Kanangra
Kanangra Tour — Restoration of the 1912 Inner Harbour Ferry, by Sydney Heritage Fleet.
- BUILT
- MORT'S DOCK & ENGINEERING CO, WOOLWICH
- LAUNCHED
- 14 AUG 1912
- BREADTH
- 31 FT
- TONNAGE
- 295 GROSS
Each stop in 3 parts
That way each visitor can access as much information as they want.
Accessible via QR codes or other devices.
Welcome
Welcome to Sydney Heritage Fleet’s Rozelle Bay Workshop, Restoration & Maintenance Facility plus our heritage vessel collection.
Kanangra is the sole floating survivor of the type of ferry that many commuters to and from Sydney’s inner harbour suburbs grew up with.
The story of Kanangra reflects the history of a whole fleet of such ferries, of the giant corporation which grew to operate them and the events which were to become part of the daily life of generations of Sydneysiders.
The year is 1914. The place Circular Quay, Sydney. Alfred Street is athrong with trams, horses and carts, and thousands of commuters after a hard day’s toil. The ferry wharves are a sea of hatted humanity as streams of people file up the waiting gangways. Black coal smoke belches from tall spindly funnels while stokers build up pressure. The air roars as the safety valves lift in anticipation. A bell rings. The gangways are brought ashore. A blast from the whistle. The lines are cast off. The propellers surge and another boatload are on their way home.
For over 150 years the ferries have been an integral and familiar part of Sydney. Sited on the shores of Port Jackson, an ancient sunken valley, it was only natural that the ferries were to play a vital role in the city’s growth.
The tour
6 stations · tap any to explore
STATION 01 · SAFETY BRIEFING · THE MUSEUM · KANANGRA’S HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE Mess Room WORK SITE Kanangra is the last K class ferry left — the only vessel present at the completion of the Harbour Bridge, the Japanese submarine attack and the opening of the Opera House. 
STATION 02 · ROZELLE BAY WORKSHOP, RESTORATION & MAINTENANCE FACILITY Workshop WORK SITE The workshop has different trade locations — the shipwrights’ area, the welding section, metal fabrication and the metal machine shop with its CNC mill. 
STATION 03 · THE SHD — A SLAVE DOCK Sea Heritage Dock CONSTRUCTION SITESUSPENDED LOAD In April 2022 Kanangra was placed on the Sea Heritage Dock — the condition of her hull was very concerning, and she was at risk of sinking. 
STATION 04 · FWD SALOON · STAIRCASES · AFT AREA Main Deck CONSTRUCTION SITE Kanangra was an ‘evolutionary design’ — successful design features are used in future designs, and remnants of earlier designs are found in Kanangra. 
STATION 05 · MAIN ENGINE Engine Room CONSTRUCTION SITELADDER ACCESS The main engine is a 2-stroke, air start, reversing marine diesel engine of 600 hp at 300 RPM, directly coupled to the propeller shaft — no clutches, no gearboxes. 
STATION 06 · AFT DECK & WHEELHOUSE · BRIDGE DECK CENTRAL AREA · FWD WHEELHOUSE & DECK Top Deck CONSTRUCTION SITE Kanangra has 225 windows, all shaped differently — the windows cannot be interchanged. Kanangra projects
This restoration is worthy of support, historically and by restorers capability. Any amount helps. Tax deductible.