Paddleducks
Paddler Information => Research => Topic started by: Roderick Smith on March 04, 2009, 11:21:49 PM
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The recent resurgence of the thread on the remains of PS Ozone reminded me that I intended to follow up my Murray River coverage with the paddlesteamers of Port Phillip. This is harder to do, as all photos have to be taken from publications.
These notes are condensed from my article 'Down the bay' in Jan.03 RNV. I expanded on them for a two-part article in Australian Ferry Society Newsletter (now published as Ferries Australia). I have removed the various SS paragraphs, except for Courier, which was involved in two screw vs paddle races.
Roderick Smith
BACKGROUND
Portland was settled from 1834; Melbourne (including William's Town) from about 1835, Westernport from about 1835, and Geelong from 1835 or 1836. Early communication had to be by boat. Bay traffic can be classified into five main divisions:
* Geelong via Portarlington. These were essentially cargo services, with the facility to take passengers. Steam ferries ran from 1841 to 1938.
* Mornington (Schnapper Point), Dromana, Sorrento & Queenscliff. These were developed as resorts, with large hotels and seasonal regular excursions by purpose-built ferries. Steam ferries ran from 1868 to 1942. Foremost in public affection were the paddlesteamers Ozone, Hygeia and Weeroona: large, elegant, well appointed and fast. They cruised from the start of November to the end of May, with onboard dining rooms and bars, and dancing to live bands. They were chartered for trade picnics and special events.
* Hobsons Bay. Public ferry services ran from the opening of the Sandridge railway (1854) until 1931. Today, regular tourist services are operated at weekends.
* Corio Bay. Early public cruises ran from Geelong to tea gardens at Point Henry and a rival development at Clifton Springs, with occasional ventures to Portarlington and Queenscliff. Today, tourist services are still run from Geelong.
* Queenscliff - Sorrento. Regular passenger services commenced in 1953. A vehicle ferry commenced in the 1980s. Today two large vehicular ferries provide hourly services all year round.
1841-72
The first regular service between Melbourne and Geelong was by sailing ship, from 1838. The first regular steam service was by Aphrasia, from 5.7.1841. The first recorded excursion down Port Phillip Bay used PS Corsair, and ran from Sandridge on 3.12.1842. Victoria became a separate colony from 1.7.1851. My sources have been inconsistent, but it seems that most shipping used Williamstown rather than Sandridge. Yarra River then was circuitous, with snags and mudbars; the journey upriver was not suitable for larger vessels. The Melbourne - Sandridge railway was opened on 12.9.1854. In Nov.1854, the company established a ferry service between Sandridge and Williamstown, using the ferry Comet (Harrigan); the service commenced on 12.9.1854, privately operated (Loney). This link lasted until 1931, with many ferries used over the years. Geelong & Melbourne Railway Co. opened its line to a temporary terminus at Greenwich [near the present powerhouse] in June 1857. Trains connected with a river ferry to the city: Citizen (Harrigan), Comet (Loney). From 3.10.1857, G&M trains commenced running via the newly-opened government railway to Williamstown Pier, but still connected with the river ferry (Harrigan) or to Sandridge (Loney). In Dec.1857 (Harrigan) or 3.10.1857 (Loney), the connection was altered to Comet to Sandridge. G&M trains could run through to Melbourne Batman Hill [Spencer St] from 17.1.1859. Even so, bay shipping provided considerable competition to G&M, which was losing money and sold out to the government in 1860. Melbournians looking for a bay cruise could ride on the scheduled bay ships to Geelong. These were essentially working boats, but were used for occasional charters in summer. Fares must have been relatively expensive compared with wages of the era. Working conditions could not have allowed much recreation time: working on Saturday mornings remained common until the success of the eight-hour movement in the late 1890s. Steam ferries lasted on the Geelong run until 1938, and included: Aphrasia, Thames, Keera, Vesta, Melbourne, Duncan Hoyle, Prince Albert, Victoria, Breadalbane, Express, Citizen, Shandon, Corio, Maid of the Yarra, Geelong, Phantom, William Miskin, Despatch, Luna, Black Swan, Reliance, Alert, Edina, Excelsior, Courier and Coogee. On 22.4.1867, the newly-arrived Luna conveyed 200 excursionists from Geelong to Queenscliff (2 h 55 min out, 2 h 45 min back), many years before the railway was opened (1879).
1872-1942
The 1870s decade was one of solid growth in Victoria. With a steady income from gold mining, there was rising prosperity. Substantial buildings were erected in Melbourne. The major trunk railway lines to important provincial centres were established. Theatrical entrepreneur George Coppin established Sorrento as a resort for the wealthy. Purpose-designed cruise ferries were in use from 1872; Queenscliff and Sorrento were served from this time. The 1880s decade was one of boom prosperity, the era of Marvellous Melbourne, with elaborate buildings. The railway network blossomed with branches to minor locations. Melbourne's port was reshaped by engineer Coode: Yarra River was diverted and dredged; Victoria Dock was constructed. Several large and luxurious bay steamers were commissioned. They survived the depression of the 1890s. A steam tramway was built at Sorrento in 1890 to take excursionists from the bay pier to the ocean beach. The proprietor, Hon. George S Coppin, was active in Sorrento and Queenscliff Steam Navigation Co. Ltd, and later Bay Excursion Co. Ltd. The line was closed at the end of the 1918-19 season. In the 1920s, bay traffic was so important that the reconstruction of Station Pier, Port Melbourne, included two flanking piers for bay-excursion and Williamstown traffic. The depression of the late 1920s and the commencement of private motoring took their toll: the cruise ferries were withdrawn progressively. The last, Weeroona, made its final trip on Sun.2.3.1942.
PS Mystery: was obtained by James Deane in 1868 for the run to Mornington, Sorrento and Queenscliff. He sold it in 1872, and bought Williams.
PS Williams: was built in 1854, and served between Sydney & Newcastle, then in Queensland, before being rebuilt and coming to Port Phillip. It was larger and better appointed than its predecessors: a promenade deck (with space for dancing to a first-class band), an enclosed saloon (with comfortable seats) and onboard catering. Its first run was to Queenscliff, on Sat.9.11.1872. It ran between Gellibrand Lightship and West Channel Light in 1 h 51 min (11 kt, 19 km/h). In later years, it ran to the six main ports (Mornington at the time being known as Schnapper Point).
PS Golden Crown: was built in NZ in 1870, and was obtained by Sorrento and Queenscliff Steam Navigation Co. in 1874. Its first trip was on Sun.19.12.1874, leaving Sandridge at 9.00 for Queenscliff and Sorrento. M&HBUR provided a special connecting train from Flinders St, as there were no scheduled Sunday trains in that era. This vessel lasted until 1888.
PS Lonsdale: was built in Scotland in 1882 for James Deane & Co., was in Port Phillip Bay service until 1889, and was scrapped in 1891. It ran to Portarlington, Queenscliff and Schnapper Point [probably all of the bay ports].
PS Ozone: Modelled on the highly-successful Clyde steamers, the vessel was built in Glasgow in 1886 for Bay Excursions Co. Ltd. Its first run was to Queenscliff and Sorrento, on 18.12.1886. On the way home, it overhauled its rival, Lonsdale, with ease. It soon established a reputation as the fastest ship in Australian waters, having achieved 18.75 kt [34 km/h] in official speed trials, and 16.5 kt [30 km/h] on its first run from Gellibrand Lightship to West Channel Light. In Nov.1917, it joined Hygeia & Weeroona under the management of Bay Steamers Ltd. It was withdrawn in 1925; the hull was sunk at St Leonards to form a breakwater.
SS Courier: was built in England in 1887 for Huddart Parker, for the Melbourne - Portarlington - Geelong run, commencing service on 16.1.1888. It was fast: 17.5 kt [32 km/h] in official speed trials, and 16.75 kt [30 km/h] on a 16.2.1889 run from Gellibrand Lightship to West Channel Light. The owners claimed that it was faster than its rival, Ozone. The two often paced up the bay. To achieve a public-relations coup, Bay Excursions slipped Ozone and polished its hull like a racing yacht. On Sat.18.2.1888, Courier left Melbourne (Yarra River) for Portarlington & Geelong at 10.00. It had 450 passengers aboard, and a hold full of cargo. Ozone, which should have left for Sorrento at 14.00, was lying in wait with just 25 company guests aboard, with all canvas stowed, and with just enough coal for a return passage to Portarlington. It sprinted across Hobsons Bay, was 400 m behind at Gellibrand lightship, then progressively overhauled its rival (which made a decent go of the race, despite being caught on the hop), to be 200 m ahead at Portarlington. Having won this race, management decreed that the captain must not respond to any future challenge. Huddart Parker challenged the rival to a race on Sat.16.2.1889. Ozone left Port Melbourne at 14.00 on its usual trip to Queenscliff and Sorrento, but with 872 passengers instead of the usual 550: the public knew that something would happen. Courier, with just 70 company guests aboard, had crept down the river at 13.00, and was lying in wait. It overhauled Ozone with ease, but the latter halted its paddles to prove that it wasn't racing. Courier set out to make a record time on its journey anyhow. Ozone then set out in hot pursuit, but at best just held its own without gaining any distance. After 39 years of service, Courier was sold in Dec.1927, and was scuttled in a ship graveyard outside the heads on 29.3.1928.
PS Hygeia: was built in Scotland in 1890 for Huddart Parker, and made its first bay trip on 6.12.1890. On 20.12.1893, it carried 2000 guests to the opening of Hopetoun Channel, serving Geelong. In 1901, it met Ophir (carrying Duke & Duchess of York) at the heads. On 26.5.1920, it was the official vessel for a visit by Prince of Wales. It was withdrawn and dismantled in 1931. After a troubled tow, the hull was sunk in the ship graveyard on 10.6.1932.
PS Weeroona: was the last and the largest of the bay-excursion steamers. It was built in Scotland in 1910 for Huddart Parker. It made its last journey on Sun.2.3.1942, then was sold to USA Navy and modified as a mobile barracks. It was returned to Sydney at the end of WWII, in poor shape, and was broken up there.
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To help make sense of the earlier notes, here is a vintage map, scanned from the tour notes for a 1964 cruise 'Down the bay', operated by Australian Railway Historical Society, using Sydney ferry MV North Head, which was based in Melbourne for three summers. I have had to play with the map, and have run it to 450 kB to preserve the detail.
I have a copy of a videotape 'Bayside memories', which covers various aspects of life around the bay, particularly its importance as a holiday and recreational playground for Melbourne. One segment shows one of the big three paddlesteamers arriving at Sorrento and disgorging a full load of people. It continues to the end of that era, with scenes of the troubled tow of Hygiea to the graveyard. Other aspects look at motoring, beach play, hotels and more.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Hobsons Bay refers to the far norther corner, sheltered by Gellibrand Point. It houses the mouth of Yarra River, and the port of Williamstown, and the various Port Melbourne piers.
Today, most river & bay charters come down the Yarra, do a circle of Hobsons Bay, then head back in. There are different requirements for boats going only that far compared with boats going right down the bay (possibly not specs, just allowed passenger loads).
Public services crossed from Port Melbourne to Williamstown. The boats used were:
PS Comet
PS Kangaroo
PS Gem (no relation to the Murray one)
PS Queen
PS Baldrock
SS Planet
SS Williamstown
SS Rosny
Lots more history and specifications are in Fitchett 'Down the bay', Rigby, 1973, isbn0 85179 632 X
A photo of PS Queen: www.slv.vic.gov.au/agreenglass/gid/slv-pic-aaa04139
It was built in NSW in 1884, and was in use on Hobsons Bay 1907-11.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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There is a nice photo of PS Weeroona at http://tdu.to/200607.msg.
It is one which I don't recall having seen before.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Weeroona had the promenade deck extended to the peak of the bow.
Roderick Smith
201228M-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-beaches-Sorrento-1935-Weeroona-s.jpg
PortMelbourne-(Hygeia.Ozone)-Weeroona.jpg
PortMelbourne-PS_Weeroona-reversing.jpg
Williamstown-dry.dock-PS_Weeroona.jpg
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