57-779: Sydney Ferries Limited operated ferry services on Sydney Harbour from 1900 until June 1951. The company grew out of the North Shore Steam Ferry Company and took over smaller ferry operators to become the largest ferry operator in Sydney's history. Without a physical connection across the harbour, demand for ferry services to developing areas on the North Shore rose dramatically and Sydney Ferries commissioned 27 large ferries in its own right between 1900 and 1922. The company named its vessels with Australian Aboriginal words beginning with "K". The 1932 opening of
114-576: A Sydney Harbour , is the amount of water in the Sydney Harbour (Port Jackson): approximately 500 gigalitres (410,000 acre⋅ft). Clifton Gardens, New South Wales Clifton Gardens is an urban locality in the suburb of Mosman in Sydney , New South Wales , Australia . Clifton Gardens is located in the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman and is part of
171-544: A longboat and two cutters up the coast to sound the entrance and examine Cook's Port Jackson. Phillip first stayed overnight at Camp Cove , just inside the South Head, then moved up the harbour, landing at Sydney Cove and then Manly Cove, before returning to Botany Bay on the afternoon of 24 January. Phillip returned to Sydney Cove in HM Armed Tender Supply on 26 January 1788, where he established
228-528: A 23-hectare (56-acre) estate on the waters edge, he named it "Cliffeton" and it is believed that the area's name was derived from that. A hotel called the Clifton Arms was built in 1871 by D. Butters. It was leased in 1879 then bought in 1880 by David Thompson who built the Marine Hotel that operated from 1885 to 1967. Thompson also built a wharf and dancing pavilion here and the area became popular as
285-555: A boatshed and a tramway from the wharf to the hotel. Before the First World War, ferries full of picnickers came at weekends. The structure burnt down in 1956. Sydney Ferries at this stage had a near monopoly on Sydney Harbour ferry services, except for Manly ferry services , which was run by the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company until the 1970s, and several small launch services. In addition to buying out most of
342-544: A great deal of work focused on habitat restoration and restoring the biodiversity of the harbour, including a major program called the Sydney Harbour Research Program around 2012, led by Emma Johnston . Project Restore is an ongoing large-scale project by SIMS and its partner universities that aims to restore different habitat types at the same time, to restore seascapes in Sydney Harbour. It encompasses four projects already under way, including
399-822: A much larger fleet than would probably ever seek for shelter or security in it." Royal Navy officer David Blackburn also described it as a "fine Harbour as Any in the World, with water for any Number of the Largest ships." The Great White Fleet , the United States Navy battle fleet, arrived in Port Jackson in August 1908 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt . From 1938, seaplanes landed in Sydney Harbour on Rose Bay , making this Sydney's first international airport. In 1942, to protect Sydney Harbour from
456-490: A picnic spot. In 1906, Sydney Ferries Limited , purchased the Thompson estate comprising land, the three-storey hotel, wharf dancing pavilion and skating rink. The company built a large circular swimming enclosure that could hold 3,000 spectators, a boatshed and a tramway from the wharf to the hotel. Before First World War, ferries full of picnickers came at weekends. The structure burnt down in 1956. Clifton Gardens Hotel
513-642: A service to or from private wharfs and houses on the waterfront. Sightseeing harbour cruises are operated daily from Circular Quay. Whale watching excursions are also operated from Port Jackson. The Mortlake Ferry , also known as the Putney Punt, crosses the Parramatta River, connecting Mortlake and Putney. Australian National Maritime Museum , at Darling Harbour , has themed exhibitions ranging from Indigenous lore and European seafaring to aquatic sport and maritime defence. Sydney Heritage Fleet
570-471: A small island located north-east of the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney Harbour. There are fortifications at Sydney Heads and elsewhere, some of which are now heritage listed. The earliest date from the 1830s, and were designed to defend Sydney from seaborn attack or convict uprisings. There are four historical fortifications located between Taronga Zoo and Middle Head, Mosman , they are:
627-479: A submarine attack, the Sydney Harbour anti-submarine boom net was constructed. It spanned the harbour from Green (Laings) Point, Watsons Bay to the battery at Georges Head , on the other side of the harbour. On the night of 31 May 1942, three Japanese midget submarines entered the harbour, one of which became entangled in the western end of the boom net's central section. Unable to free their submarine,
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#1732782933563684-534: A subsidiary company ran cargo services to Parramatta until 1941. Services to Balmain were cutback in 1928 with several of the older "Lady class" ferries sold. Prior to the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge , the company carried more than 40 million passengers per annum, three-quarters of which travelled on the Milsons Point - Circular Quay route. With the completion of the bridge in 1932,
741-694: Is Sydney's last remaining deepwater port able to supply the City's ongoing demand for dry bulk goods such as sugar, gypsum and cement. Most of Sydney's port infrastructure has moved south to Botany Bay since the construction of the first container terminals there in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Former: Current: Sydney Ferries operate services from Circular Quay to Cockatoo Island , Double Bay , Manly , Mosman , Neutral Bay , Parramatta , Pyrmont Bay , Taronga Zoo and Watsons Bay . Water taxi and water limousine operators offer transport not restricted by timetables or specific routes, and can also provide
798-572: Is a drowned river valley, or ria . It is 19 km long with an area of 55 km . The estuary's volume at high tide is 562 million cubic metres. The perimeter of the estuary is 317 kilometres. According to the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales , Port Jackson is "a harbour which comprises all the waters within an imaginary line joining North Head and South Head. Within this harbour lies North Harbour, Middle Harbour and Sydney Harbour." Port Jackson extends westward from
855-563: Is a largely volunteer organisation dedicated to the restoration and operation of heritage vessels. The barque James Craig of the SHF sails regularly from Port Jackson. RAN Heritage Centre at Garden Island has many exhibits, artefacts and documents relating to the history of the Royal Australian Navy. Port Jackson is associated with the voyages of Richard Siddins . The Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) has done
912-861: Is bridged from north to south by the Sydney Harbour Bridge , the Gladesville Bridge , the Ryde Bridge , and the Silverwater Bridge . Other bridges spanning Port Jackson waterways are Pyrmont Bridge spanning Darling Harbour; the Anzac Bridge (formerly known as the Glebe Island Bridge), spanning Blackwattle Bay; the Iron Cove Bridge spanning Iron Cove ; the Spit Bridge spanning Middle Harbour;
969-642: Is located within a lighthouse just south of Georges Head at Georges Heights in Mosman and is adjacent to the suburbs of Vaucluse , Point Piper and Watsons Bay , which are on Port Jackson's east side towards the Pacific Ocean. Sydney Cove , a bay in Port Jackson's west side that includes Circular Quay , is more proximate to the Observatory Hill weather station, and therefore the climate data below does not apply to that vicinity. Port Jackson
1026-714: Is the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge . The location of the first European settlement and colony on the Australian mainland, Port Jackson has continued to play a key role in the history and development of Sydney. Port Jackson, in the early days of the colony, was also used as a shorthand for Sydney and its environs. Thus, many botanists, see, e.g., Robert Brown 's Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen , described their specimens as having been collected at Port Jackson. Many recreational events are based on or around
1083-517: The Endeavour sailed past the entrance at Sydney Heads , Cook wrote in his journal "at noon we were...about 2 or 3 miles from the land and abrest of a bay or harbour within there appeared to be a safe anchorage which I called Port Jackson." Eighteen years later, Port Jackson saw the arrival of the First Fleet . On 21 January 1788, after arriving at Botany Bay , Governor Arthur Phillip took
1140-535: The Barangaroo development. White Bay and adjacent Glebe Island have been working ports since the mid-1800s, handling just about everything from timber and paper, coal, sugar and cement to cars and containers. The NSW Government identified both as vital to the City's economy and in March 2013 announced its commitment to maintaining both as working ports as it frees up neighbouring bays for public access. Glebe Island
1197-529: The Lower North Shore . Clifton Gardens is adjacent to Chowder Bay. Clifton Gardens features an affluent residential area and is home to several beaches and wharves on Sydney Harbour . Clifton Gardens is also a popular fishing spot in summer. Species like the yellowtail kingfish , bonito and Australian salmon are caught frequently during summer months. In winter trevally can be caught quite regularly. Early settler Captain E. H. Cliffe purchased
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#17327829335631254-782: The Middle Head Fortifications , the Georges Head Battery , the Lower Georges Heights Commanding Position and a small fort located on Bradleys Head , known as the Bradleys Head Fortification Complex . The forts were built from sandstone quarried on site and consist of various tunnels, underground rooms, open batteries and casemated batteries, shell rooms, gunpowder magazines , barracks and trenches. Geologically, Port Jackson
1311-780: The Parramatta River to Rose Hill belonged to the Wangal. The Eora inhabited Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), south to the Georges River and west to Parramatta. The first recorded European discovery of Sydney Harbour was by Lieutenant James Cook in 1770. Cook named the inlet after Sir George Jackson , one of the Lords Commissioners of the British Admiralty, and Judge Advocate of the Fleet . As
1368-661: The Roseville Bridge spanning Middle Harbour; the Tarban Creek Bridge spanning Tarban Creek. The original Meadowbank Railway Bridge carried the Main Northern railway line , now reduced to pedestrian traffic only. The replacement John Whitton Bridge carries two railway tracks with piers suitable for four tracks. There is a single track rail bridge on the Carlingford railway line crossing
1425-592: The Sydney Harbour Bridge saw the companies annual patronage drop from 40 million to 15 million. The first regular passenger ferry services across the harbour began in the 1840s and 1850s, at which time the Gerrard Brother's ran paddle steamers Ferry Queen , Brothers , and Agenoria . Herald was sent out from England for the North Shore Steam Company and later for E Evans and Partners. Demand for passengers services had developed to
1482-780: The Sydney Harbour Tunnel passing underneath the Harbour to the east of the bridge was opened in August 1992. In 2005, 2010 and in 2014, the NSW Government proposed a rail tunnel be constructed to the west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Construction of an extra pair of road tunnels to the west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, as part of the Sydney Metro project, was approved in January 2017 while
1539-540: The "Living Seawalls" project, which entails covering parts of the harbour seawalls with specially-designed tiles that mimic natural microhabitats - with crevices and other features that more closely resemble natural rocks. Project Restore is partly funded by the NSW Government. Port Jackson has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: A Sydharb is a unit of volume used in Australia for water, especially in dams and harbours. One sydharb (or sydarb), also called
1596-513: The 1930s as many could not afford their own transport. Fuel rationing during World War 2 made the coal required for the steam ferries relatively cheap. However, the post World War II years saw the drop in demand pick up pace. In 1951, with annual patronage down to 9 million and the business having become unprofitable, Sydney Ferries Ltd advised the Government of New South Wales of its intention to cease operating ferry services. After investigating
1653-579: The Harbour tunnelling was completed in March 2020. The Western Harbour Tunnel is planned to offer another motor vehicle tunnel in 2026. Permanent cruise ship terminals are located at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay, Sydney Cove and at the White Bay Cruise Terminal at White Bay . White Bay's evolution to a cruise terminal came with the closure of Darling Harbour terminal to make way for
1710-417: The Parramatta River near Camellia . Bennelong Bridge over Homebush Bay connects Wentworth Point and Rhodes A weir between Queens Avenue and Charles Street, Parramatta, called Charles Street Weir, separates the saltwater and tidal waters to the east from the freshwater and non-tidal waters to the west. The weir is marked right near the western (left) edge of the detailed map above. A road tunnel,
1767-545: The Ships can Anchor so close to the Shore, that at a very small expence... Port Jackson was described as a "capacious harbour, equal, if not superior to any yet known in the world", that "sheltered anchorage for the ships" and provided "a suitable landing place on rocks on the western side of the cove, relatively level land at the head of the cove , and a run of fresh water", in addition to it being "capable of affording security to
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1824-563: The Watsons Bay and South Shore Steam Ferry Co. Ltd. in 1920. Sydney Ferries acquired some innovative technology from its predecessor companies, notably the double-ended screw ferry design in which Sydney was a world leader at the time. In 1879, the North Shore Co. introduced Sydney's first, and the world's second, double-ended screw ferry, Wallaby . This remained the basic design of all Sydney double-ended screw ferries. However,
1881-466: The bridge's opening on 19 March 1932. The 350-ton vehicular ferries, Koondooloo (1924), Kalang (1926) and Kara Kara (1926) were laid up. Other vehicular ferries were scrapped, however, Kooroongaba went to work crossing the Hunter River between Stockton and Newcastle . In the mid-1930s, demand for harbour cruises increased and the company fitted out Koondooloo as a two-deck showboat. Such
1938-478: The company commenced services to The Spit and Clontarf via Athol and Balmoral . It also took over and ran services to the Athol Gardens Hotel . In December 1911, a service to Robertsons (Cremorne) Point was added to meet the new tram service. The first service to Taronga Zoo commenced on 24 September 1916 with a vehicular ferry taking the elephant 'Jessi' across the harbour to her new home from
1995-438: The company continued to acquire paddle-steamers until 1885. They serviced the harbour's busiest route from Circular Quay to Milsons Point (50 years later the location of the Sydney Harbour Bridge ) and Lavender Bay to which an all-night service was added in 1884. Milson's Point became the harbour's busiest wharf with the introduction of a connecting tram service from Ridge St North Sydney . It became busier still in 1893 with
2052-536: The company's passenger volumes dropped to 15 million. The large Milsons Point ferries, Koompartoo and Kuttabul were immediately redundant and used mainly for concert and showboat work until the outbreak of World War II. Some of their larger boats were also laid up, and a dozen smaller ferries were scrapped. Most of these were older vessels, almost 20 ferries were decommissioned. Vehicular ferry services between Dawes Point and Blues Point , and between Bennelong Point to Milsons Point ceased less than two weeks after
2109-755: The connection of the North Shore railway line from Hornsby . In late 1899, the North Shore Co. was reincorporated as Sydney Ferries Limited. At this stage, the fleet comprised 27 vessels including four vehicular ferries and two cargo ferries. The first 20 years of the twentieth century were a time of significant growth in demand for ferry services on the harbour, and Sydney Ferries grew rapidly. By 1920, Sydney Ferries Limited had taken over most of its contemporaries including their vessels and services; Parramatta River services were acquired in 1901, Watsons Bay in 1920, Balmain in 1917, with Hunters Hill and Lane Cove services also acquired. Between 1900 and 1910,
2166-480: The crew detonated charges, killing themselves in the process. A second midget submarine came to grief in Taylor's Bay, the two crew committing suicide. The third submarine fired two torpedoes at USS Chicago (both missed) before leaving the harbour. In November 2006, this submarine was found off Sydney's Northern Beaches. The anti-submarine boom net was demolished soon after World War II , and all that remains are
2223-480: The first colony in Australia, later to become the city of Sydney. In his first dispatch from the colony back to England, Governor Phillip noted that: We got into Port Jackson early in the Afternoon, and had the satisfaction of finding the finest Harbour in the World, in which a thousand Sail of the line may ride in the most perfect security...I fixed on the one [cove] that had the best spring of Water, and in which
2280-569: The foundations of the old boom net winch house, which can be viewed on Green (Laings) Point, Watsons Bay. Today, the Australian War Memorial has on display a composite of the two midget submarines salvaged from Sydney Harbour. The conning tower of one of the midget submarines is on display at the RAN Heritage Centre , Garden Island , Sydney. Fort Denison is a former penal site and defensive facility occupying
2337-427: The harbour itself, particularly Sydney New Year's Eve celebrations. The harbour is also the starting point of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race . The waterways of Port Jackson are managed by Transport for NSW . Sydney Harbour National Park protects a number of islands and foreshore areas, swimming spots, bushwalking tracks and picnic areas. The harbour is a global hotspot for marine and estuarine diversity. At
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2394-451: The harbour, including Shark Island , Clark Island , Fort Denison , Goat Island , Cockatoo Island , Spectacle Island , Snapper Island and Rodd Island . Some other former islands, including Garden Island , Glebe Island and Berry Island , have been linked to the shore by land reclamation, though their names often still contain the word "island". Two other former islands, Bennelong Island and Darling Island, are similarly now linked to
2451-599: The heavy lift vessels until 1975 and 1985 respectively. Port Jackson Port Jackson , commonly known as Sydney Harbour , consists of the waters of Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour , North Harbour and the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers, is the ria or natural harbour of Sydney , New South Wales , Australia . The harbour is an inlet of the Tasman Sea (part of the South Pacific Ocean ). It
2508-410: The mainland, but rarely mentioned as islands. The former Dawes Island was joined to another small island to create Spectacle Island. Exposed at low tide is Sow and Pigs Reef , a well-known navigation obstacle near the main shipping lane. Port Jackson has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen : Cfa ) with warm, somewhat humid summers and mild to cool winters, with moderate rainfall spread throughout
2565-479: The mid 1930s. As part of a refresh and change in direction following the bridge opening, the "K-class" and "Lady-class" varnished timber with white trim livery was painted over with a green on the hull and bulwarks, and yellow painted superstructure. The black funnels were repainted yellow with black tops. The post-Bridge drop in demand for the ferry fleet was somewhat mitigated by the Great Depression of
2622-474: The old zoo at Moore Park. Sydney Ferries Limited also became significant harbour-side land owners buying and developing properties for the lucrative excursion trade. In 1906, the company purchased the Thompson estate at Clifton Gardens (in Mosman) including land, the three-storey hotel, wharf dancing pavilion and skating rink. The company built a large circular swimming enclosure that could hold 3,000 spectators,
2679-458: The opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932. In terms of annual passenger and vessel numbers, Sydney Ferries Limited reached its peak around 1928. While North Shore services would continue to grow until the opening of the bridge in 1932, decline in demand for other routes saw the company contract steadily from 1928. Competition from trams, buses, and railways saw the company cease Parramatta River passenger services beyond Gladesville, however,
2736-508: The other ferry operators and their assets, between 1900 and 1914 the company acquired 25 large vessels - mostly of the type known as the K-class - on its own accord. Following its acquisitions of rivals, by the 1920s, the company's fleet comprised large vehicular ferries, fast single-ended steamers that ran along the Parramatta River, the "Lady-class" ferries acquired with the Balmain service,
2793-558: The point that in 1861, the forerunner to Sydney Ferries Limited, the North Shore Ferry Company, was formed as an unincorporated company. Its backers included James Milson and Francis Lord . The company's first ferries was Kirribilli (I). Nell , Galatea and Coombra followed. Land subdivision from the 1870s saw development east of Milsons Point in the Neutral Bay and Mosman, New South Wales areas. Mosman
2850-625: The possibility of using statutory powers to compulsorily acquire the business without paying compensation, the government agreed to purchase of the fleet for a nominal sum, and on 1 July 1951 the 15 ferries and the workshops were sold to the government agency established for the purpose, the Sydney Harbour Transport Board . Sydney Ferries continued its business through its freight and showboat cruise company, Harbour Lighterage Pty. Ltd., which had been established as Harbor Land and Transport Co, Ltd. in 1918, retaining ownership of
2907-581: The showboat and former vehicular ferry Kalang . The government contracted out operation of the fleet and Balmain workshops to the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company , through a subsidiary set up for the purpose, Sydney Harbour Ferries Pty. Ltd. The services and fleet were quickly rationalised with most of the larger remaining timber K-class steamers being decommissioned. Kirrule , Kiandra , Kamiri and Kirawa were all broken up at this time, and Kareela and Kubu followed in 1959. Kosciusko and Kanangra were converted to diesel and were
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#17327829335632964-630: The single entrance known as Sydney Heads (North and South Heads) and encompasses all tidal waters within North Harbour, Middle Harbour , Sydney Harbour, Darling Harbour , Parramatta River and Lane Cove River . The harbour is heavily embayed. The bays on the south side tend to be wide and rounded, whereas those on the north side are generally narrow inlets. Many of these bays include beaches . The Sydney central business district extends from Circular Quay . East to west, north side: East to west, south side There are several islands within
3021-580: The time of the European arrival and colonisation, the land around Port Jackson was inhabited by the Eora clans, including the Gadigal , Cammeraygal , and Wangal . The Gadigal inhabited the land stretching along the south side of Port Jackson from what is now South Head, in an arc west to the present Darling Harbour . The Cammeraygal lived on the northern side of the harbour. The area along the southern banks of
3078-412: The two dozen "K-class" ferries it had built, and a number of smaller craft including lighterage tugs, water carriers and cargo ferries. The company's largest vessels, Kuttabul and Koompartoo were delivered in 1922, each with a capacity of over 2,000 passengers for the heavy lift Circular Quay to Milson's Point run. They were the last and the largest of the "K-class" ferries and were made redundant with
3135-592: The year. Due to its exposed proximity to the Tasman Sea, it is slightly cooler, wetter and windier than Observatory Hill to the west. In addition to featuring the lowest maximum summer temperatures in the Sydney region (averaging just 24.4 °C (75.9 °F)), Port Jackson is also least affected by extreme heat due to frequent sea breezes . Conversely, winter nights are among the warmest in Sydney, and rarely dip below 8.0 °C (46.4 °F), although fog often occurs and may be disruptive. Port Jackson's weather station
3192-663: Was first an excursion area and residential development had suffered until the regular ferry services began in the 1870s. It became a limited liability company, the North Shore Steam Ferry Company Ltd, in 1878. On 14 December 1899, the company was incorporated as Sydney Ferries Limited. It subsequently took over the Parramatta River Steamers and Tramway Co. Ltd. (in 1901), the Balmain New Ferry Co. Ltd. in 1917 and
3249-447: Was her success, that Kalang was similarly fitted out as a three-deck showboat, and a third deck was later added to Koondooloo . The newer series of "Lady" class ferries - Ladies Chelmsford (1910), Denman (1912), Edeline (1913), Scott (1914), and Ferguson (1914) - were converted to more efficient diesel power. Sisters Karingal and Karrabee (1913), the smallest of the "K-class" ferries, were converted to diesel in
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