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Kaludah in Sydney Cove
History
NameKaludah
OperatorSydney Ferries Limited
BuilderMorrison and Sinclair, Balmain
Cost£12,000[1]
Launched1908 as Kuranda[2]
In service1909 as Kaludah
Out of service1911
Fateburnt out and sank
General characteristics
Tonnage137 tons
Length35.1 m
Beam7.6 m
Installed power50 hp triple expansion steam
Propulsiondouble-ended screw
Speed12 knots
Capacity600 (est)[2]

Kaludah (launched as Kuranda) was a "K-class" ferry on Sydney Harbour. Commissioned in 1909, the timber-hulled steamer was built for Sydney Ferries Limited during the boom in cross-harbour ferry travel prior to the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Like the other "K-class" ferries, she was double-deck, double-ended, steam-powered screw ferry. However, she and the larger but otherwise similar Kookooburra (1907), were the only two K-class ferries designed by naval architect Walter Reeks and not Sydney Ferries Limited Captain Summerbell.

Kaludah was built by Morrison and Sinclair Limited of Balmain. She was launched in late 1908 as Kuranda and commissioned the following year and her name changed to Kaludah.

Kaludah was burnt out and sank near Gladesville in 1911 when she was still the newest ferry in the Sydney Ferries Limited fleet.[3] She is one of the shortest lived of Sydney's ferries.

Background, design and construction

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Kaludah was built for Sydney Ferries Limited during the early twentieth century boom in cross-Harbour travel prior to the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.[4] She was one of a broader type of timber double-ended screw ferries known as the K-class. The company built 25 of these vessels between the 1890s and early 1920s to meet the booming demand. The K-class were all propelled by triple expansion steam engines and, like Kaludah, were predominantly timber-hulled (four later K-class had steel hulls).[5]

Kaludah under construction at Morrison & Sinclair yards, White Bay Balmain

Kaludah's design was similar to that of the Sydney Ferries Limited's larger 1907 steamer Kookooburra. They were a response to Sydney Ferries Limited's need for new ferries on the longer-distance Parramatta River service and a ruling from the Maritime Services Board that from 1912, all vessels using Circular Quay must be of a double-ended nature because of congestion in the Quay. All the vessels operating on the Parramatta River service to that point were single-ended vessels.[6]

So rather than using Captain Summerbell who had designed Sydney Ferries Limited's deep draft, round-ended steamers, the company engaged renowned naval architect, Walter Reeks, to design high speed, shallow draft vessels for the Parramatta River service. Reeks, who had designed the Balmain New Ferry Company ferries and also the Port Jackson Manly Steamship Company's Manly (II) and Kuring-gai, insisted on pointed bows for the ferries to achieve the speed necessary for the river. The company board had to that point a policy that all vessel bows were to be a rounded shape to give a tradition at a time when the Balmain New Ferry Company had pointed bows on their vessels (such as on the Lady class ferries).[6] Also unique among the 25 K-class ferries, Kookooburra and Kaludah were built with short funnels, with forced draft, to pass under low bridges on Parramatta River service.[7][6]

Kookooburra did not perform well on the Parramatta River service creating too much wash which was the source much resident complaint. She was later placed on the Mosman, Neutral Bay, the Zoo services and a taller funnel provided.[6] With Kaludah, designed and built approximately two years after Kookooburra, Reeks was able to refine the design. Kaludah was a more successful reaching speeds of up to 13 knots while creating minimal wash.[6] Sydney Ferries Limited did not build more pointed-bow ferries, continuing their rounded bow tradition until their final K-class ferries in the early 1920s.[6]

Kaludah was built of hardwood and kauri with bent frames. She had five bulk heads, four of which were iron.[2] The ladies cabin was lined with Queensland maple.[8]

Chapman and Co installed the machinery which was imported from Campbell & Calderwood in Scotland. The triple expansion steam engines had cylinders of diameter 12-inch, 20-inch, and 32.5 inch, with stroke length of 18-inches. She had two boilers each 18 feet long and 6 feet 9 inches in diameters with a working pressure of 180 lb.[2] Her engines produced 50 hp and propelled her to 12 knots.

Service history

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Kaludah was launched, and named as Kuranda, on 9 December 1908 by Miss Enid Russell.[2] The press at the time of the launch noted she was built for Sydney Ferry Limited's semi-sea service around Middle Head.[2]

At 10pm on Christmas Eve 1908, the Balmain New Ferry Company ferry, Lady Rawson, struck heavily against Stephen Street wharf at Bald Rock, Balmain, and continued on colliding with the hull of ferry Kuranda that had been launched a few weeks before. Lady Rawson suffered considerable damage but completed her trip to Sydney.[9]

The ferry's use of the name Kuranda appears to have been short lived; a larger interstate steamer already carried the name.[10][11] In May 1909, "Kaludah" was reported to have been recently handed over to her new owners,[12] and a July 1909 Sydney Morning Herald article notes "The Kaludah, formerly Kuranda, commenced running in the Parramatta River service in May."[13]

  • On the Parramatta River, circa 1910
    On the Parramatta River, circa 1910
  • Kaludah at Balmoral Beach, 4 March 1911 the month of her destruction, likely on a weekend excursion trip
    Kaludah at Balmoral Beach, 4 March 1911 the month of her destruction, likely on a weekend excursion trip
  • Image accompanying newspaper report of the fire
    Image accompanying newspaper report of the fire

Fire

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When she was still the newest vessel in the Sydney Ferries fleet, Kaludah caught fire at the Gladesville bridge wharf on 22 March 1911. Burnt almost to the waterline, she was one of the shortest lived of any Sydney ferry. The night before the fire, the vessel had been moored to the Gladesville Bridge wharf after her final trip for the day. A deck hand slept aboard as usual. At 5.17 am, Andrew Adams, a passing tramway starter on a tram in Drummoyne Avenue Drummoyne noticed flames issuing from the vessel about amidships. He and William Fisher, the night bridge-keeper, rushed down to the Kaludah.[3] The two called out waking the deckhand sleeping aboard. With flames preventing him leaving his cabin through the door, he climbed out a window and escaped onto the wharf along a rope.[14][3]

The fire burnt through the ferry's lines and she drifted downstream after which flames were reported to have broken out in several locations.[15] She was taken under two by the fire boat Peluvis which doused her with water. She burnt to the water line, and was beached at low tide in Tarban Creek near Villa Maria.[16][3]


  • Kaludah alight at Gladesville
    Kaludah alight at Gladesville
  • Kaludah on the mud flats at Tarban Creek
    Kaludah on the mud flats at Tarban Creek
  • Kaludah after being raised and towed to Kerosene Bay
    Kaludah after being raised and towed to Kerosene Bay

Enquiry

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An enquiry into the incident was held at the City Coroner's Court during late March and early April 1911.[14]WG Todd, manager of Sydney Ferries Limited, represented the ferry company, while insurers, Norwich Union Insurance Company, who had insured the vessel for £9,000 were represented by Mr Rooke.[17]

The deckhand noted that the fire appeared to be coming from the stokehold and that subsequently there were two or three explosions in quick succession, apparently from the engine room. A witness suggested that the explosions may have been caused by the tank in the ladies saloon. Other witnesses said that it may have been emergency detonators kept on board.[14]

Sydney Ferries Limited's superintendent for the Parramatta River service said that the master of the ferry had ensured the boat was properly moored, the steam had been shut-off, the electric lighting turned off, and the fires had been banked. The deckhand reported that he saw to the removal of the ashes from the steamer.[14] A witness said there had previously been a small fire on Kaludah that had broken out under one of the boilers. It had caused minimal damage, but its cause was not known, and special instructions had since been given as a precaution against subsequent fire.[14]

The Coroner Hawkins closed the case without inspecting the vessel,[18] returning a verdict confirming that Kaludah was totally destroyed by fire but was unable to confirm the cause of the fire, either accidental or otherwise.[18] The insurer noted they were satisfied the fire was accidental.[1]

Salvage and Kamiri

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Kamiri, shown in the year of her launch (1912), took Kaludah's refurbished engines and dynamo. Some reports say Kamiri also took Kaludah's remaining timbers, while others say Kamiri was built on the remains of Kaludah's hull

Kaludah was raised on 4 April 1911 by Einerson Bros of Balmain using a series of lighters and towed to Kerosene Bay in North Sydney.[19][20] It had taken two weeks of work before the raising, with a failed attempt on 2 April before the successful attempt two days later.[21]

The hull was sold in-situ at Kerosene Bay by auction on 16 May 1911 by Frazer Uther & Co to Einerson Bros for £40.[22] The engine and dynamo were used in Sydney Ferries Limited's next new ferry, Kamiri.[23] Press at the time of Kamiri's launch and construction note that she was intended to replace Kaludah on the Parramatta River service and that she was built from Kaludah's plans.[24][25][26][27][28] A 1919 report on the Royal Commission into Sydney ferries says that the burnt out Kaludah was renamed Kamiri,[29][30] while Graeme Andrews (1994) recounts a story from a shipwright involved in the construction of both Kaludah and Kamiri who says he found tools engraved Kaludah inside Kamiri's hull.[31]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b "BURNING OF THE KALUDAH". The Evening News (Sydney). No. 13, 674. New South Wales, Australia. 6 April 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 30 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "NEW STEAMER FOR THE SYDNEY FERRIES". The Daily Telegraph. No. 9214. New South Wales, Australia. 10 December 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 29 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ a b c d "ON FIRE AND ADRIFT". The Sun. No. 227. New South Wales, Australia. 22 March 1911. p. 1 (FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 29 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Andrews (1982), page 104
  5. ^ Prescott (1984), pages 67–72
  6. ^ a b c d e f Allen, Bill. "Mosman Historical Society presentation by Bill Allen on Sydney Harbour Ferries, 17 September 1984". Mosman Council. Mosman Historical Society. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  7. ^ Prescott (1984), pp 15 and 16
  8. ^ "CONSTRUCTIONAL". Weekly Supplement to Building. Vol. 4, , no. 63. New South Wales, Australia. 27 April 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  9. ^ "STILL THE POST OFFICE". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 22, 135. New South Wales, Australia. 25 December 1908. p. 4. Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia. Courtesy of Mori Flapan: Register of Australian and New Zealand Ships and Boats 2021 www.boatregister.net boatregister.net
  10. ^ "STEAMER KURANDA". The Telegraph. No. 13169. Queensland, Australia. 4 February 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Shipping". The Telegraph. No. 9, 156. Queensland, Australia. 26 March 1902. p. 2 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "SHIPBUILDING AT SYDNEY". The Star. No. 57. New South Wales, Australia. 17 May 1909. p. 13 (FIRST EDITION). Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia. Courtesy of Mori Flapan: Register of Australian and New Zealand Ships and Boats 2021 www.boatregister.net boatregister.net
  13. ^ "THE FERRY SERVICES". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 22, 321. New South Wales, Australia. 30 July 1909. p. 10. Retrieved 29 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ a b c d e "KALUDAH FIRE". The Sun. No. 234. New South Wales, Australia. 30 March 1911. p. 8 (LATEST EDITION). Retrieved 29 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "STEAMER KALUDAH". Daily Telegraph. Vol. XXXI, , no. 70. Tasmania, Australia. 23 March 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 30 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  16. ^ Gunter, John (1978). Across the harbour : the story of Sydney's ferries. Rigby. ISBN 0727007157.
  17. ^ "THE KALUDAH INQUIRY". Daily Commercial News And Shipping List. No. 6348. New South Wales, Australia. 7 April 1911. p. 4. Retrieved 30 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ a b "THE KALUDAH DISASTER". Barrier Miner. Vol. XXIV, , no. 7080. New South Wales, Australia. 10 April 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 29 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  19. ^ "KALUDAH RAISED". The Daily Telegraph. No. 9939. New South Wales, Australia. 5 April 1911. p. 13. Retrieved 29 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "THE BURNT KALUDAH". The Sun. No. 241. New South Wales, Australia. 7 April 1911. p. 1 (FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 29 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "BURNING OF THE KALUDAH". The Sun. No. 238. New South Wales, Australia. 4 April 1911. p. 7 (FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 29 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "THE KALUDAH SOLD". The Sun. No. 274. New South Wales, Australia. 16 May 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 30 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "MORRISON & SINCLAIR". Construction : Weekly Supplement To Building. Vol. 10, , no. 224. New South Wales, Australia. 27 May 1912. p. 8. Retrieved 1 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  24. ^ "NEW STEAMER FOR SYDNEY FERRIES". The Daily Telegraph. No. 10281. New South Wales, Australia. 8 May 1912. p. 11. Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "NEW STEAMERS". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 23, 269. New South Wales, Australia. 9 August 1912. p. 10. Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "NEW [?]RRY STEAMER". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 23, 189. New South Wales, Australia. 8 May 1912. p. 20. Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "MORRISON & SINCLAIR". Construction : Weekly Supplement To Building. Vol. 10, , no. 224. New South Wales, Australia. 27 May 1912. p. 8. Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  28. ^ "ANOTHER FERRY STEAMER". Evening News. No. 14, 014. New South Wales, Australia. 8 May 1912. p. 5. Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "SYDNEY FERRIES". The Sun. No. 2853. New South Wales, Australia. 25 August 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "SYDNEY FERRIES". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 25, 451. New South Wales, Australia. 1 August 1919. p. 7. Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ Andrews, Graeme (1994). The Ferries of Sydney. Sydney University Press. p. 161. ISBN 0424002027.

References

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  • "Kaludah". THE REGISTER OF AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND SHIPS AND BOATS. Mori Flapan. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  • Andrews, Graeme (1975). The Ferries of Sydney. A.H. & A.W. Reed Pty Ltd. ISBN 0589071726.
  • Andrews, Graeme (1994). The Ferries of Sydney. Sydney University Press. ISBN 0424002027.
  • Gunter, John (1978). Across the harbour : the story of Sydney's ferries. Rigby. ISBN 0727007157.
  • Prescott, A M (1984). Sydney Ferry Fleets. Magill, South Australia: Ronald H Parsons. ISBN 0-909418-30-6.
[edit]
  • Media related to Kaludah at Wikimedia Commons
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