The Australian Government: Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. Planning.

Harbour Trust: Planning

The Plan: Snapper Island (Ar-ra-re-agon)

The Site and its Context

The Place

Refer to Figure 6.1 (PDF 84kb) Plan Area

Snapper Island is a picturesque grouping of buildings, slipways, boat storage, gardens, flagpoles, and jetties - all arranged in the pattern of a ship.

Snapper Island's history is as a training base for Naval cadets. Today, it is home to a rich and wide ranging collection of naval artefacts and memorabilia. The buildings and structures are in varying states of repair.

The island is run by a private company, Sydney Training Depot Snapper Island Limited, and is currently closed to the public.

How the Place Evolved

Refer to Figure 6.2 (PDF 104kb) Natural and Cultural Values

Natural Forces

Snapper Island, like Cockatoo Island, is part of the series of drowned knolls along the ridges between the flooded river valleys of the Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers.

The island has been flattened and formed roughly into the shape of a ship with longer sides oriented to the northwest and southeast. There is little evidence of its natural form and there are no remains of the original vegetation. Two Cabbage Tree palms that were planted in the 1930s are local landmarks.

Cultural History

In 1879 Snapper Island was declared a public recreation reserve but it remained a rarely visited rocky outcrop

The island was leased to the Cockatoo Island Dockyard for additional storage during World War I.

From 1931-2 Snapper Island was flattened and expanded by blasting and reclamation to set up the training depot 'Sydney' for naval cadets and so fulfilling the vision of Leonard Forsythe, a founder of the Navy League in NSW. The stone seawalls created the shape of a ship with a bow and a stern. Building work commenced on a signal station and other buildings. The names and layout of buildings and structures on the island model that of a naval ship.

The Navy League Sea Cadets salvaged many items from HMAS Sydney when it was stripped at Cockatoo Island in 1932. This collection forms the basis of a museum, opened in 1952, which still exists on the island. It contains an extensive range of naval artefacts.

Site Conditions Summary
Flora and Fauna

There is little remaining evidence of the natural form of the island and none of the original vegetation remains.

Two Cabbage Tree palms were planted in the 1930s and these are local landmarks.

There are no known threatened flora or fauna species on the island.

Buildings and Services

There are currently no services connected to Snapper Island. The Island originally operated in a self-sufficient manner with its own septic system, water collection tanks and diesel-powered generator for power. At present, these facilities are considered to be sub-standard. There are no fire services, stormwater systems or sanitary services on the island.

There are 13 distinct buildings on the island. With the exception of one steel-framed structure, these are all timber-framed structures clad and roofed in corrugated steel. The structures sit on either masonry piers or badly damaged timber piles. As there has been no regular maintenance carried out on the island over the past few years, the built structures are all in poor condition having suffered from extensive termite, water and corrosion damage. The island contains seawalls, retaining walls, two main wharves constructed of timer piles and framing, numerous timber walkways and decking, a boat ramp and various paths. These are all considered to be in poor and unsafe condition. A more detailed summary of the site conditions is in Section 12, Background Material.

Contamination

A preliminary environmental assessment has been carried out for Snapper Island. In its original form this island was a smaller rocky outcrop, and filling was carried out to reclaim land and expand the island. It is likely that contaminated materials were used in this fill and further assessment is required to confirm this.

Other contamination issues identified as part of the preliminary assessment include:

  • Elevated lead levels in surface soils, likely to be associated with deteriorating lead paints
  • Potential localised contamination associated with the storage of diesel fuel and small volumes of chemicals
  • Hazardous materials in buildings and structures
The Planning Context

Snapper Island is unincorporated. This means that it does not fall within any particular Local Government Area. However, the island does have a visual and historic relationship with surrounding islands (Spectacle and Cockatoo) and land-based Local Government areas including Canada Bay and Leichhardt.

Snapper Island is located at the entrance to Iron Cove and is visible from the foreshore areas of Canada Bay and Leichhardt. These areas are generally zoned for medium to high-density residential development.

At present there are no public transport services to the island.

Qualities
  • Organic growth over time
  • The building forms are merged by the overall grey paint scheme, exactly as it is intended to do for naval vessels
  • Stationary metaphorical ship with parts corresponding to, and named after, parts of a ship
  • Displays have been arranged by service personnel rather than through the filter of professional curatorial intent
  • A 'wunderkammer' or cabinet of curiosities

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Significant Values and Considerations

Refer to Figure 6.2 (PDF 104kb) Heritage Values and Figure 6.3 (PDF 138kb) Natural and Cultural Values

This, the smallest island in the harbour, is part of a grouping with Cockatoo and Spectacle Islands, known in the 1820s as the 'Hen and Chickens', that contribute to the aesthetic quality of the harbour.

The levelling of the island in 1931 led to the creation of a unique collection of buildings constructed by the sea cadets and their instructors to resemble the layout of a ship. This was largely the vision of one man, Leonard Forsythe.

Forsythe saw the training depot, known as TS Sydney, as a memorial to HMAS Sydney. It was opened in November 1932 and became the headquarters of all Sydney's Navy League units for 45 years.

The beginning of the collection of memorabilia on the island was the retrieval of many items from the Sydney when it was broken up in Sutherland Dock, Cockatoo Island in 1932. The collection opened as a museum in 1952 and consists of a vast array of ships' badges, flags, models, brass plates, photographs, etc. It is one of the most important collections in Australia and is very much related to the island - with areas being modified to house it.

Figure 6.2 (PDF 104kb) Heritage Values shows the names of buildings and areas which all relate to functional parts of a ship

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Outcomes

Refer to Figure 6.4 (PDF 117kb) Outcomes

The Trust's plan for Snapper Island proposes the repair, maintenance and enhancement of this extraordinary facility. The continuation of maritime training activities will be encouraged.

The Trust is keen for professional curatorial assistance. Partnerships could be encouraged, such as with naval history organisations, the Australian National Maritime Museum and Spectacle Island.

Programs and activities could be developed for the interpretation and appreciation of the island, its buildings, workshops and collection.

Improvements to the island require the preparation of a remediation strategy and environmental management plan.

Repairs and maintenance will be required to:

  • Manage tidal erosion of fill to seawalls
  • Make good the surface cover that currently exists over the island
  • Upgrade services on the site
  • Ensure structural soundness of buildings
  • Ensure occupational health and safety requirements are met

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