Pheasant





 Pheasant
Type :
 Wooden screw steamer
Launched  :
1889
Builder :
 J Pashley
Balmain, NSW
Gross weight :
 138 tons
Dimensions :
 110.40 x 21.00 x 8.00 (feet)
Passenger capacity :
 460
Speed :
 unknown

Pheasant was built for and originally operated by Phillip Walker under the auspices of the Parramatta River Steamers and Tramway Company Ltd.

Along with her running mates Cygnet, Gannet & Halcyon she ran from the city to the tram terminus at Parrmatta. Once there, her passengers needed to swap to the steam tram owned by the company for the two mile trip to Parramatta. The period of the late 1890's until 1917 when Sydney Ferries Ltd bought out the company was perhaps the halcyon era for the Parramatta service. After 1917 with the river silting up and competition from trams and rail saw a decline in the profitability of the service.

She was one of the oddest looking ferries in Sydney with three decks on varying levels. Reports from the day indicate that she was slow and uncomfortable and was somewhat less than popular with her passengers.

In 1913 she was laid up and her engines were sold to be placed into the new Karrabee. Her engines are now on display at the Powherhouse Museum in Ultimo.

The following year she was stripped of her passenger accomodation and converted into a lighter. She remained in this role until 1928.

There are no further records of her after 1928.
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