POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Photograph of Garden Island and reformatory ship 'Vernon', Sydney

Object No. P3175-5

This photograph, produced around 1870, shows Sydney's Garden Island and the reformatory ship 'Vernon'. Garden Island is its original colonial form when it was used as a garden for members of the Royal Navy on station in the period. Several boats and waterfront buildings can be seen, but nothing specifically naval. The 'Vernon', which had been used as a passenger and cargo vessel, was retired and under the direction of Henry Parkes was installed as a training vessel for orphan boys and unruly young lads. It was known as a reformatory ship. The ship actually spent very little time in the position shown here. From 1871 until it was replaced in 1892 it was usually moored on the northern side of Cockatoo Island, in Sydney Harbour. Here the complement of boys, as many as 500, carried out naval style drills under the charge of retired naval men. The boys tended a garden on Cockatoo Island from which much of their intake of green vegetables was provided. 'Vernon' was replaced by the much larger 'Sobroan' in 1892. See also object No. P1845. Graeme Andrews OAM, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences volunteer under the supervision of Margaret Simpson, Curator, June 2016