Stockton ferry service

Prior to the construction of various road projects connecting the outer western suburbs of Newcastle and crossing the Hunter River, including the Stockton Bridge, numerous ferry services, both privately run and publicly operated, shuttled across the Hunter River to link the locality of Stockton with the rest of Newcastle during the 19th and 20th centuries,{{cite web|last1=Ray|first1=Greg|title=MEGA GALLERY: Pictures of our past|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/1766472/mega-gallery-pictures-of-our-past/interactive/|website=The Newcastle Herald|publisher=Fairfax Regional Media|access-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701030902/http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1766472/mega-gallery-pictures-of-our-past/interactive/|archive-date=1 July 2017|url-status=live|date=26 October 2013}} including a car ferry service from the former Market Street Wharf and Stockton.{{cite web|author1=Hunter Development Corporation staff|title=History of Ferries in Newcastle|url=http://honeysuckle.net/sites/default/files/pdfs/precincts/marina_interpretive_trail_0.pdf|website=Honeysuckle|publisher=Hunter Development Corporation (Government of New South Wales)|access-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701021834/http://honeysuckle.net/sites/default/files/pdfs/precincts/marina_interpretive_trail_0.pdf|archive-date=1 July 2017|page=3}} This relatively vast network of wharves and services on the river included many wharves on the Newcastle foreshore, Bullock Island, the Stockton foreshore, and Port Waratah.{{cite web|author1=EJE Heritage|title=Heritage and Conservation Register|url=http://www.portofnewcastle.com.au/Resources/Documents/Port-of-Newcastle-Heritage-and-Conservation-Register-2014-PART-I.pdf|website=Port of Newcastle|access-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701032721/http://www.portofnewcastle.com.au/Resources/Documents/Port-of-Newcastle-Heritage-and-Conservation-Register-2014-PART-I.pdf|page=31|date=November 2014|quote=...as well as stairs for the various ferry-steamers travelling to Stockton, Bullock Island, Waratah and Raymond Terrace.|archive-date=1 July 2017}}

The passenger ferry service that operated between Queens Wharf and Stockton, which runs in an area further downstream of the river from the bridge, is the only ferry service in Newcastle that still operates, surviving a wave of service decommissions prompted by the opening of the Stockton Bridge in 1971. Having become unprofitable, it was discontinued in July 1982.Stockton Ferry Closes Electric Traction August 1982 page 122 It was revived in February 1983 by the Government of New South Wales owned Newcastle Buses & Ferries.Stockton Services resume Electric Traction March 1983 page 45 Initially the Edith Walter and West Head, two ferries previously used by the former operator, were chartered to operate the service until two new vessels were delivered in 1986.Newcastle Electric Traction August 1986 page 128{{cite web|last1=Andrews|first1=Graeme|title=Crossing the Hunter|url=http://www.afloat.com.au/afloat-magazine/2008/april-2008/2008_April2008_CrossingtheHunterPart2byGraemeAndrews.htm#.WVcszelLeUl|website=Afloat Magazine|publisher=Afloat Publications|access-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701050158/http://www.afloat.com.au/afloat-magazine/2008/april-2008/2008_April2008_CrossingtheHunterPart2byGraemeAndrews.htm|archive-date=1 July 2017|date=April 2008}}

In July 2017, it was included in the transfer of Newcastle Buses & Ferries' operations to Newcastle Transport.{{cite web|author1=Australian Associated Press|title=Keolis Downer handed the keys to Newcastle buses and ferries|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/4764302/keolis-downer-on-the-buses/|website=The Newcastle Herald|publisher=Fairfax Regional Media|access-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701034611/http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4764302/keolis-downer-on-the-buses/|archive-date=1 July 2017|url-status=live|date=30 June 2017}}{{cite web|author1=Australian Associated Press|title=Downer JV wins $450m Newcastle contract|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/12/12/downer-jv-wins-450m-newcastle-contract|website=SBS World News|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service|access-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701040709/http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/12/12/downer-jv-wins-450m-newcastle-contract|archive-date=1 July 2017|date=12 December 2016}}{{cite web|author1=Australasian Bus and Coach staff|title=Newcastle Transport operator announced|url=https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1612/newcastle-transport-operator-announced|website=Australasian Bus and Coach|publisher=Bauer Trader Media|access-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701040657/https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1612/newcastle-transport-operator-announced|archive-date=1 July 2017|date=20 December 2016}}

File:TfNSW F.svg

Ferries operate every 15 minutes during peak periods and every 20–30 minutes outside peak periods. No services operate during a period varying from 50 to 60 minutes at noon depending on the day of the week. The journey time between the two wharves is five minutes.{{Cite New South Wales transport timetables|Stockton Ferry}}

File:Newcastle ferry wharf with docked ferry.JPG

The fleet comprises two 127 seat ferries built in 1986 at the Carrington Slipways, Tomago as single-deck versions of the First Fleet class built for the Urban Transit Authority for use on Sydney Harbour at the same time. Both were refurbished in Port Macquarie in 2018.[https://web.archive.org/web/20191231072346/https://www.birdon.com.au/hunter-ferry-refurbishment-taking-place-at-birdon/ Hunter Ferry refurbishment taking place at Birdon] Birdon 2 October 2018

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category-inline|Ferries in Newcastle, New South Wales}}

{{Hunter Region places and items of interest}}

{{Regional NSW public transport}}

Category:Ferries of New South Wales

Category:Newcastle Ferries