Kulgoa was a "K-class" ferry on Sydney Harbour. Launched in 1905, the timber-hulled steamer was built for Sydney Ferries Limited during the boom in cross-harbour ferry travel prior to the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Kulgoa was Sydney's largest ever wooden ferry. She was a typical early example of the "K-class"; a group of double-deck, double-ended, steam-powered screw ferries. Kulgoa was one of the first Sydney ferries built with the sides of her promenade (upper) deck enclosed, although the ends near the wheelhouses remained open.
She was built for the short but busy cross-harbour route between Circular Quay and Milsons Point. Kulgoa survived the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (17 other Sydney Ferries Limited vessels were sold at the time). She was sold for breaking up in 1952 as part of the fleet rationalisation following the NSW State Government takeover of Sydney Ferries in 1952.
Kulgoa followed Sydney Ferries Limited's then emerging tradition of naming their vessels after Australian Indigenous words starting with "K". "Kulgoa" is thought to be an indigenous word for 'returning'.
Background
Kulgoa was built for Sydney Ferries Limited during the early twentieth century boom in cross-Harbour travel prior to the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Kulgoa was an earlier vessel of a broader type of timber double-ended screw ferry known as the K-class. The company built 25 of these vessels between the 1890s and early 1920s to meet the booming demand. The K-class were all propelled by triple expansion steam engines and were predominantly timber-hulled (four later K-class had steel hulls).
Design and construction
Kulgoa's design was an evolution of Sydney Ferries Limited's 1902 steamer, Koree. Kulgoa, however, while of similar length to Koree, had a significantly wider beam (31 ft vs 27 ft 6 in) giving her a higher passenger capacity (1,255 vs 1,058) and tonnage (338 vs 276 tons).
Plans for the hull were provided by Mr Scott, foreman shipwright of the North Coast SN company from a specification from Mr T Brown, works manager of Sydney Ferries Limited. The cabins and deck fittings were designed by the company's officials under the supervision of Mr T Brown. Brown also designed and provided the specification for the boilers and machinery.
Kulgoa'''s hull and deck fittings were built by WM Ford at Berrys Bay, North Sydney. Dorhauer and Sons were the cabin and other deck fitting sub-contractors. Kulgoa was one of the first of Sydney Ferries to have her upper decks enclosed. She was provided with four internal side companions (stairs).
The boilers and engines were supplied by Morts Dock & Engineering Co of Balmain. The engines were triple expansion, inverted, direct acting, surface condensing type with cylinders of 13, 21, and 34 inches respectively, providing 480 indicated horsepower. Two 18 foot-long through multi-tubular cylindrical boilers were provided with internal diameters of 7 ft 2 inch with 17 lb pressure per square inch. Each boiler was fitted with Deighton's patent 7 ft long, 92-tube, suspension furnaces. Electric lighting was provided by Edge and Edge. A sentinel steering system, provided by Wildridge and Sinclair, was installed.
Typical of the K-class, the ferry had one iron bulkhead and four wooden bulkheads. The hull shape was flared out with no overhanging sponsons. For additional strength, the side sponsons were of long ironbark sections, 12-inch square in cross section with an iron band.Kulgoa's hull was launched in Berry's Bay on 24 September 1904 in front of a crowd of approximately 1,000 people. She was christened by Essie Carter, the daughter of J Carter, the mayor of North Sydney. At the launch, the chairman of Sydney Ferries Limited noted that the company's fleet was now able to carry 15,000 people at one time, and could carry 90,000 passengers to North Sydney in an hour. In his toast to the new ferry, the mayor of North Sydney said it would be the finest of its type in the Southern Hemisphere.
Service historyKulgoa's trials were held on 13 January 1905 during which she reached a speed of 11 and 1/3 knots over the measured mile. Following the trials, she was moored at Hunters Hill for refreshments and formalities. It was noted that Kulgoa was the largest of the fleet, and that it was likely that no larger ferries would be built with Kulgoa having reached the limit. In the event, the steel Koompartoo (1922) and Kuttabul (1922) would be larger by tonnage and passenger capacity, and the timber Kuramia while slightly smaller by tonnage had a higher passenger capacity. Kulgoa remains the largest timber ferry, by tonnage, to serve on Sydney Harbour.