It was with great sadness I heard that the second last original Manly ferry, Baragoola previously operated by the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company had sunk, two weeks short of her 100th birthday.
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MV Baragoola was built in Morts Dock Balmain in 1922 she served with the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company for 50 years.
Baragoola was included in the sale of company to Brambles in April 1972. It had a major re-fit in 1974.
In December 1974, the Manly service was taken over by the NSW State Government and her traditional Manly ferry colours of green, cream and brown were replaced by the Public Transport Commission's blue and white.
Following the 1982 delivery of the Freshwater, Baragoola was withdrawn on January 8, 1983 gaining significant media coverage on her last service run. She served the people of Sydney overall for 61 years.
The name Baragoola is Aboriginal and means 'flood tide'.
Baragoola was a 498 ton double ended ferry, 61 metres in length. During her service life she could carry up to 1523 passengers.
She was originally steam driven but converted to diesel/electric in the early 1960s.
Always easy to identify Baragoola had a single funnel unlike her sisters, all of which had two funnels.
As a child I would travel with my mum, two brothers and sister from our home at Belmore via Manly ferry to visit my grandmother at Harbord (now Freshwater), quite often on Baragoola.
In those days you had roaming musicians and lolly sellers on board.
Mum often took us to the peace and quiet of the Ladies Lounge, a different era.
I loved crossing the Heads particularly in rough weather.
Baragoola had been moored at the coal loader at Balls Head in Sydney, where she has been under restoration for some years. The Baragoola Preservation Society had owned the ferry but had just passed ownership to a new owner.
NSW Police said two people contacted Fire and Rescue for assistance at about10:30pm on Saturday 1 January after the vessel started taking on water and finally sank.
Thank you Baragoola for the memories. Your like won't come again.
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