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Kirawa

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Kirawain Mosman Bay, circa 1915
History
NameKirawa
OperatorSydney Ferries Limited
Port of registrySydney
BuilderMort's Dock
Cost£17,873
Launched2 July 1912[2]
Out of service1953
IdentificationOfficial number131534,[1]
FateBroken up
General characteristics
Tonnage295 tonnes
Length45.7 m
Beam9.7 m
Decks2
Propulsiontriple-expansion steam
Capacity945

Kirawawas a ferry onSydney Harbour.She was a near identical sister vessel withKanangraboth of which were launched in 1912 during the early-twentieth pre-Sydney Harbour Bridgeboom years ofSydney Ferries Limited.

They were the first of four steel-hulled "K-class"ferries (the majority of the type were timber-hulled).[3]At 45 metres in length and with passenger capacity of almost 1,000, and they were among the largest of the Sydney Ferries Ltd fleet. At launch, the press notedKirawawas built for the then newCremorneservice,[4]which was then run separately to the Mosman route. She would, however, soon also work the Mosman route with sisterKanangra.

Kirawawas decommissioned in 1953. SisterKanangra,however, was in passenger service until 1985 and is now part of theSydney Heritage Fleetand is moored atRozelle Bayundergoing restoration.

Sydney Ferries Limited generally choose Australian Aboriginal names for the early twentieth "K-class" steamers. "Kirawa" is thought to mean "looking for them".[5]

Background

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Kirawawas built forSydney Ferries Limitedduring the early twentieth century boom in cross-Harbour travel prior to the 1932 opening of theSydney Harbour Bridge.At the time, the company ran one of the largest ferry fleets in the world. Both her and sister,Kanangra,were part of broader type of around 25 double-ended timber screw ferries - theSydney K-class ferries- that the company commissioned between the 1890s and early 1920s to meet the booming demand.

The two ferries followed the Sydney Ferries Limited convention of naming their vessels after Australian Aboriginal words starting with "K". "Kirawa" is thought to me "looking for you".

Design and construction

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A relatively newKirawaat Musgrave Street (South Mosman) wharf, 1917

As with all the K-class and Manly ferries built at the time, she was double ended ferries with wheelhouses, propellers and rudders at both ends.

Unlike the previous K-class ferries that were timber-hulled,Kirawa(andKanangra) were riveted steel hull vessels, although like the rest of the K-class, their decks and superstructures were timber. Both ferries had five watertight bulkheads.[5]The two were built byMort's Dockat theirWoolwichyard forSydney Ferries Limitedfor a cost of £17,873 each.[5][6]

She had triple expansion coal-fired steam engines, with cylinders of 14-inch, 22 1/2 inch, and 37 inch. diameters respectively and a stroke of 21 inch. Steam was supplied by two navy type boilers, fitted with corrugated furnaces, and having a working pressure of I80 lb. The auxiliaries included an independent centrifugal circulating pump, automatic feed pump, feed heater, and filter, etc. The engines produced 68 hp and pushed her to 13 knots.[5]

Service history

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KirawaandKanangrain Mosman Bay, ca. 1920s or early 1930s

Kirawawas launched on 2 July 1912 and christened by Miss Goddard, daughter of W C Goddard, director ofSydney Ferries Limited.[5]Her official trials were held on 29 October 1912 where she averaged 13 knots.[7]

Kirawa,Kanangraand the three similarly sized"Kirrule-type" ferrieswere built for the booming Cremorne and Mosman routes, with each vessel having an approximate capacity of 1,000 passengers. Demand for ferry services across the harbour were booming in the early 20th century, and in 1911, Sydney Ferries Limited had begun services to the new Cremorne Wharf with new tram connection.

Following the 1932 opening of theSydney Harbour Bridge,Kirawawas kept in service, while 18, most older ferries, were decommissioned due to the drop in demand. Prior to the bridge opening, Sydney Ferries Limited had transported 40 million passengers a year, which dropped to 15 million after the opening. The drop in demand for the remaining ferry fleet was somewhat mitigated as many could not afford their own transport in theGreat Depressionof the 1930s and rationing of fuel during World War 2 made the coal required for the steam ferries relatively cheap.[8]

In 1951, as the demand for ferry services dropped further to 9 million following the end of the war, the NSW State Government took over Sydney Ferries Limited and its remaining fleet and assets. ThePort Jackson and Manly Steamship Company,which ran the Manly service, was paid to run the services. The services and fleet were quickly rationalised with most of the larger remaining timber K-class steamers being decommissioned. A number of the smaller coal burners were converted to diesel (includingKamerukaandKosciusko). In December 1952,Kirawawas reported as running a showboat excursion.[9]

Kirawawas laid up at the time in need of a new boiler. As there was no longer need for two large ferries, she was sold to be broken up in 1953. Hulked, she was renamedDemolisherand, along with the stripped-down Manly ferryBalgowlah,was used in the demolition and removal of the oldIron Cove Bridge.[8][10]

Kanangrawas converted to diesel power in 1959, and her tall smoke stack was replaced with a smaller exhaust funnel, and the boilers became the fuel tanks. One of the longest serving ferries on Sydney Harbour,[10]Kanangrawas withdrawn from service in 1985 and moored adjacent to thePyrmont BridgeinDarling Harbour.As of 2020, she is currently moored inRozelle Bayunder restoration.

  • Kirawa at Mosman Wharf, early 1912-1920 (estimate)
    Kirawaat Mosman Wharf, early 1912-1920 (estimate)
  • Kirawa approaching Mosman Bay with her original varnished timber and white/grey trim livery, 1920s
    Kirawaapproaching Mosman Bay with her original varnished timber and white/grey trim livery, 1920s
  • Kirawa in Mosman Bay in her 1930 yellow and green colour scheme, early 1950s
    Kirawain Mosman Bay in her 1930 yellow and green colour scheme, early 1950s

Incidents

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After collision atCircular Quay,1949
  • 14 August 1914 -Kirawacollided with Manly ferryBarrenjoeywith the former sustaining damage to her bulwarks, but the latter remaining undamaged.[11]
  • 28 August 1920 -Kirawacollided withKurrabaoffKirribilliresulting in about 40 feet of theKurraba'sbulwarks being ripped out.[12]
  • 28 May 1925 -Kirawa(travelling from Circular Quay to Mosman) collided head-on withKoree(travelling from Mosman to Circular Quay) offCremorne Pointwith both vessels sustaining damage.[13]
  • 20 July 1925 - ferry steamerKirawacollided with tugGamecockin Sydney Harbour resulting in a two week suspension of the master of theKirawa,William Clarabert Cross, Master's Certificate by the Marine Court.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/57299687/4596162</ref>
  • 9 December 1927 -Kirawacollided with sisterKanangraoff Cremorne Point.[14]
  • 24 October 1928 -KirawacollidesBarwonnear the entrance to Sydney Cove withKirawasuffering significant damage with about 30 feet of her upper deck smashed.[15]A marine court of inquiry found that the collision was caused by theBarwonmanoeuvring in congested waters and theKirawa'smaster not realising theBarwonhad no headway on her.[16]
  • 30 October 1928 - Travelling betweenMosman Bay wharfandOld Cremorne wharf,Kirawalost control and struck a moored 25-foot private launch,Banoon,withKirawa'spropeller fouling the launch's anchor chain. With the prospect of the disabledKirawastriking rocks, the nearbyKanangrawas brought over to assist. However, the smaller £300 launch was caught between the two larger ferries, was crushed and sank.Kirawa'spassengers were transferred toKanangraand the former towed to safety.[17][18]
  • 12 August 1936 - On leaving Mosman Bay Wharf with a full morning load,Kirawa'swent off course and her propellers scraped over rocks, however, no damage was found.[19]
  • 13 August 1937 -Kirawacollides withKosciuskocausing substantial damage to the latter's bow.[20]
  • 4 March 1949 - Significantly loaded with passengers,Kirawa'sengines were started at Circular Quay without her master on board. With her steering locked, she travelled acrossSydney Coveand crashed into wharf 5 causing significant damage.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^crewlist.org.uk
  2. ^"NEW STEAMER FOR SYDNEY FERRIES".The Daily Telegraph.No. 10329. New South Wales, Australia. 3 July 1912. p. 11.Retrieved12 March2022– via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^"THE KIRAWA".The Evening News.No. 14, 058. New South Wales, Australia. 28 June 1912. p. 3.Retrieved12 March2022– via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^"NEW STEEL STEAMER".The Daily Telegraph.No. 10, 431. New South Wales, Australia. 30 October 1912. p. 11.Retrieved13 March2022– via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^abcde"NEW STEAMER FOR SYDNEY FERRIES".The Daily Telegraph.No. 10329. New South Wales, Australia. 3 July 1912. p. 11.Retrieved20 December2021– via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^"SYDNEY FERRIES".The Sun.No. 2853. New South Wales, Australia. 25 August 1919. p. 5.Retrieved20 October2021– via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^"STEEL STEAMERS".The Sydney Morning Herald.No. 23, 339. New South Wales, Australia. 30 October 1912. p. 17.Retrieved29 December2021– via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^abKirawa on ferriesofsydney
  9. ^"'Showboat Dance ".The Sydney Jewish News.Vol. XVI, no. 12. New South Wales, Australia. 5 December 1952. p. 9.Retrieved29 December2021– via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^abAndrews, Graeme (1982).A Pictorial History of Ferries: Sydney and Surrounding Waterways.Sydney: AH & AW Reed Pty Ltd. p. 98.ISBN0589503863.
  11. ^"Ferries in Collision".The Daily Advertiser.New South Wales, Australia. 15 August 1914. p. 3.Retrieved28 December2021– via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^"FERRY COLLISION".The Sun.No. 3100. New South Wales, Australia. 5 October 1920. p. 7.Retrieved29 December2021– via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^"FERRIES COLLIDE".The Sun.No. 4544. New South Wales, Australia. 28 May 1925. p. 11 (FINAL EXTRA).Retrieved28 December2021– via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^"No title".The Daily Telegraph.No. 33. New South Wales, Australia. 11 December 1927. p. 3.Retrieved13 March2022– via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^"TURNED THE HOSE ON REPORTERS".Daily Standard.No. 5026. Queensland, Australia. 25 October 1928. p. 10.Retrieved13 March2022– via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^"MARINE COURT FINDING".The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser.New South Wales, Australia. 30 November 1928. p. 1.Retrieved28 December2021– via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^"Ferry in Danger".The Telegraph (Brisbane).No. 17, 446. Queensland, Australia. 1 November 1928. p. 9.Retrieved29 December2021– via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^"LAUNCH SUNK".The Sydney Morning Herald.No. 28, 339. New South Wales, Australia. 1 November 1928. p. 12.Retrieved29 December2021– via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^"SCRAPED ROCKS".Daily Commercial News And Shipping List.No. 14, 848. New South Wales, Australia. 13 August 1936. p. 4.Retrieved12 March2022– via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^"HARBOR FERRY IN THE WARS".The Daily Telegraph.Vol. II, no. 125. New South Wales, Australia. 14 August 1937. p. 2.Retrieved13 March2022– via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^"PROBE ON FERRY'S WILD RUN".The Sun.No. 12, 201. New South Wales, Australia. 5 March 1949. p. 3 (FINAL SPORT LASTACE).Retrieved29 December2021– via National Library of Australia.
  • Register of Australian and New Zealand Ships and Boats compiled by Mori Flapan; boatregister.net
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  • Media related toKirawaat Wikimedia Commons
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