Built in 1879 for the North Shore Ferry Company, she was Sydney's first double-ended screw ferry. This would become the standard model for almost all Sydney ferries until the late 20th century, a fleet that would become for a time the biggest in the world.
Wallaby was converted to a tug in 1918, and later to a lighter. She was broken up in 1926.
The North Shore Steam Ferry Company (Sydney Ferries Limited from 1900) began a regular scheduled ferry service from 1878 to Mosman as housing development in the area began to grow. Ferry transport was the only feasible way across the harbour at a time when roads were poor and there no bridge connection (the Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened in 1932).
Design and constructionedit
Designed by civil engineer and naval architect, Norman Selfe, Wallaby was the world's second double-ended screw ferry. The North Shore Ferry Company's order for Wallaby was first, however, a Liverpool to Birkenhead ferry in England was the first double-ended screw ferry delivered into service.
Wallaby was built by W. Dunn of Berrys Bay for £4,834.[1] Her 35 hp compound steam engine was built by Mort's Dock and Engineering and could push her to 10 knots. She was the first Sydney ferry to have half-wheel and chains, a steering system used on Sydney ferry steamers for almost another fifty years. Enclosed wheelhouses were added later.
The 33.1 m long Wallaby could carry up to 305 passengers. Unusually, Wallaby's lower deck superstructure extended the full width of the hull to the inner sponsons. Thus, with no bulwarks there was no outside passenger area or seating on this level. It was the first ferry to have glazing across the whole lower deck. Previously, ferries had a glazed saloon only at one end for ladies, while the other end was only equipped with curtains which could be unrolled in bad weather. In choppy conditions, her low freeboard often allowed water to flow across the main deck.
Double-ended ferries did not need to turn around at the ports, making maneuvering easier and the transfer of cargo and passengers much faster. This was particularly useful at the increasingly busy main terminus of Circular Quay in Sydney Cove. Sydney already had a number double-ended paddle steamers, however, the double-ended screw ferry was a more difficult undertaking.
It is thought that she may have been meant to be called "Willoughby", and at the launch, the ship's sponsor mispronounced the name as "Wallaby".
With her original open wheelhouses. Likely to be berthing at Lavender Bay
Shown after her wheelhouses closed in.
Service historyedit
Wallaby was not an immediate success, and the North Shore Steam Ferry Company continued to build paddle steamers through to 1885. However, over time, screw propulsion on double-ended ferries was perfected by designers such as Walter Reeks. The model became the norm for the fleet which became the largest during the booming early twentieth century before the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Wallaby was converted to a tug in 1918, and later to a lighter. She was broken up in 1926.
Andrews, Graeme (1975). The Ferries of Sydney. A.H. & A.W. Reed Pty Ltd. 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, AM (1984). Sydney Ferry Fleet. Magill South Australia: Ronald H Parsons. ISBN0909418306.
^ ab"SYDNEY FERRIES". The Sun. No. 2853. New South Wales, Australia. 25 August 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 16 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
External linksedit
Media related to Wallaby (ship, 1879) at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
wallaby, ferry, wallaby, ferry, that, operated, sydney, harbour, wallaby, original, appearancehistory, namewallaby, operatornorth, shore, ferry, company, sydney, ferries, limited, builderw, dunn, berry, cost, launched1879, service1918, fatebroken, 1926, genera. Wallaby was a ferry that operated on Sydney Harbour Wallaby in her original appearanceHistory NameWallaby OperatorNorth Shore Ferry Company Sydney Ferries Limited BuilderW Dunn Berry s Bay Cost 4 834 1 Launched1879 Out of service1918 FateBroken up 1926 General characteristics Tonnage163 tonnes Length33 1 m Beam5 6 m Speed10 knots Capacity305 Built in 1879 for the North Shore Ferry Company she was Sydney s first double ended screw ferry This would become the standard model for almost all Sydney ferries until the late 20th century a fleet that would become for a time the biggest in the world Wallaby was converted to a tug in 1918 and later to a lighter She was broken up in 1926 Contents 1 Background 2 Design and construction 3 Service history 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBackground editThe North Shore Steam Ferry Company Sydney Ferries Limited from 1900 began a regular scheduled ferry service from 1878 to Mosman as housing development in the area began to grow Ferry transport was the only feasible way across the harbour at a time when roads were poor and there no bridge connection the Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened in 1932 Design and construction editDesigned by civil engineer and naval architect Norman Selfe Wallaby was the world s second double ended screw ferry The North Shore Ferry Company s order for Wallaby was first however a Liverpool to Birkenhead ferry in England was the first double ended screw ferry delivered into service Wallaby was built by W Dunn of Berrys Bay for 4 834 1 Her 35 hp compound steam engine was built by Mort s Dock and Engineering and could push her to 10 knots She was the first Sydney ferry to have half wheel and chains a steering system used on Sydney ferry steamers for almost another fifty years Enclosed wheelhouses were added later The 33 1 m long Wallaby could carry up to 305 passengers Unusually Wallaby s lower deck superstructure extended the full width of the hull to the inner sponsons Thus with no bulwarks there was no outside passenger area or seating on this level It was the first ferry to have glazing across the whole lower deck Previously ferries had a glazed saloon only at one end for ladies while the other end was only equipped with curtains which could be unrolled in bad weather In choppy conditions her low freeboard often allowed water to flow across the main deck Double ended ferries did not need to turn around at the ports making maneuvering easier and the transfer of cargo and passengers much faster This was particularly useful at the increasingly busy main terminus of Circular Quay in Sydney Cove Sydney already had a number double ended paddle steamers however the double ended screw ferry was a more difficult undertaking It is thought that she may have been meant to be called Willoughby and at the launch the ship s sponsor mispronounced the name as Wallaby nbsp With her original open wheelhouses Likely to be berthing at Lavender Bay nbsp Shown after her wheelhouses closed in Service history editWallaby was not an immediate success and the North Shore Steam Ferry Company continued to build paddle steamers through to 1885 However over time screw propulsion on double ended ferries was perfected by designers such as Walter Reeks The model became the norm for the fleet which became the largest during the booming early twentieth century before the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge Wallaby was converted to a tug in 1918 and later to a lighter She was broken up in 1926 nbsp In Mosman Bay between 1879 and 1900 nbsp Alongside Kurraba built 1899 one of the first K class for which Wallaby was archetypical at Circular Quay nbsp Leaving Circular Quay with enclosed wheelhousesSee also editList of Sydney Harbour ferries Timeline of Sydney Harbour ferriesReferences editAndrews Graeme 1975 The Ferries of Sydney A H amp A W Reed Pty Ltd 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 AM 1984 Sydney Ferry Fleet Magill South Australia Ronald H Parsons ISBN 0909418306 a b SYDNEY FERRIES The Sun No 2853 New South Wales Australia 25 August 1919 p 5 Retrieved 16 October 2021 via National Library of Australia External links edit nbsp Media related to Wallaby ship 1879 at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wallaby ferry amp oldid 1151223005, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
