History SS South Steyne

south steyne @ harbourside berth in darling harbour



south steyne @ darling harbour

ss south steyne built henry robb in leith, scotland port jackson & manly steamship company. launched on 1 april 1938, set off on 7 july, steam 22,000 kilometres australia, arrived on 19 september.

the south steyne brought australia captain rm beedie, english master returned home after voyage. on voyage captain ae rowlings, acted first officer went england take delivery of vessel on behalf of owner, , captain c henderson, second officer, reported sydney morning herald native of manly.

in 1953 south steyne chartered run sunday cruises sydney broken bay. first manly ferry run day trips pittwater area since ferries bingarra , burra bra flagships of pittwater regatta in 1922 , 1928. broken bay cruises lasted until 1970s. in 1964 south steyne collided freighter, jason , ferry received bow damage on 29 september 1970 south steyne collided hmas melbourne while avoiding racing yachts. nobody hurt , south steyne again received minor damage bow.

she withdrawn service commuter ferry in 1974 when government took option purchase baragoola , north head. south steyne used 3 times fuel of diesel-electric powered ferries. on 25 august 1974, week after last run, fire deliberately lit in forced draft fan room 3 open drums of diesel placed accelerate fire. ferry s sprinkler system sabotaged large screwdriver thrust little fuel tank supplying diesel fire pump couldn t start. fire severely damaged fan room, middle stairway , promenade deckhouse above.if hadn t been quick response of balmain fire brigade, ferry have been destroyed.

a group of concerned manly residents formed preservation society in 1975 slogan save our steyne . able prevent ferry being towed behind old aircraft carrier, , scrapped in hong kong. major damage in fan room repaired, new light fittings added promenade deck, funnels , promenade deck sand blasted , whole ferry repainted. negotiations public transport commission took place allow ferry run 2 return, peak-hour services manly, monday friday. however, running ferry political , restoration of boilers hampered surveyors maritime services board. lloyd s register offered hold survey ferry returned vendors because repayments not made.

restoration work began in 1987 @ rileys hill dry dock near ballina , later in melbourne. became floating restaurant, first in melbourne , in newcastle. after 5 years, returned sydney 2000 olympic information centre @ darling harbour. once again floating restaurant, next pyrmont bridge, offering panoramic waterfront views of sydney skyline. in april 2016 temporarily relocated berrys bay while darling harbour wharf rebuilt.