Manly Ferry: Saving Sydney Harbour’s ‘jewel’ would boost tourism

London has its red bus, New York its yellow taxi. They’ve become symbols of world-class cities as has the Manly ferry. So why scrap Sydney’s global icon?

Character is what separates a world city from just another jumble of roads, office blocks and homes.

For London it is the red Routemaster bus which has dictated the colour of the double decker fleet on the city’s streets ever since. New York would never give up its yellow taxis and not much has changed in Venice since gondolas began cruising the famous canals in the 11th century.

Keeping Sydney Harbour’s jewel, the Freshwater-class Manly Ferry from the scrap heap has been compared to the selling point offered to world cities which have retained and embraced their famous transport modes.

The Manly Ferry at Circular Quay. Picture: Justin Lloyd

The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday launched a campaign to save the 1100-passenger ferries after the government announced they would be replaced on the commuter route by smaller, faster catamarans.

The government is now close to saving the ferries to service tourists, a move which could boost visitor spending.

Experts have declared the boat is as valuable to Sydney as the gondolas are to Venice.

Macquarie University marketing guru associate Professor Jana Bowden said the Manly Ferry is much more than just a mode of transport.

Iconic.... London’s red buses.

Staten Island Ferry.

Italian gondolas.

“The Freshwater ferry is about the personality of Sydney. It’s just as symbolic to us as the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, or the gondolas of Venice, or the double decker Red buses of London,” she said.

“When we visit these cities these icons form an essential part of the positive emotions and memories that we take away with us.”

The Freshwater Class ferry has been compared to the San Francisco cable car, which still operates mainly serving tourists, as the last manual cable car system in the world.

It shares similarities with the Star Ferry in Hong Kong, which has a daily average of 50,000 passengers and the fleet is an average of 57 years old.

Star Ferry Hong Kong.

New York taxi.

Ferries on the route have been in service for 120 years.

The ferry runs at a loss but the ferry’s website boasts that it was once named by National Geographic Traveller as one of the 50 places of a lifetime.

Prof Bowden said the Manly ferry attracted domestic and international tourists.

“The ferry is a drawcard not only for tourists both international and domestic who have seen its images splashed across tourism review websites, in magazines as a must-do item on the bucket-list when visiting Sydney,” she said.

The Manly Ferry. Picture: Justin Lloyd

“Attractions and experiences like this are what give Sydney a unique brand identity, a point of difference, and key selling point to keep tourists coming back to our city and telling others about our city and all of that translates into dollars.”

The ferry is listed as the world’s sixth best ferry.

Caps off to winning writers

Dear Editor

We love these ferries and my little grandson Jack Skipper ‘takes the helm’ and steers Freshwater away from ‘pirates and monster sea dragons’ when we are aboard these magnificent “Ladies of the Sydney Harbour”. We now need to steer well clear of the narrow-minded bureaucrats who want to replace these beautiful stately open-deck ferries with small enclosed fast catamarans that will rush us over to Manly in 22 minutes.

Isn’t the joy of boarding the Manly ferry to take a leisurely voyage across the Heads, breath in the sea air and roll along with the incoming Pacific swell…or have I got something wrong? Keep the Manly ferries for little Jack and all the kids who let their imagination go wild as they steer the ferry to distant shores!

Kind regards,

Martin

I work for Sydney tourism. When we have tourists a huge percentage have come for the Manly Ferry experience and the queues are huge. Despite what Mr (Howard) Collins says these new small ferries would not provide “better services” for “our customers”.

James

The Manly ferry. Picture: Justin Lloyd

I have a marvellous memory as a young boy of about 6 or 7 of being on a ferry close to a troop ship full of Aussie soldiers sailing off to war. I think the ship was the Queen Mary.

Ron Budds

My grandson, now five and a half years old, and I have spent very many happy hours together on the Manly Ferry. On the deck, watching the ‘foam’, staring out of the windows at all the harbour activities. We play ‘eye spy’ for Tiny Teddies. He always wins! Funny that.

John

My dad, Brian Walker, was an Australian junior 100 metre freestyle champion in the late 1940s. He and his mates would dive for coins at manly pool side of wharf, that passengers on Manly Ferry would throw in water for them.

Robyn Walker

My attachment to the Freshwater ferries began as a 12yo boy. On Sundays with a couple of mates we’d catch the train from Homebush into Sydney then catch the ferry to Manly for a day swimming at Manly beach and pool. The rougher the crossing the better.

Dave Donaldson

The mentality of our current politicians is if it moves shoot it if it doesn’t chop it down. Please don’t take my childhood dreams that I grew up with.

Keith Colless

Why do people think new is better than old. It isn’t! Loved “walking the plank” too, to get on the ferry. Loved being at the front, outside, hoping to get drenched by the water as it went up and down on the harbour. Ah what wonderful memories!

Jenny Wakeling

My late father was an Engineer Draftsman who worked on the planning of the Freshwater Ferries out of The Newcastle State Dockyard. I remember him being late home after work as he was a part of sea trials on the ferries. I tell my two sons aged 12 and 15 every time we are in Sydney that there Poppy helped design the old Ferry class. It will be a sad day to see the old fleet end.

David Baker

I am an elderly person and have seen so many of the Icons of Australia, replaced by modern items. Please save the Ferries, as I remember, as a child going to Manly or Taronga Zoo and enjoying the trip on them. I also remember in war time, the Ferry stopping to have the safety net across the harbour lowered, so the ferry could sail across the heads.

Shirley Hope

My husband loves these ferry’s so much he makes 3D printed versions of them. Then spends 100s of hours assembling and painting them to give as gifts for fellow enthusiasts. They are Sydney’s icon of the harbour. We don’t need faster Ferrys, we need to learn to slow down and enjoy our heritage.

Renee Michael

Why does everything have to be fast? What’s wrong with some old world pleasures being retained. Eight minutes difference each crossing. Big deal! Keep the Freshwater it’s what Sydney needs. A bit of character.

Dennis Smith

To Manly on the ferry

We always made merry.

Every Saturday and Sunday

And sometimes on Monday.

From January to December

I’ll always remember

The sun and the sand and the sea,

Then home on the ferry for tea.

Kaye Meades