1974: End of the Lugarno Ferry

The opening of the Alfords Point Bridge in 1973 resulted in the end of the Lugarno Ferry. The Lugarno Ferry was a punt service carrying vehicles and people across the Georges River between Lugarno and Illawong. 

In March 1974, it was announced by the Main Roads Department that the ferry service would conclude on June 30 1974. It was not received well in Illawong, with some residents indicating that they would be forced to move homes.

Source: Anon. 1974. "Lugarno heartbreak: families to quit homes". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, April 3: 1. 

Sutherland Council backed the proposal given that daily patronage was averaging 540 vehicles, down from 1720 prior to closure. 

Source: Anon. 1974. "Bridge displaces ferry at Lugarno". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, April 3: 15. 

 

Source: Anon. 1974. "Ferry's six-month reprieve". The St George and Sutherland Leader, June 5:3. 

In June, it was announced that the ferry would close on December 12 1974. However, a reduced service would operate for the final five months of its operation.

While residents on both sides of the river were happy that the service would continue to operate in the short term, concerns were raised that youths and the elderly would be disadvantaged as they did not have cars and were dependent on the ferry to cross the river. 

 

Source: Anon. 1974. "Ferry to stay". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, June 12: 5.

Residents had petitioned Hurstville and Sutherland Council to maintain the service. While Hurstville Council backed the residents, Sutherland Council believed that the service was "no longer needed". The costs of operating the ferry had become financially unviable in its final years of operation, even though the service did not provide a toll

 

Source: Anon. 1974. "Champagne as ferry ends run". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 4: 9.

Source: Anon. 1974. "Lugarno Ferry R.I.P". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, December 18: 3. 

December 12 1974, saw the ferry undertake its final run after 131 years of operation. There was a ceremony to mark its closure involving representatives of Sutherland and Hurstville Councils along with the Department of Main Roads. The ferry was relocated to Berowra.

Related Entries

MILESTONE: Alfords Point Bridge turns 50 (1973) - Opening

MILESTONE: Alfords Point Bridge turns 50 (1973) - Proposals and construction

1989: The return of ferry ocean cruises

In 1988, the NSW Government delivered the last ferry in the Freshwater Class of Sydney Ferries -  Collaroy. 

 

Source: Anon. 1988. "'Family' cruises for new ferry". The Daily Telegraph, August 2: 9.

Unlike the other three ferries in the fleet - Freshwater, Queenscliff and Narrabeen, the upper deck was open at each end. Post 2000, the other three ferries would also provide open decks at each end.

Collaroy had been fitted with stablisers to manage the ocean swells along with catering facilities. More than a canteen could be offered to commuters on the Manly run or on a harbour or ocean cruise. 

 

Source: Caldbeck-Moore, B. 1989. "Harbor Ferry can take on the foamy ocean, safely". The Daily Telegraph, January 6: page unknown. 

In 1989, Sydneysiders were able to experience ocean cruises on the Collaroy, reviving the cruises provided by the South Steyne between 1953 and 1973, when it was under the ownership of the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship company. 

Below is one newspaper advertisement from February 1989.  Cruises ran between Circular Quay and Cottage Point. Tickets were $38 for adults and $25 for children and pensioners and included a picnic lunch. 

  

Source: Sydney Ferries. 1989. "Run away to sea for a day on a Sunday Coastal Cruise" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, February 28: 43.

The cruises ran until the following year. It was written in Ferries of Sydney by Graeme Andrews that the services were terminated after ferry officers demanded the payment of a "spew allowance" that was being received by deckhands working on the services. The "spew allowance" referred to a payment to cover cleaning up the mess left behind by seasick passengers. 

With new Emerald Class ferries about to commence full time service on the Manly run, Collaroy will step back into a part time role, operating on weekends alongside the Freshwater (oldest of the Freshwater Class ferries). This only occurred after a backlash from Sydneysiders over plans to retire the entire fleet citing:

• The iconic nature of the ferries 
• Cultural Importance
• Ability to transport large numbers of commuters - 1100 people compared to 400 on Emerald Class Ferries.
• Heritage value
• Ability to manage the swells at the heads.

The Narrabeen and Queenscliff are expected to be retired from service by the end of 2021. 

1993: Rivercat Services to Parramatta Commence

One of the most popular ferry routes in Sydney doesn't operate east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is the Parramatta Rivercat run.

The first service from Circular Quay to Parramatta was on December 9, 1993. It was intended that the Rivercat service would be a major mode of transport from Sydney to Homebush Bay.

Today the service generally operates during off-peak periods and at weekends. Services used to run express to Rydalmere, resulting in a 50-minute trip either way, but today takes nearly a 90 minutes as it generally operates as an all stops service.

It is a great way to see the western harbour and the Parramatta River on a budget.

Below is a special feature from the December 9, 1993, edition of The Daily Telegraph Mirror. 

1968: The Lady Class Ferries debut on Sydney Harbour

Back in 2015, I shared a 1966 newspaper clipping on the Lady Class Ferries that were due to enter into service by the end of 1967.

On September 19, 1968, the first of six Lady Class Ferries - Lady Cutler, entered service. It was named after the wife of the current NSW Governor, Sir Roden Cutler who was there in person to see her namesake. Another five ferries would enter service over the next decade. Lady Northcott and Lady Herron still operate today.

Source: Anon. 1968. "New Lady Takes Harbour". The Daily Telegraph, September 20: 3. 

The ferry operated until 1991. In 1998, it sailed down to Melbourne. After refurbishment works, it returned to service in 2007 as the Lady Cutler Melbourne Showboat and does chartered cruises along the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay.

1966: The Lady Class Ferries are conceived

Sydney's Lady Class Ferries have been serving Sydney Harbour since 1968. Here is an article from The Daily Telegraph from 1966, when they announced tenders for the new ferries which were to serve on the North Shore routes. It did promise that the first ferry would be in operation by the following year. However, it was not until 1968 that the Lady Cutler went into service. Five ferries would join her over the next decade: Lady Woodward, Lady McKell, Lady Wakehurst, Lady Northcott and Lady Herron.

Source: Anonymous. (1966). "Airy, Spacious & Commodious". The Daily Telegraph, October 26: 12.

The Lady Northcott and Lady Wakehurst were modified (with higher bows) to operate on Manly Services when introduced in the mid-1970s.

The Lady Cutler no longer operates but is based in Melbourne's Docklands along with Lady McKell. Lady Northcott and Lady Herron are the only two ladies from this era still in operation.

The Lady Cutler and Lady McKell at Melbourne's Docklands in 2011. The photo was taken by the Author.

1965: The Manly... Sydney's first Hydrofoil

Source: Anon. 1965. "A Newcomer and a Veteran." The Sydney Morning Herald, January 8:1.

This Wednesday, it will be fifty years since the start of a public transport revolution in Sydney and bought the Manly Peninsula closer than ever to Sydney.

On January 7 1965, the first hydrofoil went into service on Sydney Harbour between Manly and Circular Quay. It was known as the "Manly", named after the suburb the hydrofoil was to serve.

Why a hydrofoil service? In the 1960s, the Manly-Circular Quay ferry service was privately run by the Manly & Port Jackson Steamship Company. Its fleet of ferries was ageing and at the same time, it needed to increase patronage on the route.

It came up with the idea of offering a premium high-speed service and a hydrofoil would be its answer.

For 128 000 pounds, they acquired the "Manly". It had seating for 72 people. This was only half the capacity of the five hydrofoils that would join in the following years, and less than a third of the capacity of it's 1980's namesake and the "Sydney", which joined the fleet at that time.

It was built in Japan by Hitachi and arrived in Sydney on December 31, 1964.

Source: Anonymous. 1965. "Introducing... The Manly Flyer." The Daily Telegraph, January  1:3. 

Source: Anonymous. 1965. "Hydrofoil High-Jinks: Exciting New Vessel Skims Over Harbor." The Daily Telegraph, January 2: 3. 

When it began service, commuters found that the trip took only 15 minutes, compared to 30-35 minutes for the regular ferries. As it was the only hydrofoil, it only operated at peak times.

Curious Sydneysiders queued up to experience it for themselves on the first day of operation on January 7, 1965. Special harbour excursions were organised to allow the public to experience the new ferry before commencing the first commuter services that evening.

Source: Anonymous. 1965. "1000 Take trips in Hydrofoil." The Daily Telegraph, January 8: 3. 

When the Fairlight arrived the following year, the Manly spent the first three months of 1967 doing cruises around Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne. That failed, and she returned to Sydney, rejoining the fleet.

It operated until  1979 when it was sold. It ended up operating on the Great Barrier Reef and today is believed to be a cafe on the shores of the Murray River minus its foils.

An interesting fact was that the hydrofoil itself was allowed to operate as far south as Jervis Bay and as far north as Port Stephens.

The hydrofoils would be a presence on Sydney Harbour for a quarter of a century until 1991 when they were retired from service following the introduction of their successors - The Jetcat's. However, the Jetcat's did not survive as long. They were removed from service on New Year's Eve, 2008 and Sydney Ferries (who took control of the Manly services in 1974) did not replace them.

Instead, the State Government decided to allow private operators to operate the high-speed service. This returned the route to what it was back in 1965, privately operated. Manly Fast Ferries (operated by Bass & Flinders Cruises) commenced their service in 2010, followed by Sydney Fast Ferries the following year. However, Sydney Fast Ferries is the official operator (since 2011) and has access to the public ferry berths at Circular Quay and Manly. Manly Fast Ferries did have space in 2010-11 before having to hand over space to Sydney Fast Ferries. The downside to this is that the operators are allowed to set their own fares and don't accept Opal Cards.

Even with the turbulence that the Manly Ferries have had over the decades, those living on the northern beaches are very dependent on their ferries, not to mention loyal. For some, paying that little extra to get to and from work each day makes a big difference in their day, whether it may mean getting to work on time, or home to spend time with the kids at the end of the day.

And there is a choice as well. Some are happy with the regular service and for many a chance to see and enjoy their harbour.

Finally, here is a newsreel feature from 1965 on the hydrofoil.

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: Manly Wharf Transport Interchange Terminal (1969)

Back in june, I shared with you a plan to redevelop Manly Wharf with a high rise hotel. Here is a proposal from 1969 that called for a major transport interchange at Manly Wharf to replace the existing facilities. Apart from wharves and a bus terminal, they wanted also wanted helipads and a railway station. It mentions that the railway station would serve a heavy rail line running north from Manly to Newport.

Source: Anonymous. 1969. "Manly's next front door? Crisis on North Shore, says MLA ," The Daily Telegraph, March 18: 9.