Arthur Edward Cutler and the development of Walsh Island

Arthur Edward Cutler, remembered as the ‘father of the Australian Navy’ and the ‘boss of Walsh Island’, was instrumental in developing one of the Commonwealth’s premier shipbuilding yards.

In 1913, the site of Walsh Island was merely a tidal mudflat. Through a significant engineering project, the land was reclaimed by discharging dredging spoil from the harbour and waterways, eventually providing 400 acres for expansion. By June 1920, the site had become a major dockyard employing 2,500 skilled workers. The reclaimed area is now part of the Kooragang region beneath the Stockton Bridge.