Sydney Harbour’s Hammerhead crane, nominated for Australia’s annual list of heritage at risk. Sydney Harbour’s Hammerhead crane
Sydney’s naval dockyard crane at risk
The New South Wales National Trust, in Australia, has nominated a 250t naval dockyard crane for inclusion in the country's annual 'Heritage at Risk' list. The hammerhead crane at Garden Island Naval base, in Sydney harbour, was built during the Second World War for the British Navy. Trust executive director, Tina Jackson said: “This is very sad. The Hammerhead Crane is an excellent example of engineering design in its time. There are only 15 of these cranes still left in the world and those left in Scotland have the highest protection, unlike here.” Designed by Sir William Arrol, and built between 1944–51 using components shipped from England, the electrically-driven cantilever jib tower crane has a maximum lifting height of 68m and a radius of 40m. At the time it was built, it was tested to lift 312.5t.
