Koree

Koree was built for Sydney Ferries Limited during the early twentieth century boom in cross-Harbour travel prior to the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. At the time, the company ran one of the largest ferry fleets in the world.

Koree was an earlier vessel of a broader type of timber double-ended screw ferry known as the K-class. The company built 25 of vessels between the 1890s and early 1920s to meet the booming demand. The K-class were all propelled by triple expansion steam engines and were predominantly timber-hulled (four later K-class had steel hulls).

Koree followed Sydney Ferries Limited's then emerging tradition of naming their vessels after Australian Aboriginal words starting with "K". "Koree" is thought to be an indigenous name for Chowder Bay.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article236824822 |title=TRIAL TRIP OF THE KOREE. |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |issue=7324 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=28 November 1902 |accessdate=26 January 2021 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}

File:Sydney ferry KOREE in Mosman Bay c 1910.jpg

Plans for the hull were provided by Mr Scott, from the plans of the late Captain T Sumberbell, manager of Sydney Ferries Limited with the design being an evolution of the company's recent Kurraba and Kirribilli ferries. Koree was built by David Drake at Bald Rock in Balmain. Her machinery was provided by Clyde Engineering to a specification provided by Sydney Ferries Limited's works manager, Mr T Brown. Her 480 hp triple expansion steam inverted direct-acting and surface condensing engines comprised 13, 21 and 34 inches respectively with a 21 inch stroke. She had two multi tubular cylindrical boilers of 7 and 2 inch diameter of 18 feet in length. The boilers' working pressure was 170 lb.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71491256 |title=Launching a New ferry Steamer. |newspaper=Australian Town and Country Journal |volume=LXV |issue=1695 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=2 August 1902 |accessdate=14 May 2021 |page=24 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14485360 |title=THE NEW FERRY STEAMER KOREE. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=20,193 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=28 November 1902 |accessdate=14 May 2021 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}} Koree's patent suspension furnaces had a heating surface of 1600 square feet.

Koree's hull was launched on 23 July 1902 and christened by Miss O'Sullivan, the daughter of the Minister for Works. A bottle of port was smashed on her rudder.

At 276 tons, she was, by a significant margin, the company's largest vessel when built. The previous largest, sisters Kurraba and Kirribilli, were 195 and 198 tons, respectively.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228951181 |title=THE KOREE. |newspaper=The Australian Star |issue=4611 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=25 November 1902 |accessdate=25 April 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}} Koree was rated to carry 1,058 passengers compared to Kurraba at 890 and Kirribilli at 896. Koree was 42.8 m long with a beam of 8.6 m. The keel and kelson were of ironbark, with the frames of blue and spotted gum. Planking to the waterline were of blue and spotted gum and planking above the waterline was of kauri. Four side companions were provided instead of the usual two between the two passenger decks to service the increased capacity.

Koree was the first ferry on Sydney Harbour to be built with closed in upper decks with sash windows provided for most of the deck's length. Kurraba's (1899) and Kirribilli's (1900) open decks were enclosed in 1903 all subsequent K-class ferries were built with sash-windowed upper decks. The first Manly ferries to have enclosed upper decks were the sisters, Dee Why and Curl Curl, both of 1928. Koree was fitted with electric lighting, at the time a relatively new feature for Sydney Ferries, with the 93-light system supplied by Westinghouse. Communication between the wheelhouses and the engine room was by Chadburn telegraph fitted with turn rods and bevelled brass. With the continuing rapid expansion of the Sydney Ferries Limited fleet, by 1912, there were another fifteen vessels in the passenger fleet.

File:Sydney ferry KOREE under construction at David Drake yard in Balmain.jpg|Workers building Koree at the David Drake yard in Balmain

File:Sydney ferry KOREE under construction at David Drake yard Balmain.jpg|The timber hull takes shape at the David Drake yard in Balmain

File:Sydney ferry KOREE at launch day at David Darke Yard Balmain 23 July 1902.jpg|Launch day, David Drake yard, Balmain, 23 July 1902

File:Triple expansion marine steam engine from Sydney ferry KOREE.jpg|Triple expansion steam engine for Koree at Clyde Engineering yard

Koree's trials were held on 27 November 1902 during which she reached a speed of close to 11 knots over the measured mile. Sydney Ferries Limited representatives and guests were on board. Later moored at Berrys Bay for speeches following the trials, the chairman noted that it was the company's largest and most advance vessel, and the "best boat of her kind in the world".

The largest ferry in the fleet when introduced, Koree was initially used predominantly on the busy cross harbour routes to Milsons Point. She was joined on the route by Kulgoa in 1904. With the introduction of the larger Kaikai in 1907, Koree was transferred to other routes, including McMahon's Point / Lavender Bay and the Mosman service.{{cite book |last1=Clark |first1=L.A. |title=North of the Harbour |date=1976 |publisher=Newey & Beath Printers Pty Ltd |location=Broadmeadow NSW |isbn=0-909650-05-5 |pages=11 & 13 |edition=Third}}

On 19 March 1932, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was open. Sydney Ferries Limited patronage fell from 40 million annually to 15 million. The Milsons Point service, which crossed the harbour at the location of the new bridge, was quickly redundant. 17 vessels from the fleet were retired from service, including Koree, other large and older K-class ferries Kurraba and Kirribilli, and all Sydney Ferries Ltd's vehicular ferries. Koree was sold for breaking up in 1934 for £100.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248970440 |title=Ferries for Breaking Up |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |volume=3 |issue=299 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=31 January 1934 |access-date=29 December 2020 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}

File:Sydney ferry KOREE approaches Musgrave Street wharf in Mosman Bay circa 1912.jpg|Approaching Musgrave Street Wharf circa 1912

File:Sydney ferry KOREE in Mosman Bay 1902 to 1917.jpg|In Mosman Bay

File:Ferry KOREE on Sydney Harbour (8508811764).jpg|Koree following the yacht races

File:Circular Quay from south eastern corner with view of Sydney Harbour Bridge under construction, c 1926 (8165855585).jpg|Koree, foreground, at Circular Quay with other K-class ferries with the Sydney Harbour Bridge under construction behind, during Sydney Ferries Limited's 1920s peak

File:Sydney ferry KOREE damaged after collision with ferry KURAMIA.jpg, 21 September 1929]]

• 1 January 1903 - after leaving Circular Quay on a Milsons Point trip, a young woman, Maud White, jumped from the ferry. The master, Edward Bridge, and two hands, Henry Punch and James McCleer, jumped into the water and rescued the woman. Koree returned immediately to Circular Quay, whereupon White was taken to Sydney Hospital.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14518772 |title=RESCUE FROM DROWNING. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=20,222 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=1 January 1903 |accessdate=14 May 2021 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• 29 August 1905 - After leaving Milsons Point at 5:15am, Koree collides with tug, Champion, on her way to Circular Quay. Koree suffered significant damage, and a subsequent Marine Court enquiry found the ferry's skipper at fault.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113282843 |title=KOREE-CHAMPION COLLISION. |newspaper=Evening News |issue=11,956 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=4 October 1905 |accessdate=10 April 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• 24 December 1910 - Koree, on a Mosman to Circular Quay run, had a minor collision with Manly ferry, Bellubera, which was steaming from the Port Jackson Steamship Company base at Kurraba Point. Both vessels had taken evasive action and the collision was a scrape that damaged Koree's front rail.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229991304 |title=FERRY BOATS GOLLIDE. |newspaper=The Sun |issue=152 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=24 December 1910 |accessdate=26 January 2021 |page=5 (FINAL SPORTING) |via=National Library of Australia}}
• 21 June 1912 - Koree collided with Kirribilli off McMahon's Point, with Kirribilli suffering considerable damage.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228853838 |title=HARBOR COLLISION. |newspaper=The Sun |issue=618 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=21 June 1912 |accessdate=10 April 2021 |page=7 (FINAL EXTRA) |via=National Library of Australia}}
• 9 October 1918 - Koree struck Milsons Point pontoon hard after being stuck in a strong ebb tide. Her bow was badly damaged ripping out bulwarks and part of her sponson. With damage confined to above the waterline, she made another two trips before being laid up at the Sydney Ferries Limited yard in Milsons Point for repairs.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159388216 |title=BUMPED THE WHARF. |newspaper=Daily Commercial News And Shipping List |issue=9499 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=10 October 1918 |accessdate=26 January 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• 28 May 1925 - Kirawa (travelling from Circular Quay to Mosman) collided head-on with Koree (travelling from Mosman to Circular Quay) off Cremorne Point with both vessels sustaining damage.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224054821 |title=FERRIES COLLIDE |newspaper=The Sun |issue=4544 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=28 May 1925 |accessdate=28 December 2021 |page=11 (FINAL EXTRA) |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16188920 |title=STEAMER KOREE. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=27,163 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=26 January 1925 |accessdate=10 April 2021 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• May 1925 - Koree collided with Kirawa off Cremorne.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118936578 |title=FERRY SMASHES HAVE BEEN FREQUENT |newspaper=Evening News |issue=18835 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=4 November 1927 |accessdate=27 March 2021 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia}}
• 21 September 1929 - Koree collided with Kuramia. The former suffered £40 damage whereas the latter was undamaged.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article239774025 |title=HARBOR COLLISION |newspaper=The Labor Daily |issue=1835 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=19 October 1929 |accessdate=10 April 2021 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}

• List of Sydney Harbour ferries
• Timeline of Sydney Harbour ferries
• Sydney K-class ferries

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=Andrews |first1=Graeme |year=1975 |title=The Ferries of Sydney |publisher=A.H. & A.W. Reed Pty Ltd |isbn=0589071726 |page= }}
• {{cite book |last1=Andrews |first1=Graeme |title=A Pictorial History of Ferries: Sydney and Surrounding Waterways |date=1982 |publisher=AH & AW Reed Pty Ltd |location=Sydney |isbn=0589503863 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Andrews |first1=Graeme |year=1975 |title=The Ferries of Sydney |publisher=Sydney University Press|isbn=0424002027 |page= }}
• {{cite book |last1=Gunter |first1=John |title=Across the harbour : the story of Sydney's ferries |publisher=Rigby |date=1978|isbn=0727007157 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Prescott |first1=A M |title=Sydney Ferry Fleets |date=1984 |publisher=Ronald H Parsons |location=Magill, South Australia |isbn=0-909418-30-6 }}

• {{commons category-inline|Koree (ship, 1902)|Koree}}

{{Sydneyferries|state=collapsed}}

Category:Sydney K-class ferries

Category:Ferries of New South Wales

Category:Ferry transport in Sydney

Category:Ships built in New South Wales

Category:1902 ships