9th July Crane Day Cockatoo Island

Travel to the era when steam power ruled – and meet one of Cockatoo Island’s ‘Iron Giants’ – with Crane Day 2022, which is being held during the Winter School Holidays on Saturday 9 July.

Between 10am and 2:30pm, visitors to the island will be able to see the No. 2 Travelling Steam Crane in action for FREE. This metal behemoth (together with the nearby Mort's Dock Steam Crane) has been restored to its former steam-powered glory by our skilled Volunteer Restoration Team.

I know lots of young children who would love this . They're the same children who will watch a construction site for hours without seeming bored and are likely yo give a running commentary to highlight all that is happening.

Read up about cranes before or after your visit:

• What Can a Crane Pick Up? by Rebecca Kai Dotlich & Mike Lowery

• Georgio and His Star Train Crane  by Jessica Spanyol

• Crane Guy  by Sally Sutton & Sarah Wilkins

• Colossal Cranes by Tony Mitton & Ant Parker

• Cranes  by Amanda Askew

• Cranes  by Kathryn Clay

• Cranes  by Aaron Frisch

• Cranes Lift!  by Beth Reinke

• Crane & Crane  by Linda Joy Singleton & Richard Smith

Crane Day is observed in Sweden on the 25th March to celebrate the return of the cranes (birds).  Given we have quite a few books in the library about these birds it might be good to celebrate them with a display in March.