Getting to Goat Island
Goat Island in Sydney Harbour is administered by National Parks and Wildlife and tours are organised and conducted by Rangers. We met our guide at Circular Quay wharf 6 where we boarded the ferry for a quick trip to the island. Access to the island is prohibited unless you are on an official tour, because of its heritage listed status. This tour takes 2 hours, which is plenty of time to see all of the island’s history.
Original Use
The original use for Goat Island was gunpowder storage and the most impressive building there is the old magazine. Built using convict labour this sandstone building has 2m thick walls, as a precaution to contain any explosions.
It was interesting to see the difference between the convict-built buildings and those built after. The convict buildings are of excellent construction and quality, but hose built afterwards are of a far lesser standard as the government paid for their construction.
Some boat maintenance is still performed on the island at the old shipyards but the facilities are a shadow of what happened there when Sydney was a large boat building harbour. The old crane still standing there is a reminder of the industry that used to be there.
View of Sydney Harbour From Goat Island 
View of Sydney Harbour From Goat Island 
Gunpowder Magazine Entrance 
Gunpowder Magazine Walls 
Interior of the Gunpowder Magazine 
Magazine Memorial Plaque 
Convict Built Building on Goat Island 
Convict Built Building on Goat Island 
Old Derelict Crane
Harbour Master’s Residence
The harbour master’s residence overlooking the harbour is a beautiful old building but is currently unused. Plans to develop it and several surrounding cottages did not materialise leaving it unoccupied.
We also stopped at Boney Anderson’s rock where he was chained for 2 years as punishment for bad behaviour. The small cutting in the rock was where he slept.
Water Police
The tour also takes in the old water police and fire tender wharf which are in poor condition. Only the piers of the wharf remain and although they make an interesting photo it would have been nicer had it been preserved. The building is badly in need of renovating because although the structure appears sound, the interior walls and floors need repair.
Filmed on the island, the Australian TV show Water Rats built a set there. Unfortunately once filming stopped the set was not removed and remains an eye sore on the waterfront because it’s style does not match the historic buildings elsewhere.
Old Water Police Wharf 
Cottage Interior
What Did We Think of Goat Island?
We had a fantastic time on Goat Island and learnt a great deal from our guide. This tour is highly recommended to anyone who wants to find out more about Australia’s past.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
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