that many had to stand outside in the rain.