Cockatoo Island, in Sydney Harbour, has been a prison, a reformatory, and most
notably Australia's foremost shipbuilding site. But since about 1991 it has
been surrounded by chain-wire fencing and "KEEP OUT" signs to deter visitors,
while decisions are made about its redevelopment and/or inclusion in the Sydney
Harbour National Park. But there are occasional guided tours, which are well
worth doing before the planned redevelopment of the island changes it again.