Cockatoo Island/Wareamah Aboriginal 'Convicts'/Warriors

The project, commissioned by the Sydney Harbour Trust, aimed to expand the historical narrative of Cockatoo Island/Wareamah to include the stories of the Aboriginal men imprisoned there between 1839 and 1869. At the outset of the project, there were approximately 22 Aboriginal men known to have been imprisoned on the island, and throughout the project documentation was found to increase the number to 35 Aboriginal men. The research was designed to support First Nations communities, men, and the Harbour Trust in making decisions about the inclusion of expanded First Nations narratives in the public educational aspects of Cockatoo Island/Wareamah. 

Cockatoo Island (known as Wareamah in Dharug) is the largest island in Sydney Harbour and holds deep cultural significance for First Nations peoples. The Jumbunna team acknowledges the Traditional Owners and leaders of the many communities represented in this project.

The project team comprised: Kirsten Thorpe (CI) and Lauren Booker (CI) with support from Emma Ramsay (Data Archivist) and Monica Galassi (Research Fellow). 
Funding for the project was made available through The Harbour Trust (PRO25-21792 - Cockatoo Island/Wareamah First Nations ‘convicts’/ warriors colonial archive review) 
The project commenced on 15 February 2025 and concluded on the 9 February 2026.

The files included in the Jumbunna Research Archive come from a range of sources including materials from State Archives and Records NSW (SARNSW), as well as historic newspapers sourced from TROVE, and other published secondary sources. A full listing of the items has also been archived.  

WARNING: Material included in this project contains descriptions of Aboriginal people who have passed away, and documents colonial violence and incarceration.