’Devastated’: 99-year-old Manly ferry Baragoola sinks

One of Sydney’s historic Manly ferries – MV Baragoola – sank in five minutes, after taking on seawater on Saturday night.

One of Sydney’s greatest historic Manly ferries has met a tragic end at 99 years of age and sunk into the harbour.

MV Baragoola, the last “restorable” Manly ferry steamship built in Sydney, sank on Sunday at its berth at Balls Head Bay.

A battle to save the historic MV Baragoola had been brewing for years, following its six decades of service commencing almost 100 years ago.

Two people who were on board at the time it started sinking, a caretaker and a woman, called Fire and Rescue NSW about 10.30am requesting assistance with pumping seawater from the vessel.

About five minutes later authorities were called and the boat had already sunk, NSW Police said.

The two people on board at the time escaped in a small tender before being taken aboard a NSW Police boat.

Authorities said the heavily rusted ship sank due to disrepair. A boom has been deployed to contain any pollutants, with the majority of the vessel submerged and debris left in the water.

A spokesman for Transport for NSW said because of the debris, a salvage operation was being planned to reduce any hazard for other boaters, who have been urged to avoid the area.

“A boom has been deployed to contain any pollutants if they appear,” he said.

“Reports at this stage indicate that there were only small amounts of pollutant on board and the fuel tanks were empty. Further inquiries will be made with the owner about the incident.”

Baragoola Manly ferry passengers in 1979

The vessel, which entered service in September 1922, was originally a steam ship and then converted to a motor vessel in December 1960.

It was retired on January 8, 1983, and given a grand send-off, with all decks of the ship open to passengers on its final voyage.

News of the loss has devastated those who campaigned to save the ship. Over the years they had attempted to raise money and volunteers to either restore or convert it into a museum.

“Please remember she is the last Sydney-built Manly ferry that is restoreable (sic). North Head is too far gone,” the Baragoola Preservation Association wrote on Facebook in September 2021.

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

When contacted on Sunday, representatives for the association were too “devastated” to comment.