Type :
|
Wooden paddlewheel
steamer
|
Launched :
|
1866
|
Builder :
|
G Thompson
Balmain, NSW
|
Gross weight :
|
30 tons
|
Dimensions :
|
88.8 x 11.8 x 4.9 (feet), 115
fert x 15 feet x 5.5 feet (after 1872)
|
Passenger capacity :
|
unknown
|
Speed :
|
unknown |
Built for Eyde Manning,
Cygnet was a small paddlewheeler
that operated with his Parrmatta River fleet and frequently appears
advertised (in early days) with
Emu,
Black Swan and
Pelican. Running from the patent
Slip, these vessels operated seven times a day to Parramatta and
return, calling at Hunters Hilland Gladesville.
By 1867 she had passed to the Parramatta River Steam Company and
she was sold again in 1879 to Henry Perdriau and operated from
then on around Balmain and the inner west. In 1872 she also received a
major overhaul and was re-engined. In 1882, along with the rest of his
fleet, she was sold to the Balmain Steam Ferry Company.
Like most ferries of the day
Cygnet
could often be found engaged for the excursion trade and was frequently
advertised running to the various picnic grounds around the harbour and
rivers.
The vessel sunk at her moorings on the 8th of May 1869, she was raised
one week later. It would appear that this was a deliberate act as
an ashcock had been opened and the fitting entirely removed. Had the
fitting been left in place the vessel would not have taken on
sufficient water to sink even though the cock was open. A few days
later she was back in service.
The 1872 refit had attempted to convert her into a screw steamer,
this effort did not apparently work out and instead she was
lengthened by 31 feet, had new engines and boilers fitted and was given
new paddleboxes. Her trial trip was conducted within the harbour and
also included a brief trip outside the Heads.
The ferry was broken up in 1891.