Balmain East ferry wharf

Balmain East ferry wharf (also known as Darling Street ferry wharf) is located on Sydney Harbour serving the Sydney suburb of Balmain East.

Not to be confused with Balmain ferry wharf.
Balmain East
View from Darling Street in July 2015
LocationDarling Street, Balmain East
New South Wales
Australia
Coordinates33°51′25.18″S 151°11′45.29″E
Owned byTransport for NSW
Operated byTransdev Sydney Ferries
Platforms1 wharf (2 berths)
Connections Balmain East Wharf, Darling St
Construction
Disabled accessYes
Other information
StatusUnstaffed
History
Opened1840s
Rebuilt18 June 2015
Previous namesDarling Street, Balmain (–2002)
Services
Preceding wharf Ferries in NSW Following wharf
Barangaroo
towards Circular Quay
 F3 Parramatta
limited services
 Balmain
towards Parramatta
McMahons Point
towards Circular Quay
 F4 Pyrmont Bay Barangaroo
towards Pyrmont Bay

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 at 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 20th century, Sydney's electric tram system down Darling Street to the 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, 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 preserved at the Sydney Tramway Museum when the tramway was removed.[4]

On 14 January 2015, the wharf closed for a rebuild with the existing structure demolished and a new one opened on 18 June 2015.[5][6][7][8]

Services

Balmain East wharf is served by Sydney Ferries Pyrmont Bay services operating between Pyrmont Bay and Circular Quay via Barangaroo.[9] Services are operated by First Fleet class ferries. Balmain East wharf is also served by weekday and Saturday evening Parramatta River services from Sydney Olympic Park.[10]

Platform Line Stopping pattern Notes
1 Evening all-stops from Sydney Olympic Park [10]
All stops between Pyrmont Bay and Circular Quay[9]

Interchanges

Transit Systems operate one route to and from Balmain East wharf:

References
  1. Madras – The New Light House The Sydney Morning Herald 1 March 1844 page 2
  2. "Steam to Balmain". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 1 March 1844. p. 3. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  3. 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.
  5. Balmain East Wharf upgrade to start in January Transport for NSW 9 January 2015
  6. Balmain East Wharf and Sydney Olympic Park Wharf closed for upgrade Transport for NSW Info 13 January 2015
  7. Balmain East Wharf Upgrade Roads & Maritime Services
  8. Balmain East Wharf to reopen tomorrow Transport for NSW 17 June 2015
  9. "F4 Pyrmont Bay ferry timetable". Transport for NSW.
  10. "F3 Parramatta River ferry timetable". Transport for NSW.
  11. "Transit Systems route 442". Transport for NSW.

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