BiographyEstablished by the Government of New South Wales the dockyard commenced operations with the opening of Fitzroy Dock in December 1857. Under NSW control it was known as Government Dockyard – Biloela. In 1913 it was formally purchased by the Australian Federal Government and called the Commonwealth Naval Dockyard, Cockatoo Island. In 1935 it was leased to a private company the Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Co.