Harbour craft
Once upon a time Sydney was one of the world’s great commercial ports. To handle the coming and going of the great and not so great ships a fleet of smaller craft was needed. Here they are : dredges, water police, charter ferries, Customs vessels, cargo lighters, tugs, large and small, ferries, coal hulks and a range of almost un-noticed working craft – many of which have faded into the past.
For costs and availability of obtaining any of these photos without watermark, as an electronic file, as a print from the original negative (where available) or as some other format, contact the Maritime Records and Research Centre’s Curator on mrrc@shf.org.au or 02 9298 3850, quoting the full file name and giving details of format wanted.
Copyright for the majority of these images from the collection is vested in the Sydney Heritage Fleet. For the remaining images every attempt has been made to ensure correct attribution. If any originator of an image notes an error the Sydney Heritage Fleet would welcome any notification and will remove that image or modify its attribution.
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- AJAX, BJ and UTAH @ Bailey at Jorgensens, Balmain. SHF Coll.
- ANTLEON 1898, dredge,PWD. crew. SHF Coll.
- ANTLEON, dredge, 1898-1932.off W'gong.SHF Coll.
- ARGUS 189x, Water Police, SHF Coll.
- ARGUS, 189x, Water Police. SHF Coll.
- ATALANTA 1886-c.1921. Sydney ferry. SHF Coll.
- Australian Customs Launch No 1 passes HMAS AUSTRALIA, Oct. 4
- BALLINA, 1948. motor lighter at Pittwater. SHF Coll.
- BALMAIN 1883-1910. damage. SHF Coll.
- BALMAIN 1883-1910, with paddlebox damage. SHF Coll.
- BARAGOOLA in RAN floating dock. SHF Coll.
- BARAGOOLA upper deck, Feb. 1989. SHF Coll.
- BATMAN 1954. with BAMORA. SHF Coll.
- BEGA, 1946-1991. SHF Coll.
- BELLUBERA and SOUTH STEYNE, SHF Coll.
- BELLUBERA SS, Quay. SHF Coll.
- BIRKENHEAD 1888-1913 at Lane Cove 1908. SHF Coll.
- BIRKENHEAD 1888-1913. Lane Cove 1908. SHF Coll.
- BJ ex MONTEREY 1948. SHF Coll.
- BLACKHEATH 1937. SHF Coll.
- BLUE FIN 1990-2008.SHF Coll.
- BORAY 1947-1986.SHF Coll.
- BOTANY COVE 1971, renamed WOOREE 1997 at Newcastle. SHF Coll
- BRIGHTON PS, 1983. SHF Coll.
- BUCRA 1913-1943. SHF Coll.
- BULLI 1905- 1941.SHF Coll.
- BUNYIP 1891 - c.1952.Detail TORRIDON. SHF Coll
- BURRAGI ex ISIS reconstruction. 1956. SHF Coll.
- BURRAGI ex ISIS, 1916-1987. trials. SHF Coll.
- BURRAGI, ex ISIS, on trials 1957. SHF Coll.
- Butcher boat c. 1900. Note tug and outbound tow. SHF Coll.
- CANAIPA 1884,lighter after 1892. SHF Coll.
- CAPTAIN GIBSON, Launceston Pilot, March 1970. SHF Coll.
- CAPTAIN GIBSON, pilot boat, 1970. SHF Coll.
- CAPTAIN PHILLIP 1964, MSB. SHF Coll.
- Captain W.Gibson in pilot boat at Vaucluse Bay.SHF Coll.
- Captain W.Gibson,Sydney Pilot, detail. SHF Coll.
- CARABELLA 1897, before 1916. SHF Coll.
- CARTELA 1912 Hobart with AURORE (ENA) left. April 12, 1969.S
- CHAMPION 1895-1954 at Newcastle. SHF Coll.
- CHARLOTTE FENWICK 1883 - burnt out 1920. SHF Coll.
- COLLAROY 1988. SHF Coll.
- CRANE 11 1934- c.1952. SHF Coll.
- CUMBRIAN plus one, hulks, at Port Adelaide. WESTRALIA at rig
- CURL CURL and collier BELLAMBI at Strides yard, Jan.20, 1968
- DOOMBA at Brisbane (see also HMAS), 1919-1947. SHF Coll.
- ECHENEIS 1953, dredge Brisbane R. SHF Coll.
- EMU with MATARAM,June 22, 1932. SHF Coll.
- ENA 1902 - , as built. SHF Coll.
- ENA 1902, compound engine. SHF Coll.
- ENA 1902 -. SHF Coll.
- ENA 1902, at Pyrmont 'duckpond,' c.1988. SHF Coll.
- ENDEAVOUR MSB Pilot tender c. 1938. SHF Coll.
- ENTERPRISE 1887-1997. Brisbane R. 1974.SHF Coll.
- ERRINGHI 1907-1951 at Leets Vale,Hawkesbury R. Capt.Herb Mit
- ERRINGHI 1907-1951 at sea with stores & cattle. SHF Coll.
- ERRINGHI 1907-1951 on Hawkesbury R. c. 1911. SHF Coll.
- ERRINGHI 1907-scuttled 1951. SHF Coll.
- ERRINGHI leaves Brooklyn for Port Erringhi. PHOENIX at left.
- ERRINGHI, hulk, 1907-1951 towed to sea to sink. SHF Coll.
- ESTELLE(STAR),1927- sunk May 15. 1978 S.A. SHF Coll.
- EUROKA, PS, 1897-wrecked 1913.copy. SHF Coll.
- EVA BURROWS 1987. later WIABUNA, 1991. SHF Coll.
- EXCELSIOR 1897 - 1931. SHF Coll.
- EXCELSIOR 1897-1931 (pos.) crew. SHF Coll.
- EXCELSIOR 1905 Hobart. To Qld.1911.Scrap c.1937.SHF Coll.
- FAIRLIGHT 1966, Sydney, SHF Coll.
- FAVOURITE 1878 (O.N. 74.837)at Newcastle, SHF Coll.
- FAVOURITE 1918 -1939.also KALIPSO, Clarence R.copy. SHF Coll
- FERN BAY 1971. SHF Coll.
- FITZROY Qld.dredge. 1925- 1980.At Bundaberg slip.SHF Coll.
- FORCEFUL 1925, relic. copyprint. SHF Coll.
- FORCEFUL 1925, October 1971. SHF Coll.
- FORTUNA coals DEMOSTHENES. SHF Coll.
- FORTUNA hulk, with collier WALLARAH (1914). SHF Coll.
- FORTUNA in dock. SHF Coll.
- FORTUNA in Woolwich Dock, SHF Coll.
- FORTUNA with WALLARAH SHF Coll.
- FORTUNA, coal hulk, on NESTOR. SHF Coll.
- FORTUNA, Woolwich Dock. SHF Coll.
- GARTHSNAID 1892. hulk. SHF Coll.
- GLADYS ELLISON 1903, ARGOS 1962, sold 1979. SHF Coll.
- GLAUCUS, Suction dredge Walsh Is. N'castle 1903.SHF Coll.
- GLAUCUS, Suction dredge at Walsh Is. 1903. SHF Coll.
- GLAUCUS, suction dredge at work on river., c.1900. SHF Coll.
- GROPER Suction dredge at Moruya, c. 1900. SHF Coll.
- HALCYON at Redbank, detail. SHF Coll.
- HOPE in Grahame's Dock. Location unknown. SHF Coll.
- HYGEIA PS, 1890- scuttled 1932. SHF Coll.
- JENNER launching at M & S. Sydney. SHF Coll.
- JENNER, Dept.of Quarantine, launch. SHF Coll.
- JOHN CADMAN 11 1986, E O K GREEN at rear, Jan. 1987.SHF Coll
- JOHN OXLEY c. 1967.off Caloundra 1970. SHF Coll.
- JOLLY ROGER, 1945-1979,Yarra cruise boat. SHF Coll.
- JUPITER 1892, PWD. J H ASTELL 1949,scrap 1968. Nov 7, 1948 N
- KAI KAI 1906-1947.Photo 1919. SHF Coll.
- KALANG as Showboat. SHF Coll.
- KALANG 1926-1972. afternoon cruise, upper deck. SHF Coll.
- KALANG, KULGOA, KAMERUKA and KOSCIUSKO at 'Gibralter' base.M
- KALOWA Manly excursion speedboat, pre WW2. SHF Coll.
- KALOWA TWO, tourist speedboat 1949. SHF Coll.
- KALOWA, excursion speedboat with SS BARAGOOLA at rear. SHF C
- KAMIRI 1912, c. 1946. SHF Coll.
- KANANGRA passes DOMINION MONARCH. SHF Coll.
- KAPALA 1970 NSW Fishery Research. SHF Coll.
- KARA KARA 1926-1973 and KUTTABUL 1922-1942, June 19 1931.SHF
- KARRABEE sinking in Circular Quay, Jan 1984. SHF Coll.
- KARRABEE sinks Jan 22, 1984. SHF Coll.
- KINGFISHER in Farm Cove. SHF Coll.
- KINGFISHER at Manly. SHF Coll.
- KINGFISHER at Manly. SHF Coll.
- KINGFISHER in Farm Cove Sydney. SHF Coll.
- KINGFISHER in Farm Cove, SHF Coll.
- KINGFISHER in Farm Cove, with HMAS DUCHESS. SHF Coll.
- KINGFISHER, Manly. SHF Coll.
- KINGFISHER, late 1965. SHF Coll.
- KIRAWA 1912-1953, c. 1950. SHF Coll.
- KOOKABURRA tourist speedboat,relic, SHF Coll.
- KOOLEEN 1956, heads for Valentia St. SHF Coll.
- KOOMPARTOO detail, MATARAM, SHF Coll.
- KOONDOOLOO (Showboat),1925-1972 with SS RELIANCE, 1938. SHF
- KOORIE 1909, MARIMAIN 1964-. SHF Coll.
- KUBU in Sydney Cove. SHF Coll.
- KUBU rounds Robertson Pt. SHF Coll.
- KUTTABUL 1922-1942. arrival in Sydney. SHF Coll.
- KUTTABUL with picnic crowd. SHF Coll.
- l ENTERPRISE,ex MANLY 1964. Rosslyn Bay, 1987. SHF Coll.
- LADY ALECIA c.1919-burnt c.1935. Windybanks.SHF Coll.
- LADY DENMAN on slips c. 1960.
- LADY DENMAN on Woodleys slip. SHF Coll.
- LADY FERGUSON in Quay. SHF Coll.
- LADY FERGUSON, rotten hull. SHF Coll.
- LADY SCOTT, Valentia St. 1956. SHF Coll.
- LEIPOA 1878-c.1918.SHF Coll
- LEVERET 1892- 1959. SHF Coll.
- LEVERET with NERMA DAN, SHF Coll.
- LISMORE 1983. SHF.Coll.
- MAGNETIC 1951, Hayles. SHF Coll.
- MARENA 1958, Hayles. VAGABOND PRINCESS 1989. SHF Coll.
- MARIMBA 1913-1961. Stipple, SHF Coll.
- MOORE, hulk Melbourne, ex MARY MOORE, 1868. SHF Coll.
- MORUYA 1916-c.1958. PWD N'castle. SHF Coll.
- MSB pilot boat with Pilots, c.1950. SHF Coll.
- MSB Pilot's boat. c.1950s.SHF Coll.
- MYALLA 1965 with JAMES CRAIG,c.2000. SHF Coll.
- MYALLA, 1965, at No 7. c.2000. SHF Coll.
- NARRABEEN 1921-wreck 1958.MERILYN 1948. SHF Coll.
- NAUTILUS 1873-1919, copy, SHF Coll.
- NELLIE 1877-c.1900 at Mosman Bay. SHF Coll.
- NEMESIS Water Police, Sydney c. 1950.SHF Coll.
- NUBEENA 1890, wrecked 1910.postcard. SHF Coll.
- NYNGAN Stannards 1992. SHF Coll.
- OLGA 1904-1949, Macleay R. hand tinted. SHF Coll.
- Paddle tugs PRINCE ALFRED 1868 & GOOLWA 1864 with PARRAMATTA
- PASTEUR, c. 1920, Quarantine vessel, later JASON 1940. SHF
- PELICAN, c. 1947. ex PWD 34ft.launch.SHF Coll.
- PHOENIX 1900, NSW PWD. SHF Coll.
- Pile driver working on unknown new wooden bridge. SHF Coll.
- PLUTO dredge, 1932-1959, wreck Newcastle with TOMAGO. SHF
- PLUTO, 1932, PWD, sunk, with tug TORAGI and launch TOMAGO,
- POOLYA, MSB crane barge 1976, SHF Coll.
- PREMIER , NSW Gov.VIP launch. poor. SHF Coll.
- PROCLAIM 1938- launch.SHF Coll.
- PROCURE 1944, ex Nicholsons. SHF Coll.
- PROCURE 1944, Nicholsons tug. SHF Coll.
- PROVIDE, 1924-1980. Sydney 1976. SHF Coll.
- RED BIRD 1914.c.1934, ex ANZAC. SHF Coll.
- REGINALD T STACKPOOL 1976, NSW Police. SHF Coll.
- RELIANCE 1907-1926.SHF. Coll.
- RELIANCE c. 1925.1988. SHF Coll.
- RICHMOND, Pilot boat Ballina for 50 years. SHF Coll.
- RICHMOND, Pilot boat Ballina.SHF Coll.
- RIPPLE 1873-1923 with MATILDA 1875-1926. SHF Coll.
- RIPPLE, 1904-1951, RAN waterboat.SHF Coll.
- ROSNY, 1913-1966 at Hobart.
- SCYLLA 1919, SHT-MSB, later BRINGA. SHF Coll.
- SEA BIRD , pos.SHF Coll.
- SEAGULL 1909. hopper barge. SHF Coll.
- SHIRLEY SMITH 1987 at Goat Is 1991. SHF Coll.
- SHIRLEY SMITH 1987 on Goat Is. slip. SHF Coll.
- SILVER CROWN 1889-1936.Tas. copy. SHF Coll.
- SNOWFLAKE, RIPPLE 1873-1923 and MATILDA 1875-1926. SHF Coll.
- SOUTH STEYNE 1938, c. 1970. SHF Coll.
- ST. OLAVES, 1919 - wrecked Sept 21, 1942. Scotland. SHF Coll
- STARLET 1911-1959. Dufty. SHF Coll.
- SUNRISE STAR 1926 - 2000.at Brooklyn 1985. SHF Coll.
- SURPRISE 11 1924-c.1996 at Brooklyn slip. SHF Coll.
- SURPRISE 11 1924-c.1996. on slip. SHF Coll.
- SWALLOW 1908 as train ferry Grafton 1927, MULGI foreground.S
- SWAN 1902, tug with tug BONDI 1913, in Rozelle Bay. SHF Coll
- SYDNEY COVE 1956, E B KANE 1978. SHF Coll.
- Sydney Pilot boards from skiff, Dec. 1937.
- SYDPORT 1960 and VAN 1939 at H and L yard Rozelle Bay. SHF C
- TARANNA 1884-wreck 1921. Tas. SHF Coll.
- TED NOFFS, 1987. MSB. SHF Coll.
- TEMORA 1944, Stannards. SHF Coll.
- TITAN crane lifts KARRABEE, sunk, 1984. SHF Coll.
- TOM THUMB 11(rear) with whaleboat ELIZABETH. SHF Coll.
- TOMKI 1882-1907 at Lismore with SS CASINO postcard. SHF Coll
- TOORONGA 1933-1965.In Melbourne. SHF Coll.
- TORAGI, 1945 with PLUTO wreck, 1959.SHF Coll.
- VICTORY 1884, Hobart. SHF Col.
- WALLAROO 1896,KIAMALA 1914.RAN WW2 then scrap.SHF Coll.
- WARANA, MSB launch, in slings. SHF Coll.
- WATTLE 1934, Port Phillip cruising,1985.SHF Coll.
- WATTLE 1934. Yarra River c. 1990. SHF Coll.
- WENTWORTH, Stannards launch, SHF Coll.
- WHITE HEATHER Morrison and Sinclair work boat. SHF Coll.
- WOOLWICH 1886-1923, Clarence R. copy. SHF Coll.
- WOONA (left) 1954-c.1985 and HIMMA 1942-c.1974. SHF Coll.
- YELTA 1948 - relic @ Port Adelaide.SHF Coll.
- YORK SYME, 1961- sold 1996. SHF Coll.
- YOU YANGS 1962-sold 1983. SHF Coll.
- YOUNG ROCK, 1902. on Neptune Slip, Nth.Sydney. SHF Coll.
- ZEPHYR 1906-1966 at Barrack St. wharf, Perth c.1963. SHF Col