MV Bellubera

Bellubera was built by Mort's Dock and Engineering Co, Woolwich, New South Wales, Australia, for the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company. Launched on 6 April 1910 by Mrs J. Fyfe,[2] she was the third of six Binngarra-type vessels. She was a near identical sister to Barrenjoey (later North Head) and Balgowlah (1912), and similar to the slightly smaller Binngarra (1905), Burra Bra (1908) and Baragoola (1922). She was 499 tons and 64.0 m long. As built, she was powered by triple expansion steam engine providing 123 hp and was able to make up to 15 knots.[3]

The exorbitant cost and difficulty in replacing the large expensive steel hulled Binngarra-type vessels saw the Bellubera, along with the Balgowlah, Barrenjoey, and Baragoola retained and significantly modified. In the 1920s, all four had officers' cabins attached to their wheelhouses. Beginning with Barrenjoey in 1930, and then in 1931-32 Balgowlah, Baragoola, and Bellubera over 1931-32, had their open upper passenger decks enclosed.

SS Bombala and Bellubera on the harbour in 1928, after wheelhouses were extended.

In 1936 with her boilers nearing the end of their service life, Bellubera's original steam engines were replaced by four five-cylinder Harland & Wolff diesel engines (1,800 bhp) which drove two British Thompson-Houston diesel engineers, which could push her to 16 knots. Her single funnel was replaced by two, the second funnel being a dummy mounted for appearance. She became the first diesel-electric powered vessel in Australia.[3] The new engines increased her service speed to 18 knots, but increased vibrations throughout the vessel making her less popular with passengers.

In 1948, Bellubera, along with Balgowlah, Baragoola, was fitted with the larger wheelhouse/cabin structures that they would sport until the rest of their ferry careers. In 1954, she was taken to the State Dockyard where she was partially replated, repainted, and re-engined with three seven-cylinder British Thompson-Houston diesel engines that drove 2 English Electric electric engines.[3]

Due to many misfortunes, she was nicknamed the Hoodoo Ship. She collided with at least four vessels, sinking two of them, seven people died through direct association with the ferry and at least seven people fell or jumped off the ferry.[4]

Bellubera's destroyed superstructure following the 1936 fire at the Kurraba Point depot.

On 2 April 1914, she collided with the steam tug Kate off Dobroyd Head, sinking Kate in seconds and capsizing the lighter Kate was towing; Bellubera rescued Kate′s four-man crew. In 1933, Bellubera collided with the smaller ferry, Kai Kai.[1]

On 16 November 1936, fire broke out aboard Bellubera while she was moored at the Kurraba Point depot while workmen were repairing a steel plate on the roof of the upper deck. A welder's oxy-acetylene torch set alight the leather seats in the saloon and within five minutes the entire ship was ablaze. Four men were trapped below decks, with one dying that night in hospital and a second a few days later. Another suffered leg burns and spent 21 months in hospital.[4][5][6] The superstructure was gutted and the hull significantly damaged. Bellubera was rebuilt at the Cockatoo Island Dockyard and re-entered service in October 1937.[1]

In 1940, collided with the 30-foot launch, Sydbridge, cutting the boat in half and sinking it with its owner whose body was found nine days later.[1] On 6 February 1946, her master, Captain William Dohrn, collapsed and died at the wheel as the vessel was making its way across the Heads towards Manly. On 5 September of that year, a young women fell overboard. In 1946, a passenger fell overboard and drowned, and in the same year, Bellubera collided with a navl launch killing the helmsman.[7] In October 1960, Bellubera collided with the 7,000-ton Norwegian freighter Taurus but received only minor damage continuing her run to Circular Quay. Her master, Captain Albert Villiers, died at the wheel in February 1961 while berthing her at the Kurraba Point depot. Five years later Bellubera collided with the dredge WD66.[1][7]

On 28 February 1970, en route from Manly, Bellubera collided with the Australian Navy Ship, HMAS Parramatta as it was backing out of the naval depot near Chowder Bay. She inflicted a 2 m x 3 m hole in the warship, whilst only suffering minor damage herself. Navy personnel covered the Parramatta's damage with a tarpaulin to hide it from press photographers, while Bellubera resumed her journey.[1] On 23 July 1973, heavy seas damamged doors and seats.[7]

Bellubera was taken out of service on 29 November 1973.[4][5] Her service life of sixty-three years was a record for a Manly ferry, that would be beaten by the North Head, formerly Barrenjoey (1913-1985).[8] At this time, the Manly services had been taken over by Brambles Limited and the service struggled and ships were in poor condition.[7] She was sold in 1975 to a company named Trouble Shooter, so certain equipment could be stripped and installed into the ex-Royal Australian Navy Ton-class minesweeper HMAS Gull. Bellubera′s English Electric diesels were removed and returned to the Public Transport Commission to support the Baragoola and North Head in service. Bellubera was towed to sea by tug Betts Bay and scuttled off Long Reef on 1 August 1980 and today rests on her side in two pieces in 45 metres (148 feet) of water.[4][5]

• 
  Launch day, 26 April 1910
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  At Manly Wharf in as-built condition, 1910s
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  With extended wheelhouses and original open upper decks, 1930s
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  Removal of boiler during conversion from steam to diesel-electric propulsion, 1935/36
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  Conversion to diesel-electric, 1936
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  Rebuild of superstructure during conversion to diesel-electric propulsion
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  Rebuild of superstructure during conversion to diesel-electric propulsion
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  One of four new diesel generators are lowered into the place during conversion to diesel-electric, 1936
• 
  Post diesel-electric conversion and prior to fire, 1936
• 
  Well alight, Kurraba Point base 1936. Two crew died.
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  Superstructure collapses, 1936 fire Kurraba Point. Two crew died.
• 
  After the fire. People watch from Kurraba Road above
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  At Circular Quay, rebuilt after the devasting fire, 1938
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  Laid up with the larger South Steyne, Balmain 1970s
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  Laid up along side the South Steyne, 1975

• List of Sydney Harbour ferries

• Media related to Bellubera at Wikimedia Commons