Lady-class ferry
{{Short description|Class of ferry operated by Harbour City Ferries}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2024}}
| {{Infobox ship begin |infobox caption=Lady class |sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=Sydney_Ferry_Lady_Northcott.jpg |Ship caption=Lady Northcott at Circular Quay in July 2013}} {{Infobox ship class overview |Builders=*State Dockyard |Operators=*Sydney Harbour Transport Board
|Class before= |Class after= |Subclasses= |Built range= |In service range= |Total ships building= |Total ships planned= |Total ships completed= 7 |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active= 3 |Total ships laid up= 1 |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired= |Total ships scrapped= 3 |Total ships preserved=}} |
The Lady class is a class of ferry that were operated by Harbour City Ferries and its predecessors on Sydney Harbour. The term 'Lady class' was also used to describe five wooden-hulled double-ended ferries{{efn|Refers to Lady Chelmsford, Lady Denman, Lady Ferguson, Lady Edeline, and Lady Scott.}} that were operated on Sydney Harbour, from the 1910s to the early 1970s.
History
In late 1967, the Sydney Harbour Transport Board placed an order for three ferries with the State Dockyard, Newcastle. Continuing the tradition of naming ferries after the wives of the Governors of New South Wales, {{MV|Lady Cutler||2}} was launched on 10 August 1968 and arrived in Sydney on 19 September 1968.[http://www.afloat.com.au/afloat-magazine/2009/may-2009/Fifty_Years_of_Sydneys_Public_Ferries#.VSORxBzIz40 Fifty Years of Sydney's Public Ferries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405114757/http://afloat.com.au/afloat-magazine/2009/may-2009/Fifty_Years_of_Sydneys_Public_Ferries#.VSORxBzIz40 |date=5 April 2015 }} Afloat Magazine May 2009[https://archive.today/20110217045405/http://www.ladycutler.com.au/the-lady-cutler.php History] Lady Cutler{{cite book|last1=Andrews|first1=Graeme|title=The Ferries of Sydney|date=1975|publisher=AH & AW Reed|location=Terry Hills|isbn=0 589 07172 6|pages=58, 59, 65, 66}}
It was followed in 1970 by Lady Woodward and Lady McKell.{{Cite web |url=http://www.victoriastar.com.au/history/ |title=History Victoria Star |access-date=7 April 2015 |archive-date=29 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229025146/http://www.victoriastar.com.au/history/ |url-status=live }} These two differed from Lady Cutler in having reverse sloped wheelhouses.
In 1974/75, two enlarged versions were built by Carrington Slipways, Lady Wakehurst and Lady Northcott. These were followed in 1979 by Lady Street and Lady Herron that were built at the State Dockyard.[http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/content/sydney-ferries-fleet-facts Sydney Ferries Fleet Facts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412182709/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/content/sydney-ferries-fleet-facts |date=2015-04-12 }} Transport for NSW{{cite book|last1=Mead|first1=Tom|title=Manly Ferries|date=1988|publisher=Child & Associates|location=Brookvale|isbn=0 86777 091 0|pages=166–167}}
Following a fire that gutted the South Steyne in August 1974, the Lady Wakehurst and Lady Northcott were pressed into on the Manly service after having their bows built up to contend with the rougher conditions while crossing Sydney Heads and extra gangway openings cut into the upper deck. Following the Tasman Bridge disaster, Lady Wakehurst was sent to Hobart in January 1975 to operate services on the River Derwent, not returning until November 1977.[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/squat-new-ferry-lady-wakehurst-kept-the-manly-service-afloat/story-fngr8hax-1227108716758 Squat new ferry Lady Wakehurst kept the Manly service afloat] Manly Daily 31 October 2014
In the 1990s, the first three were withdrawn and placed in store at Rozelle Bay. A deal to sell them to Hong Kong fell through. Today, Lady Cutler and Lady McKell operate as cruise vessels on Port Phillip, the latter having had one wheelhouse removed and renamed Victoria Star.[http://www.victoriastar.com.au/ Home] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223021200/http://www.victoriastar.com.au/ |date=23 December 2014 }} Victoria Star Cruises Lady Woodward was sold to Tasmania and converted for use as a salmon farm tender vessel. In 2010, it was sold to a citizen of Tin Can Bay for use as a houseboat.[http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/introducing-the-bays-new-lady/725140/ Introducing the Bay's new Lady] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120027/http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/introducing-the-bays-new-lady/725140/ |date=4 March 2016 }} Fraser Coast Chronicle 24 December 2010 In May 2023, after being stored in Tin Can Bay for around 12 years, Lady Woodward was scrapped.{{Cite web |title=Lawful removal, disposal, and destruction of a 1 x 39m Steel ex Sydney Passenger Ferry. Tin Can Bay |url=https://qtenders.epw.qld.gov.au/qtenders/tender/display/tender-details.do?id=48178&action=display-tender-details |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=qtenders.epw.qld.gov.au |language=en}}
Lady Wakehurst was sold to Auckland in 1997, before returning to Sydney in 2001. It briefly returned to the Manly run in 2006 when chartered by Sydney Ferries. It moved to the Solomon Islands in 2011. Lady Street was withdrawn in October 2002.[https://web.archive.org/web/20041108004629/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/17/1063625097358.html Lady's not for returning: budget worries cuts ferry fleet] Sydney Morning Herald 17 September 2003 and was sold in December 2004 to be broken up with her scrapping being completed at Goat Island in 2007.
Lady Northcott and Lady Herron were removed from service in October 2017.{{cite news|last1=O'Sullivan|first1=Matt|title=Fate of Sydney's last ladies of the harbour finally sealed|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/fate-of-sydneys-last-ladies-of-the-harbour-finally-sealed-20171019-gz4onz.html|accessdate=24 October 2017|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=24 October 2017|archive-date=24 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024134643/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/fate-of-sydneys-last-ladies-of-the-harbour-finally-sealed-20171019-gz4onz.html|url-status=live}} In 2020 Lady Northcott was donated to Aboriginal Cruise company Tribal Warrior and sailed from Newcastle to Sydney, on 26 September 2022, under her own power after works were completed to get her back into service.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-27 |title=Newcastle built Lady Northcott ferry gets new lease on life returning to Sydney waters |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/newcastle-drive/lady-northcott/101479264 |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=ABC listen |language=en-AU}} After returning to Sydney, Lady Northcott was painted in a full black livery with traditional Aboriginal art decorating the superstructure. Other parts of the vessel including the funnel and masts are still in the Sydney Ferries cream colour and have yet to be repainted. Since her repaint, the Lady Northcott has operated harbour cruises for events such as New Year and Vivid Sydney. On 25 January 2023, Lady Northcott was renamed Wirawi, an Aboriginal word for woman. The renaming was accompanied by traditional Aboriginal ceremonies and celebrations.{{Cite news |date=27 January 2023 |title=Tribal Warrior relaunches iconic Sydney ferry Wirawi / Lady Northcott |url=https://southsydneyherald.com.au/tribal-warrior-relaunches-iconic-sydney-ferry-wirawi-lady-northcott/ |work=South Sydney Herald}}
Lady Herron was broken up for scrap between April and May 2024 after a lack of interest was shown in purchasing the vessel for reuse.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdl939CeSdI |title=MV Lady Herron - SCRAPPING UPDATE [PART 8]: HUGE UPDATE |last= |first= |date=27 April 2024 |website=www.youtube.com |publisher= |access-date=3 September 2024 |quote=}}{{Better source needed|date=September 2024|reason=The Youtube source is used as placeholder until a better source is found.}}{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuHNCYo5l3g |title=MV Lady Herron - SCRAPPING UPDATE [PART 11] |last= |first= |date=11 May 2024 |website=www.youtube.com |publisher= |access-date=3 September 2024 |quote=}}{{Better source needed|date=September 2024|reason=The Youtube source is used as placeholder until a better source is found.}}
==Vessels==
See also
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline|Lady ferry class}}
{{Sydneyferries|state=collapsed}}
{{Australianferries|state=collapsed}}
Category:Ferry transport in Sydney