| Type : |
Wooden steam ship |
| Launched : |
4/2/1886 |
| Builder : |
J Lynch Balmain, NSW |
| Gross weight : |
65 tons |
| Dimensions : |
82.00 x 18 x 6 (feet) |
| Passenger capacity : |
290 |
| Speed : |
11 knots |
Daphne was launched on the 4th of February 1886 and christened by Miss N Joubert. At the time of her launch she was described as a "very fine steam launch".
Daphne was owned by the Hunters Hill and Lane Cove Steam Ferry Company and ran as far up the Lane Cove River as Fig Tree Wharf. Her running mates were Rose, Pearl and Lobelia.
She was sold to the Balmain New Ferry Company when that company took over the Lane Cove River route.
On April 2nd 1902 she ran down a launch carrying three men from the English steamer Willowdene. Two were rescued but a third perished in the accident.
Daphne was burnt out on June 16th, 1916 along with the Leichhardt (they were at the time tied together). The fire started on Daphne and soon spread to the other vessel as well as Lobelia and a punt moored nearby. Fortunately the lines tying the vessels together were cut (or perhaps burnt) and Lobelia (and the punt) though suffering some damage, mananged to be saved.
Another company boat (Rose) was used to push the two burning vessels towards Mort's Dock and ran them aground on a slipway nearby where they continued ton burn. An attempt by the fireboat Pluvius to extinguish the flames was not a success and the two boats burnt to the waterline.