Ships, more ships, and still more ships

Illuminating the work of the State Dockyard, Newcastle

The NSW State Dockyard, Newcastle, opened in 1942 at the height of World War II. Brought under State jurisdiction by the NSW Government Engineering and Shipbuilding Undertaking Act, 1943, the dockyard played a large role in the war effort by meeting the increasing demand for ‘ships, more ships, and still more ships’.

By the end of the war, 21 new vessels had been completed at the dockyard and more than 600 vessels had docked there and been repaired, many of which had been heavily damaged by enemy action. The dockyard remained a significant manufacturing asset for the state until its closure in 1987.

Featuring files, plans, and our recently digitised series of photographs, negatives, slides and microfilm (NRS-21054), this webinar will explore the records of the State Dockyard, Newcastle, held in the State Archives Collection. Learn about the important work and discover the untold stories of the dockyard found within the collection.