Kameruka

''Kameruka'' and ''Kamiri'' were near identical ferries that served on Sydney Harbour. ''Kamiri'' was built in 1912 and ''Kameruka'' was launched on 8 February 1913. They were double-ended " K-class" steam ferries, a type that was prolific on Sydney Harbour in the early 20th century boom in cross-Sydney Harbour ferry transport before the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. ''Kamiri'' was laid up in 1951 following the New South Wales government take-over of the Sydney Ferries Limited. ''Kameruka'' was converted to diesel in 1954 and was laid up in 1984.

Both ferries were part of a Sydney Ferries Limited tradition of naming their "K-class" ferries with Australian Aboriginal words beginning with "K". "Kamiri" is the name of an Aboriginal tribe and "Kameruka" is thought to mean 'wait til I come'.

Design and construction

Both were timber vessels built by Morrison & Sinclair Ltd in Balmain. ''Kamiri'' was built in 1912 and used the engine and timbers from the ferry ''Kaludah'' which had been gutted by fire the previous year. ''Kameruka'' was built in 1913 for a cost of £13,178. The vessels were 144 tons, 34.1m long and had beams of 7.9 m. Both were provided with triple expansion steam engines by Campbell and Calderwood. ''Kamiri's'' 50 hp engine pushed her to 11 knots, and ''Kameruka's'' 53 hp engines pushed her to 12 knots. The two ferries were rated to carry 594 passengers.

Service history

Both ferries were initially used on the Parramatta River run. Little is known about ''Kamiris service history. She is featured in a well-known photo of Mosman Bay by acclaimed Australian photographer, Max Dupain. She was laid up in 1946. In poor condition, she was broken up between 1951 and 1953 along with a number of other old "K-class" steamers as part of a fleet rationalisation following the NSW State Government's 1951 takeover of Sydney Ferries Limited.

''Kameruka'' was a relatively fast ferry and thus was worked on the Taronga Zoo and Parramatta River routes. She was burnt out almost to the waterline on the night of 8 December 1918 while tied up at Gladesville Wharf. The local fire brigade and the fire float ''Pluvius'' attended. and rebuilt in 1919. In 1938, her boiler crowns collapsed and she was not returned to work until 1945. She was one of the few of the formerly large Sydney Ferries Ltd fleet to survive both the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the 1951 State Government takeover of Sydney Ferries. In 1954, she was converted to diesel (60 hp Crossley Brothers 6-cylinder, 11 knots) and given a more modern looking makeover.

''Kameruka'' was pulled from service in October 1984 along with the other few remaining wooden-hulled ferries after fellow "k-class" wooden ferry, '' Karrabee'' sank at Circular Quay in January of that year. ''Karrabee'' was refloated and sold, and ''Kameruka'' given free to the buyer as part of the deal. She sank in 1986 while laid up alongside ''Karrabee'' at Pyrmont. She was broken up and pulled from the bottom of the harbour by grab dredge. Her 71 years of ferry service was one of the longest for any ferry on Sydney Harbour.

Timeline

File:Sydney Ferry KAMIRI leaving Circular Quay 1912.jpg, A new ''Kamiri'' in her original varnished timber with white trim livery, likely 1912 her launch year.
File:Sydney Ferry KAMERUKA at Circular Quay between 1913 and early 1930s.jpg, ''Kameruka'' in her original varnished timber and white trim livery, Circular Quay pre early 1930s. Prior to her first re-built with her original rounded (not squared) roof life returns to wheelhouse
File:Sydney Ferry KAMIRI laid up at McMahons Point early 1950s.jpg, ''Kamiri'' laid up at McMahons Point following the State Government takeover of Sydney Ferries Ltd
File:Sydney ferry KAMERUKA before conversion from steam to diesel 1950s.jpg, ''Kameruka'' steaming to Cremorne Point, 1950s
File:Sydney Ferries KANANGRA and KAMERUKA pre 1954.jpg, ''Kameruka'' (right) alongside the larger steel-hulled '' Kanangra'' in 1954 her last year as a steamer.
Sydney Ferry KAMERUKA entering Sydney Cove UNILEVER HOUSE 1964.tif, ''Kameruka'' in 1964 after her 1954 rebuild and conversion to diesel.
File:00443 101271 Sydney Ferries ferry Kameruka just after leaving Valentia St Wharf Woolwich on Sydney Harbour.jpg, ''Kameruka'' in her Sydney Harbour Transport Board livery leaving Valentia Street wharf. 1971
File:Sydney ferry KAMERUKA in the 1981 Great Ferry Boat Race.jpg, ''Kameruka'' in her Urban Transit Authority livery competing in the 1981 Great Ferry Boat Race
File:Sydney Ferries KAMERUKA and KARRABEE laid up in Pyrmont 1984.jpg, ''Kameruka'' (left) laid up alongside '' Karrabee'' at Pyrmont, 1984
File:Sydney ferry KAMERUKA sunk alongside KARRABEE at Pyrmont circa 1985.jpg, Sunken at her mooring alongside ''Karrabee'', Pyrmont circa 1985 or 86
File:The remains of Sydney ferry KAMERUKA after she sunk and was broken up by grab dredge April 1986.jpg, ''Kameruka's'' remains after being pulled from the harbour by grab dredge.

See also

*List of Sydney Harbour ferries
* Timeline of Sydney Harbour ferries

References

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External links

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*Newspaper clipping
"New Ferry Boat Launched" Sydney Morning Herald, 10 Feb 1913

{{Sydneyferries, state=expanded

Ferries of New South Wales
Ferry transport in Sydney
1912 ships
1913 ships
Sydney Harbour
Water transport in New South Wales
Ships of Australia
Sydney K-class ferries