SS Biloela/Romantic/Kurnell
A special project of the Ferries of Sydney
| Type : |
Steel screw steamer |
| Launched : |
19th July 1916 |
| Builder : |
Commonwealth Naval Dockyard Cockatoo Island, NSW |
| Gross weight : |
194 tons |
| Dimensions : |
138.00 x 32.10 x 8.50 (feet) |
| Passenger capacity : |
650 |
| Speed : |
unknown |
Biloela (as originally named) was built by the Commonwealth Dockyards for use as their own, private ferry. The Commonwealth Dockyard at this time was a busy place and the only access to the island (Cockatoo) was via ferry. Broadly based on the predominant K class, she lacked many of the amenities that Sydney Ferries Ltd provided in their commuter vessels and was very plain in her fittings in comparison.
In April 1924 she was sold to Sydney Ferries Ltd and renamed to Romantic - possibly there was an idea to utilise her as a concert boat accordijng to Andrews. A year later, following upgrading and renovations, she was sold to the New South Wales State Dockyard and renamed again, this time as Kurnell.
When not servicing the dockyard, Kurnell was used for excursion work. In June 1932, while berthing, she smashed into a wharf on the Patterson River and collapsed the wharf with all on it.
On the 23rd of June 19 39 Kurnell is shown as being sold to N.D. Hegarty, owner of the Hegarty ferry service to Lavender Bay and Luna Park but in May 1940 Hegarty sold the ferry to Luna Park. Neither Hegarty nor Luna Park seems to have made much use of the ferry before the Pacifi c War began. The Luna Park trade had yet to feel the fi nancial benefi ts of many American
servicemen.
In December 1941 the old ferry was sold to Penguin Ltd for use as a hulk. Presumably she carried war stores around the harbour during the war, being pushed by a tug and carrying whatever was needed. In June 1946 she was scuttled off Port Jackson.