Manly ferry passing Fort Denison, early 1980's.
The North Head was built by Mort's Dock, Woolwich for the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company. Launched in 1913, it was the fifth of six Binngarra type vessels and nearly identical to the Balgowlah and Bellubera. It was named after Barrenjoey at the northern tip of Pittwater. In 1930, received its first refit which saw much of the upper deck enclosed and the wheelhouses extended.
In 1948, it was withdrawn for a rebuild by Mort's Dock which included the replacement of its steam engines with British Thomson-Houston diesel-electric engines. It emerged on 7 May 1951 having been renamed North Head.
Type :
Steel screw steamer
Launched :
08/05/1913,( Barrenjoey) rebuilt 1951 (as North Head)
capacity :
1520
Speed :
15 knots/ 16 after conversion
Out of service: 12 December 1985