Some plans from this series, originally drawn for ship number 47, have been amended by the staff at Cockatoo Island Dockyard for use for ship number 48.

The drawings in this series were probably supplied to Cockatoo Island Dockyard by the client and amended and used by the dockyard in the construction of the vessels. The drawings show the design, mechanical layout, and general fitout of the vessel. Also included in the series are builders’ certificates, specifications and results of electrical trials. As these were the first refrigerated cargo ships built at the dockyard there is a quantity of blueprints dealing with the machinery and arrangement of the two refrigerated cargo holds.

This series consists of a book providing an alphabetical index to the working drawings of the proposed three refrigerated twin screw steamers to be built at Cockatoo Island Dockyard. Although titled ships 48–50, the index relates to Isherwood ships 47 and 48, TSS Fordsdale and Ferndale. The drawings controlled are in series C3269.

The final cost statements in this series were the records used by Cockatoo Island Dockyard to evaluate the cost of the construction of the refrigerated cargo steamers TSS Fordsdale and Ferndale.

Each ship was allocated a separate book for the final cost statement, recording the cost of each item number, a description of the item, wages, dockyard material, and ship construction branch material. These entries are followed by a summary. The book ends with a statement showing the actual dockyard cost of construction, divided into hull items and machinery items.

See the series description for Cape York for further information.

The drawings in this series provide a record of TSS Fordsdale and Ferndale upon completion. Included are general arrangements, docking plans, and details of insulation and rigging.