Lady Chelmsford






Lady Chelmsford
Type :
 Wooden screw steamer
Launched  :
1910
Builder :
 Rock Davis
Blackwall, NSW
Gross weight :
 98 tons
Dimensions :
 110.00 x 24.70 x 9.80 (feet)
Passenger capacity :
 446
Speed :
 10 knots/11 knots after 1957

Lady Chelmsford is one of three surviving Lady class ferries and one of two still afloat. She is the only one of her class still afloat in substantially original condition, Lady Scott is virtually unrecognisable. The other member of the class, Lady Denman, survives as an out-of-water static display.

She is a near sister to Lady Denman, Lady Edeline, Lady Scott and Lady Ferguson. She was the most recognisable of the Ladies as she had a much skinnier smokestack than the others.

She survived the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and was modernised with a diesel engine in 1933, this was replaced in 1957.

Lady Chelmsford continued working the harbour until 1971 when she was sold to Adelaide. She was modified in Adelaide by the removal of her aft bridgehouse.After remaining there for a few years she was again sold, this time to Melbourne. In Melbourne she operated as a cruising restaurant, being taken out of service and sold in 2005. At that time she was also out of survey and unable to operate in a mobile role. More recently in 2007, she was sold again to her first Melbourne owners and returned to a static dining experience. In the first half of 2007 she came close to sinking at her moorings.

More recently in May of 2007 there were plans to sell her again and return her back to Sydney Harbour.  It remains to be seen if this plan will eventuate.

Lady Chelmsford is currently the oldest of her class surviving.
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