Snapper Island (New South Wales)
| Snapper Island Sydney, New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
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  Snapper Island | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 33°51′08″S 151°10′01″E / 33.8522°S 151.1669°E | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 0.3 km (0 mi) NE of Birkenhead Point, Drummoyne[1] | ||||||||||||||
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Snapper Island (previously known as Schnapper Island
The island was originally a rocky outcrop, but in 1931-2 it was increased in size over seven times by land reclamation, and reshaped into the general plan form of a ship. Since then it has been used as a training depot by the Sea Cadets, and as a museum. Today it is in the hands of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, who are charged with planning a new future for it.[3][4]
Snapper Island is the smallest island in the
Early history
In 1879, Snapper Island was declared a public recreation reserve by the NSW Legislative Assembly. However, Snapper Island remained a rarely visited rocky outcrop.[4][5]
When nearby
During World War I the island was leased to the Cockatoo Island Dockyard for storing ships' parts and old corrugated iron.[1][4]
In 1930, Len Forsythe leased the island from the
In 1932, building work commenced on a signal station, wharf and the other main buildings that can still be seen today. The layout of these buildings models the layout of a naval ship. The cadets also planted the two cabbage-tree palms which are still the only vegetation left on the island.[4]
With the onset of World War II, the island was returned to the service of the Navy. At the end of 1942 United States troops moved onto the island to use it for training purposes. The British also used some of the facilities on Snapper Island as a social club for troops on leave.[4]
In 1952, Forsythe decided to set up the Snapper Island Company and establish a museum on the island, the income from which would go towards the ongoing maintenance of the island. Opened after 1966, the museum held thousands of pieces of memorabilia from Australia's naval history.[1][4]
Currently the island is closed to the public.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d "Snapper Island (listing CHL105477)". Australia Heritage Places Inventory. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ "Geographical Names Register Extract". NSW Geographical Names Board. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- ISBN 0-646-17888-1. Page 98.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Sites - Snapper Island". Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. Archived from the original on 28 June 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ISBN 978-0-7318-1063-5.
- ^ "Snapper Island History". Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. 12 August 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
External links
- Catie Gilchrist (2014). "Snapper Island". Dictionary of Sydney. Dictionary of Sydney Trust. Retrieved 6 October 2015. [CC-By-SA]