Founded 1861 Headquarters Sydney, Australia | Defunct 30 June 1951 Area served Sydney Harbour | |
Successor Sydney Harbour Transport Board Key people Colonel A Spain (Chairman) | ||
Sydney Ferries Limited operated ferry services on Sydney Harbour from 1861 until June 1951.
History
Sydney Ferries Limited was formed in 1861 as the North Shore Ferry Company. In 1878, it was renamed as the North Shore Steam Ferry Company and in 1899, Sydney Ferries Limited. It ordered the first double-ended propeller-driven ferry in the world to be built. It progressively purchased most of the other ferry operators on Sydney Harbour.
Patronage dropped from 47 million passengers per annum in 1927, to 15 million in 1933 following the opening of the Harbour Bridge.
In March 1951, with the business having become unprofitable, Sydney Ferries Limited advised the Government of New South Wales of its intention to cease operating ferry services.
After investigating the possibility of using statutory powers to compulsorily acquire the business without paying compensation, the government agreed to purchase the business, and on 1 July 1951 the business and 15 ferries were sold to the Sydney Harbour Transport Board.