Cockatoo Island

island, Western Australia, Australia

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Cockatoo Island is part of the Buccaneer Archipelago, located off the coast of northern Western Australia in the Indian Ocean. This group of islands is known for its rich iron-ore deposits, which were mined extensively in the latter half of the 20th century. Cockatoo Island itself is 12 square miles (31 square km) and features coastal cliffs rising to 470 feet (143 meters). The name "Cockatoo Island" comes from the abundance of white cockatoos found there. The nearest mainland port is Derby, approximately 80 miles (130 km) to the south.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Buccaneer Archipelago
…but the most important are Cockatoo and Koolan, where rich iron-ore deposits were discovered about 1880 and were mined during the second half of the 20th century. Named for the numerous white cockatoos found there, Cockatoo Island, 12 square miles (31 square km) in area, rises from coastal cliffs to…
Read More
…but the most important are Cockatoo and Koolan, where rich iron-ore deposits were discovered about 1880 and were mined during the second half of the 20th century. Named for the numerous white cockatoos found there, Cockatoo Island, 12 square miles (31 square km) in area, rises from coastal cliffs to…
Read More