Cockatoo Island’s collection of more than 50 vast, rambling,industrial buildings make it an ideal location for a major festival. Particularly so, as the buildings readily lend themselves to being fitted out as atmospheric indoor performance and exhibition venues. And then, as a visual counterpoint to the dilapidated industrial backdrop, there’s the lush, newly created parklands and facilities.

It is Sydney Harbour’s biggest island and its potential has already caught the imagination of the city, as the Island became home to the 2008 Sydney Biennale and attracted more than 86,000 first time visitors over 12 weeks of winter. Sydney Festival presented Nick Cave’s “All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival” for the 2009 festival reaching its target audience of 8000 per day according to media reports. And the Island has become the white hot party venue du jour. It’s safe to say, the Island is Australia’s most unusual urban park - a heritage listed site in the middle of Sydney Harbour. A Sydney icon that only opened to the public in May 2007.

The Island’s rich history has seen it take on many social guises; from navy ship yard to Sydney’s Alcatraz. And now the island is a landmark harbour attraction managed by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.

The Island’s buildings are as eclectic and varied as the Island’s past uses. Vast dry docks and slipways stand shoulder to shoulder with dozens of huge industrial buildings, colonial mansions and office spaces. New expanses of greenery, huge cranes, bomb shelters and even deep tunnels all play their part in making the Island one of the most visually arresting and stimulating urban sites for cultural development and leisure ever provided in a major city.

With incredible harbour vistas just beyond its funky industrial atmosphere, Cockatoo Island is a world on its own, but only 10 minutes by ferry from the bustling global hub of Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay. Cockatoo Island really does provide a completely new model for event comedy and an alternative to the saturated outdoor music festival market. This is a world first.

For further information on Cockatoo Island visit: www.cockatooisland.gov.au.