SS Azile
A special project of the Ferries of Sydney
| Type : |
Wooden steam ship |
| Launched : |
1911 |
| Builder : |
G Deamer and J Gronfors Mosquito Island, Hunter River, NSW |
| Gross : |
31 tons |
| Dimensions : |
66' 9" x 14' 10" (feet) |
| Passenger capacity : |
188/185 after 1935 |
| Speed : |
11 knots |
Azile was a small steam ferry that was builtb on the Hunter River in 1911. She was the first vessel built by the Mosquito Island yards and was constructed for excursion trips and to operate on Lake Macquarie.
In 1916 it is known that she was owned by H & LG Rinker along with other small ferries that operated in the area.
By 1925 she was in Sydney along with the Wangi Wangi and was advertised to run excursions to various locations on the river and harbour. As well, moonlight cruises were on offer. This is the time that she was likely purchased by the Agar Brothers.
Disaster struck at the Great Public Schools Regatta on Saturday, 21st April 1934 when about forty passengers (mostly women) were thrown into the water when the top deck collapsed. Although no-one was killed, thirty six peole were admitted to hospital suffering from shock and immersion.Only one was kept in suffering from broken ribs.
A year later she was back in operation again after being rebuilt; albeit with a slightly lower passenger capacity. She was last slipped on June 19, 1942 and shortly after disappears from the register.