Iconic former Manly ferry MV Baragoola sinks in Sydney Harbour

A sinking of a historic Manly ferry just days before its 100th anniversary in being called a “tragedy” for Sydney’s maritime heritage.

The Baragoola Ferry capsized on Saturday night at Balls Head on Sydney Harbour. Picture: Gaye Gerard

A historic Manly ferry has sunk just days before its 100th anniversary in what is being called a “tragedy” for Sydney’s maritime heritage.

The MV Baragoola was launched in February 1922 and became an icon of the harbour in its six decades of service.

Retired Manly Ferry Baragoola at its berth in Balls Head in 2012.

But the “fine old lady” of the harbour met her end on Saturday night, sinking at its berth in North Sydney.

Images of the scene on Sunday show the old steam ship mostly submerged with the twisted metal of the wheelhouse and part of the deck jutting out of the water.

The Baragoola Ferry on Sunday, after it capsized overnight at its mooring at Balls Head on the north side of Sydney Harbour. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Ferries of Sydney, an online community dedicated to the preservation of old ships, said the Port Authority rushed to the scene to deploy a pollution control boom.

Members of the preservation group said the sinking was “inevitable” as the ferry had badly rusted through the years.

“This tragic event demonstrates the need to properly preserve and secure Sydney’s living maritime heritage,” Sydney maritime researcher Oskar Johanson told The Daily Telegraph.

“Even the efforts of a caring community can sometimes not be enough to keep an old boat afloat.”

The historic Baragoola ferry has sunk at it's mooring in Sydney’s north.

One former deck boy said he had cruised past the rusting ship and seen holes in her hull a decade ago.

“She was never going to be restored to her former glory, no one was going to spend the huge amount of money to fix her,” he wrote online. “Now Sydney has another wreck.”

Mr Johanson said it was a warning for the retiring Freshwater Manly ferries.

“Coming within months of the retiment of the Freshwater-class ferries, this is a timely reminder we must find new ways to preserve such iconic vessels.”

The Baragoola was one of the final surviving large ships created by Mort’s Dock and Engineering and which typified the Australian double-ended screw ferry design.

The Baragoola and its sister ferries were not only international tourist attractions in the mid-20th century, they also turned the Northern Beaches into commuter towns.

The Baragoola Ferryon Sunday. Picture: Gaye Gerard

A restoration association had spent 2021 trying to form a plan for “The Goola” and were considering pulling her up onto dry land where it could be dismantled, restored and exhibited to raise funds.

“She is the last Sydney-built Manly ferry that is restorable. North Head is too far gone,” the association wrote in September.

“Goola on the other hand can and should be saved. Her engine rooms are intact and could be made operational again. But we need people and money.”

Walkers check out the damage on Sunday.

Debris left in the water.

Just before Christmas the association complained the boat’s caretaker was being pressured to sell parts of the ship and someone was falsely claiming to have bought the entire vessel.

“Both these activities are not on,” the association wrote, hitting out at “false rumours”.

The association wrote that Covid restrictions had prevented maintenance and supporters, just days ago, said they hoped 2022 would be a better year for the rusting ship.

It’s unclear who will foot the bill for the clean up of the sunken ship with one supporter posting images of the wreckage.

“Looks like no one is cleaning up the mess,” he said.