The Lady class is a class of ferry that were operated by Harbour City Ferries and its predecessors on Sydney Harbour. The term 'Lady class' was also used to describe five wooden-hulled double-ended ferries that were operated on Sydney Harbour, from the 1910s to the early 1970s.
History In late 1967, the Sydney Harbour Transport Board placed an order for three ferries with the State Dockyard, Newcastle. Continuing the tradition of naming ferries after the wives of the Governors of New South Wales, was launched on 10 August 1968 and arrived in Sydney on 19 September 1968.Fifty Years of Sydney's Public Ferries Afloat Magazine May 2009 Lady Cutler
It was followed in 1970 by Lady Woodward and Lady McKell. These two differed from Lady Cutler in having reverse sloped wheelhouses.
In 1974/75, two enlarged versions were built by Carrington Slipways, Lady Wakehurst and Lady Northcott. These were followed in 1979 by Lady Street and Lady Herron that were built at the State Dockyard.Sydney Ferries Fleet Facts Transport for NSW
Following a fire that gutted the South Steyne in August 1974, the Lady Wakehurst and Lady Northcott switched to the Manly service after having their bows built up to contend with the rougher conditions while crossing Sydney Heads and extra gangway openings cut into the upper deck. Following the Tasman Bridge disaster, Lady Wakehurst was sent to Hobart in January 1975 to operate services on the River Derwent, not returning until November 1977.Squat new ferry Lady Wakehurst kept the Manly service afloat Manly Daily 31 October 2014
In the 1990s, the first three were withdrawn and placed in store at Rozelle Bay. A deal to sell them to Hong Kong fell through. Today, Lady Cutler and Lady McKell operate as cruise vessels on Port Phillip, the latter having had one wheelhouse removed and renamed Victoria Star.Home Victoria Star Cruises Lady Woodward was sold to Tasmania and converted for use as a salmon farm tender vessel. In 2010, it was sold to a citizen of Tin Can Bay for use as a houseboat.Introducing the Bay's new Lady Fraser Coast Chronicle 24 December 2010 In May 2023, after being stored in Tin Can Bay for around 12 years, Lady Woodward was scrapped.
Lady Wakehurst was sold to Auckland in 1997, before returning to Sydney in 2001. It briefly returned to the Manly run in 2006 when chartered by Sydney Ferries. It moved to the Solomon Islands in 2011. Lady Street was withdrawn in October 2002.Lady's not for returning: budget worries cuts ferry fleet Sydney Morning Herald 17 September 2003 and was sold in December 2004 to be broken up with her scrapping being completed at Goat Island in 2007.
Lady Northcott and Lady Herron were removed from service in October 2017. In 2020 Lady Northcott was donated to Aboriginal Cruise company Tribal Warrior and sailed from Newcastle to Sydney, on 26 September 2022, under her own power after works were completed to get her back into service. After returning to Sydney, Lady Northcott was painted in a full black livery with traditional Aboriginal art decorating the superstructure. Other parts of the vessel including the funnel and masts are still in the Sydney Ferries cream colour and have yet to be repainted. Since her repaint, the Lady Northcott has operated harbour cruises for events such as New Year and Vivid Sydney. On 25 January 2023, Lady Northcott was renamed Wirawi, an Aboriginal word for woman. The renaming was accompanied by traditional Aboriginal ceremonies and celebrations.
Lady Herron was broken up for scrap between April and May 2024 after a lack of interest was shown in purchasing the vessel for reuse.
Vessels NameImageMMSIDate launchedNamesakeStatus 50333480010 August 1968Helen CutlerActive, Port PhillipLady Cutler Ferries of SydneyLady Woodward 702781319 October 1970Eric Woodward Scrapped in May 2023Lady McKell 702912219 October 1970William McKellRenamed Victoria Star, active Port PhillipLady McKell Ferries of SydneyLady Wakehurst 73434496 July 1974John WakehurstLaid up in Avi Avi Marina Solomon Islands.Lady Northcott 50360200026 September 1974John NorthcottWithdrawn from Sydney ferries fleet in October 2017. Donated to the Aboriginal cruise company Tribal Warrior and was converted to a cruise vessel.Lady Northcott Ferries of SydneyLady Street 78108068 May 1979Laurence StreetWithdrawn October 2002."Lady Street names her namesake" Sydney Morning Herald 9 May 1979 Scrapped at Goat Island, Sydney in 2007.Lady Herron 50360100023 August 1979Leslie HerronWithdrawn October 2017, Harbour City FerriesLady Herron Ferries of Sydney Scrapped in May 2024.
See also List of Sydney Harbour ferries Timeline of Sydney Harbour ferries
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