"Kameruka" redirects here. For the property on the South Coast of NSW, see Kameruka, New South Wales.
Kameruka and Kamiri were near identical ferries that served on Sydney Harbour. Kamiri was built in 1912 and Kameruka was launched on 8 February 1913. They were double-ended "K-class" steam ferries, a type that was prolific on Sydney Harbour in the early 20th century boom in cross-Sydney Harbour ferry transport before the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Kamiri was laid up in 1951 following the New South Wales government take-over of the Sydney Ferries Limited. Kameruka was converted to diesel in 1954 and was laid up in 1984.
Kamiri broken up circa 1951, Kameruka laid up 1984, sank and broken up 1986
General characteristics
Tonnage
both 144 tons
Length
both 34.1m
Beam
7.9 m
Capacity
both 594 passengers
Both ferries were part of a Sydney Ferries Limited tradition of naming their "K-class" ferries with Australian Aboriginal words beginning with "K". "Kamiri" is the name of an Aboriginal tribe and "Kameruka" is thought to mean 'wait til I come'.
Both were timber vessels built by Morrison & Sinclair Ltd in Balmain. Kamiri was built in 1912 and used the engine and timbers from the ferry Kaludah which had been gutted by fire the previous year. Kameruka was built in 1913 for a cost of £13,178.[3] The vessels were 144 tons, 34.1m long and had beams of 7.9 m. Both were provided with triple expansion steam engines by Campbell and Calderwood. Kamiri's 50 hp engine pushed her to 11 knots, and Kameruka's 53 hp engines pushed her to 12 knots. The two ferries were rated to carry 594 passengers.
Both ferries were initially used on the Parramatta River run. Little is known about Kamiri's service history. She is featured in a well-known photo of Mosman Bay by acclaimed Australian photographer, Max Dupain. She was laid up in 1946. In poor condition, she was broken up between 1951 and 1953 along with a number of other old "K-class" steamers as part of a fleet rationalisation following the NSW State Government's 1951 takeover of Sydney Ferries Limited.
Kameruka was a relatively fast ferry and thus was worked on the Taronga Zoo and Parramatta River routes. She was burnt out almost to the waterline on the night of 8 December 1918 while tied up at Gladesville Wharf. The local fire brigade and the fire float Pluvius attended.[4] and rebuilt in 1919. In 1938, her boiler crowns collapsed and she was not returned to work until 1945. She was one of the few of the formerly large Sydney Ferries Ltd fleet to survive both the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the 1951 State Government takeover of Sydney Ferries. In 1954, she was converted to diesel (60 hp Crossley Brothers 6-cylinder, 11 knots) and given a more modern looking makeover.
Kameruka was pulled from service in October 1984 along with the other few remaining wooden-hulled ferries after fellow "k-class" wooden ferry, Karrabee sank at Circular Quay in January of that year. Karrabee was refloated and sold, and Kameruka given free to the buyer as part of the deal. She sank in 1986 while laid up alongside Karrabee at Pyrmont. She was broken up and pulled from the bottom of the harbour by grab dredge. Her 71 years of ferry service was one of the longest for any ferry on Sydney Harbour.
Timelineedit
A new Kamiri in her original varnished timber with white trim livery, likely 1912 her launch year.
Kameruka in her original varnished timber and white trim livery, Circular Quay pre early 1930s. Prior to her first re-built with her original rounded (not squared) roof life returns to wheelhouse
Kamiri laid up at McMahons Point following the State Government takeover of Sydney Ferries Ltd
^"SYDNEY FERRIES". The Sun. No. 2853. New South Wales, Australia. 25 August 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 19 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"SYDNEY FERRIES". The Sun. No. 2853. New South Wales, Australia. 25 August 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 19 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"FERRY STEAMER BURNT". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 25, 250. New South Wales, Australia. 9 December 1918. p. 7. Retrieved 30 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
Referencesedit
Andrews, Graeme (1975). The Ferries of Sydney. A.H. & A.W. Reed Pty Ltd. p. 29. ISBN0589071726.
Andrews, Graeme (1982). A Pictorial History of Ferries: Sydney and Surrounding Waterways. Sydney: AH & AW Reed Pty Ltd. ISBN0589503863.
Gunter, John (1978). Across the harbour : the story of Sydney's ferries. Rigby. ISBN0727007157.
Prescott, A M (1984). Sydney Ferry Fleets. Magill, South Australia: Ronald H Parsons. ISBN0-909418-30-6.
External linksedit
Media related to Kamiri (ship, 1912) at Wikimedia Commons
Media related to Kameruka at Wikimedia Commons
Newspaper clipping: "New Ferry Boat Launched" Sydney Morning Herald, 10 Feb 1913
April 11, 2024
kameruka, kamiri, kameruka, redirects, here, property, south, coast, kameruka, south, wales, were, near, identical, ferries, that, served, sydney, harbour, kamiri, built, 1912, kameruka, launched, february, 1913, they, were, double, ended, class, steam, ferrie. Kameruka redirects here For the property on the South Coast of NSW see Kameruka New South Wales Kameruka and Kamiri were near identical ferries that served on Sydney Harbour Kamiri was built in 1912 and Kameruka was launched on 8 February 1913 They were double ended K class steam ferries a type that was prolific on Sydney Harbour in the early 20th century boom in cross Sydney Harbour ferry transport before the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge Kamiri was laid up in 1951 following the New South Wales government take over of the Sydney Ferries Limited Kameruka was converted to diesel in 1954 and was laid up in 1984 Kameruka early 1950s as a steamerHistoryNameKamiri KamerukaOperatorSydney Ferries Limited Sydney Harbour Transport Board Public Transport Commission Urban Transit AuthorityBuilderMorrison amp SinclairCostKameruka 13 178 2 Launched1912 Kamiri amp 1913 Kameruka Out of service1946 Kamiri 1984 Kameruka IdentificationKamiri O N 131516 1 FateKamiri broken up circa 1951 Kameruka laid up 1984 sank and broken up 1986General characteristicsTonnageboth 144 tonsLengthboth 34 1mBeam7 9 mCapacityboth 594 passengersBoth ferries were part of a Sydney Ferries Limited tradition of naming their K class ferries with Australian Aboriginal words beginning with K Kamiri is the name of an Aboriginal tribe and Kameruka is thought to mean wait til I come Contents 1 Design and construction 2 Service history 3 Timeline 4 See also 5 Citations 6 References 7 External linksDesign and construction editBoth were timber vessels built by Morrison amp Sinclair Ltd in Balmain Kamiri was built in 1912 and used the engine and timbers from the ferry Kaludah which had been gutted by fire the previous year Kameruka was built in 1913 for a cost of 13 178 3 The vessels were 144 tons 34 1m long and had beams of 7 9 m Both were provided with triple expansion steam engines by Campbell and Calderwood Kamiri s 50 hp engine pushed her to 11 knots and Kameruka s 53 hp engines pushed her to 12 knots The two ferries were rated to carry 594 passengers Service history edit nbsp Kamiri approaching Old Cremorne Wharf Mosman Bay 1946 Photo by Max DupainBoth ferries were initially used on the Parramatta River run Little is known about Kamiri s service history She is featured in a well known photo of Mosman Bay by acclaimed Australian photographer Max Dupain She was laid up in 1946 In poor condition she was broken up between 1951 and 1953 along with a number of other old K class steamers as part of a fleet rationalisation following the NSW State Government s 1951 takeover of Sydney Ferries Limited Kameruka was a relatively fast ferry and thus was worked on the Taronga Zoo and Parramatta River routes She was burnt out almost to the waterline on the night of 8 December 1918 while tied up at Gladesville Wharf The local fire brigade and the fire float Pluvius attended 4 and rebuilt in 1919 In 1938 her boiler crowns collapsed and she was not returned to work until 1945 She was one of the few of the formerly large Sydney Ferries Ltd fleet to survive both the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the 1951 State Government takeover of Sydney Ferries In 1954 she was converted to diesel 60 hp Crossley Brothers 6 cylinder 11 knots and given a more modern looking makeover Kameruka was pulled from service in October 1984 along with the other few remaining wooden hulled ferries after fellow k class wooden ferry Karrabee sank at Circular Quay in January of that year Karrabee was refloated and sold and Kameruka given free to the buyer as part of the deal She sank in 1986 while laid up alongside Karrabee at Pyrmont She was broken up and pulled from the bottom of the harbour by grab dredge Her 71 years of ferry service was one of the longest for any ferry on Sydney Harbour Timeline edit nbsp A new Kamiri in her original varnished timber with white trim livery likely 1912 her launch year nbsp Kameruka in her original varnished timber and white trim livery Circular Quay pre early 1930s Prior to her first re built with her original rounded not squared roof life returns to wheelhouse nbsp Kamiri laid up at McMahons Point following the State Government takeover of Sydney Ferries Ltd nbsp Kameruka steaming to Cremorne Point 1950s nbsp Kameruka right alongside the larger steel hulled Kanangra in 1954 her last year as a steamer nbsp Kameruka in 1964 after her 1954 rebuild and conversion to diesel nbsp Kameruka in her Sydney Harbour Transport Board livery leaving Valentia Street wharf 1971 nbsp Kameruka in her Urban Transit Authority livery competing in the 1981 Great Ferry Boat Race nbsp Kameruka left laid up alongside Karrabee at Pyrmont 1984 nbsp Sunken at her mooring alongside Karrabee Pyrmont circa 1985 or 86 nbsp Kameruka s remains after being pulled from the harbour by grab dredge See also editList of Sydney Harbour ferries Timeline of Sydney Harbour ferriesCitations edit crewlist org uk SYDNEY FERRIES The Sun No 2853 New South Wales Australia 25 August 1919 p 5 Retrieved 19 October 2021 via National Library of Australia SYDNEY FERRIES The Sun No 2853 New South Wales Australia 25 August 1919 p 5 Retrieved 19 October 2021 via National Library of Australia FERRY STEAMER BURNT The Sydney Morning Herald No 25 250 New South Wales Australia 9 December 1918 p 7 Retrieved 30 September 2021 via National Library of Australia References editAndrews Graeme 1975 The Ferries of Sydney A H amp A W Reed Pty Ltd p 29 ISBN 0589071726 Andrews Graeme 1982 A Pictorial History of Ferries Sydney and Surrounding Waterways Sydney AH amp AW Reed Pty Ltd ISBN 0589503863 Gunter John 1978 Across the harbour the story of Sydney s ferries Rigby ISBN 0727007157 Prescott A M 1984 Sydney Ferry Fleets Magill South Australia Ronald H Parsons ISBN 0 909418 30 6 External links edit nbsp Media related to Kamiri ship 1912 at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Media related to Kameruka at Wikimedia Commons Newspaper clipping New Ferry Boat Launched Sydney Morning Herald 10 Feb 1913 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kameruka and Kamiri amp oldid 1173845041, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
