Паром "Балгола": История Сиднейского Судна

SS Balgowlah was a ferry on Sydney Harbour operated by the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company on the Manly service from 1912 until 1951.

The Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company's fleet transitioned comparatively late to screw propelled vessels and the fleet comprised mostly paddle steamers until the early years of the twentieth century. The difficulty of turning in the narrow bays of Sydney Harbour particularly in the busy Circular Quay terminus in Sydney Cove required the use of double ended vessels. However, a double ended screw configuration was particularly difficult for the fine bows that Manly ferries required for both speed and heavy seas. Further, a propeller at the leading forward end of a vessel reduced speed considerably. In the prosperous early twentieth century, this speed drawback was overcome by increasing engine size and power. The first screw ferries on the Manly run were two innovative Walter Reeks–designed vessels; the SS Manly (1896), and SS Kuring gai (1901), which were to become the fore runners of the "Binngarra class" ferries. They both had high forecastles at either to help her run through the deep sea conditions across the Sydney Heads. The steel hulled Kuring gai was larger and she further refined the basic design to be similar to the subsequent and larger "Binngarra class" vessels. Manly and Kuring gai had both, however, followed paddle steamer design with their bridges around the midships funnels. Whereas the "Binngarra class" vessels would have their wheelhouses at either end of their promenade decks. The "Binngarra class" ferries, Binngarra (1905), Burra Bra (1908), Bellubera (1910), Balgowlah (1912), Barrenjoey (1913), and Baragoola (1922), were designed by Mort's Dock and Engineering, initially under the guidance of former chief draughtsman Andrew Christie. The first five were built at Mort's Woolwich yard and Baragoola was built at the Balmain yard. They were among the largest ships built in Australian yards at the time and, on the admission of Mort's executives, were built by the dock more for prestige than profit. Build costs were higher in Australia than in the United Kingdom, but this was offset by the cost of sailing them out to Australia.

Balgowlah was built by Mort's Dock at their Woolwich yard for the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company for a cost of £29,000. Launched on 18 June 1912 and commissioned on 28 November 1912. Balgowlah was nearly identical to the Bellubera and Barrenjoey and ultimately was the last coal burner in the fleet. It was capable of carrying 1,517 passengers in the summer and 982 in the winter (the highest capacity of this class) and made over 110,000 return trips to Manly covering about 715,000 nautical miles.

Unlike some of its sister ships, it had a relatively uneventful life shortly after going into service in 1912, it tangled with the collier Five Islands and caught itself in that ship's anchor chain. No damage was done. In 1927, it collided with Sydney Ferries Limited's Kanimbla at Bennelong Point. Steel hulled Balgowlah received minor damage, while timber hulled Kanimbla had a large gash torn in one side and came close to sinking. In 1929, it collided with the collier Birchrove Park, only minimal damage was done to both ships. In 1939, it overshot the wharf at Circular Quay and went aground in soft mud. Although it ripped through the buffer stop, no damage was done. It took two tugs to pull it free. It made its last trip on the 08:05 to Manly on 27 February 1951 and was then laid up.

After being laid up since 1951, it was sold to Sylvester Stride, Leichhardt in 1953 for breaking up. The hull was cut down and converted to a lighter, and used in the demolition of the old Iron Cove Bridge after which it was allegedly scuttled nearby.