Balmain East ferry wharf

Balmain East
Darling Harbour Ferry
Balmain/Woolwich Ferry
Suburb Balmain East
Street(s) Darling St
Travel time from Circular Quay 14 mins
Number of berths 1
Ticket barriers No
Transfers available Bus
Disabled access No
Travel distance from Circular Quay

Balmain East Ferry Wharf (also known as Darling Street Wharf) is the commuter wharf serving Balmain East in Sydney, Australia, and is part of the Sydney Ferries network. The wharf is on the southern side of Sydney Harbour at the end of Darling Street.

Contents

History

The Balmain East ferry wharf has been operating since the 1840s as Balmain's main wharf. Originally, watermen offered the first services on demand in small rowing skiffs or sailing dinghies. In February 1844 the steamer Waterman commenced the first public ferry service between Balmain and the Australian Gas Light Company wharf in Millers Point. [1] [2] The service was established by Henry Perdriau, the owner of Perdriau Ferries, later Balmain Steam Ferries.[3]

From the beginning of the twentieth century, Sydney's electric tram system extended down to the Darling Street wharf and connected with the ferries. The tramway operated until 1954.[3] As the road next to the wharf had a grade of 1 in 8.25, a unique counterweight dummy system was installed under the road surface to help push trams up the hill. An underground counterweight system was connected by cable to a cable tram grip dummy on the track on the surface. A tram descending would push the grip dummy ahead of it (which raised the counterweight). On the return journey, the grip dummy would give the tram a helpful push. The mechanism was removed to the Sydney Tramway Museum when the tramway was removed.[4]

Services

Wharf 1

Bus services

There is an adjoining bus stop at the wharf. This stop services the following routes:

Neighbouring wharves

Preceding wharf
(towards City)		 Sydney Ferries
Routes		 Following wharf
(away from City)
McMahons Point   Balmain Ferry   Balmain
Balmain   Darling Harbour Ferry   Aquarium

References

  1. ^ The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) (NSW: National Library of Australia): p. 2. 1 March 1844. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12407848. Retrieved 5 October 2011. 
  2. ^ "Steam to Balmain". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) (NSW: National Library of Australia): p. 3. 1 March 1844. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12407847. Retrieved 5 October 2011. 
  3. ^ a b Spindler, Graham, "Harbour Circle Walk: Notes on Loop & Alternative walks", New South Wales Department of Planning, 2006. Accessed 20 August 2006.
  4. ^ Railpage Australia, "Tramways of Australia: Sydney's tram history", 18 August 1997. Accessed 14 March 2007.