SS Bronzewing
A special project of the Ferries of Sydney
| Type : |
Wooden steam ship |
| Launched : |
1899 |
| Builder : |
Robert Young & Son Rozelle Bay, NSW |
| Gross weight : |
149 tons |
| Dimensions : |
115.00 x 21.00 x 8.5 (feet) |
| Passenger capacity : |
500 |
| Speed : |
13 knots |
Bronzewing was the largest single ended ferry to run on Sydney Harbour. As built, she had an open top deck but by the time she entered service in 1901 this was partially glassed in to provide more comfort to her passengers. At the time, she was also the fastest vessel on the Parramatta River run.
Launched on the 11th of February 1899, she entered service for the Parramatta River Steamers & Tramway Co Ltd along with vessels such as the Pheasant and Aleathea (both of whom she was based on). The vessel was of pine and inside was of hardwood with iron frames. The upper deck consisted of polished cedar and polished kauri and she was fitted throughout with electric lighting. Cost of the vessel was five thousand pounds.
Her official trials were set for March 11th but were delayed until the 23rd at which time she performed to the satisfaction of her new owners.
She entered service on Saturday the 25th of march and her first trip was operated under charter to Messrs Dixon and Sons Ltd for their annual picnic and banquet at Correy's Gardens (Cabarita). Her next appearance was on Good Friday when she and six other steamers ran a timetabled service to the Fern Bay Picnic Grounds from the King Street wharf.
She entered revenue service on the 3rd of March operating up and down the Parramatta River with running mates Pheasant, Aleathea, Natone, Halcyon, Eagle and Gannet. She then settled into her role of regular passenger operation interspersed with excursions and special events such as rowing regattas, on more than one occasion she was the flagship for several of thesec events.
By 1901 the company had sold out to Sydney Ferries Limited who maintained the existing boats and services but raised concerns about the silting of Parramatta River. During an overhaul that year the company had noted that much damage was being done to the bottom of the vessel due to her often bumping on the river bed. This came to a head when in a gale in July 1902, Bronzewing was blown onto shallow rocks at Ryde. She was assisted off by the Kangaroo, Aleathea and the lighter Ente and was found to have fortunately suffered no damage.
Bronzewing generally kept out of trouble, apart from a minor accident with a launch early in the century, her first serious accident was on the 25th of March 1914 when she collided with the Kulgoa; around twelve feet of her bulwarks were ripped off. Her next accident happened in August 1920 when she collided with the Gladesville Bridge. Both bridge and ferry received considerable damage.
Bronzewing featured in a protest in 1928 following a decision by the company to cease operations past the Gladesville Bridge. Some 170 passengers occupied the vessel to protest the closure which was greeted with "sympathy" by the government - however the company went ahead with its plans and services to Parramatta would not resume for over sixty years.
Bronzewing was nearly lost on April 4th, 1927 to fire. She was tied up at Five Dock in tandem with the Una and the Rose when those two vessels caught fire and burnt out. Fortunately one of Bronzewing's deckhands was sleeping on board at the time and managed to move the ferry and put out the fires on board before any major damage was done.
Both Bronzewing and Cygnet were retired in 1930 and offered for sale by auction, Bronzewing sold for 350 pounds and Cygnet for 55 pounds on the 3rd of March 1931. At the same auction the fast eastern suburbs vessel Vaucluse, the vehicular ferry Kamilaroi and one of the old Balmain boats, Lady Napier were also sold.
On the 16th of December 1931 she was offered for sale again by her new owner as a "houseboat, hull or ferry, cheap".
Prescott has her as being broken up in 1931 but considering she was still extant at the very end of that year it seems unlikely and more possible that she was disposed of in 1932.