John H Walter/Birkenhead II/Hawkesbury
Explorer
A special project of the Ferries of Sydney
| Type : |
Wooden motor vessel |
| Launched : |
1966 |
| Builder : |
Ryan Taree, NSW |
| Gross : |
unknown |
| Dimensions : |
17.73 metres |
| Passenger capacity : |
80 |
| Speed : |
unknown |
Built as the last vessel for Newcastle Ferries Limited, the John H Walter operated on the short Stockton route in that city.
After being retired (government takeover of the ferry service) the vessel was sold to Gordon Davey in 1980 to operate from Circular Quay to Birkenhead Point. This was to service the newly opened Birkenhead Point Shopping Centre. She was renamed to Birkenhead II at this time.
She was then sold to the Hawkesbury River and again renamed, this time to Hawkesbury Explorer. Today the vessel is the last riverboat postman in Australia.