REGENT BIRD and BELLBIRD together on Brisbane Waters in 1920

Images(4)

Barrenjoey

Vessel numberHV000168

Vessel Registration NumberJL512N

Official Number179745

Previous owner Owen and Riley

Previous owner Amalgamated Ferries

Previous owner Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company

Date1919

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 15 m x 13 m x 3.8 m x 1.1 m (49.22 ft x 42.65 ft x 12.47 ft x 3.61 ft)

DescriptionBARRENJOEY was built by shipwright Gordon Beattie and launched in 1919 as REGENT BIRD. The carvel planked ferry was one of a number built for the Brisbane Waters area by Beattie from 1916 to the mid 1930s. It had a straight stem and elliptical counter stern, and was registered to take 85 passengers.

Beattie was a second generation shipwright. His father Edward initially worked for the Davis family but eventually built craft on his own account up until 1889 at the Beattie property called Palermo, on Cockle Creek at Brisbane Waters. Gordon restarted the yard at Palermo in 1916 when commissioned to build a ferry for John Murphy. More ferries followed including REGENT BIRD, which was later called KILCARE STAR.

The initial operators were Jack Owen and brothers-in-law William and Roy Riley, but they soon joined Murphy's service and became Amalgamated Ferries.

The ferry took the name BARRENJOEY in 1966 when the famous Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company bought the ferry to operate a service between Brooklyn and Dangar Island on the Hawkesbury River. It was retired and sold to Gordon Davey in 1974.

In 2012 it remains in use as a private motor launch. The superstructure has had considerable changes over its years of service, but the original hull remains intact with the addition of new sistered frames, new fastenings and exterior fibreglass reinforcement.

SignificanceBARRENJOEY is a wooden ferry that was built in NSW . It is an example of a ferry that was built in Brisbane Waters in 1919. It has a strong regional connection having operated there for over 50 years.