Model of Sydney ferry 'Lady Woodward'
Object No. 93/373/1
The Sydney ferry has been a visual symbol of Sydney's Port Jackson for over 100 years. It is arguable that it is a more universal icon of Sydney Harbour than the Opera House or the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The 'Lady Woodward' is representative of the 'Lady' class of ferry , which superseded all but the 'K' class of double-ended ferries. The 'Lady' class of which the 'Lady Cutler' was the forerunner, began in 1968 and consisted of four vessels similar in size and design to the 'Lady Cutler' and two larger versions. This class carried most of the ferry passengers during the 1970's and 1980's. The ferries of this class came in three small sub-groups. First was 'Lady Cutler' of 1968. In 1970 identical sisters 'Lady McKell' and 'Lady Woodward' were delivered, followed by 'Lady Herron' and 'Lady Street' in 1979. 'Lady Cutler' could be distinguished from her sisters 'McKell' and 'Woodward' by her sloping windscreens to the wheelhouses. Her sisters' windscreens had a reverse slope, in order to reduce windscreen glare. The third group pair had their two funnels positioned on either side of the superstructure. At the time of writing (2015) 'Lady Cutler' is running as an excursion vessel out of the Yarra River in Melbourne. So too is the former 'Lady McKell' as 'Victoria Star.' Her stern area had been remodelled and the rear wheelhouse removed. 'Lady Street' was prematurely broken up in Sydney and the 'Lady Herron,' at 35 years of age, was working on Sydney Harbour. Graeme Andrews OAM, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences volunteer under the supervision of Margaret Simpson, Curator, November 2015
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Summary
Object Statement
Ship model and display case, 'Lady Woodward', ferry, wood / metal / glass, made by apprentices of State Transit Ferries, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, c. 1983
Physical Description
Ship model and display case, ferry, 'Lady Woodward'. wood / metal / glass, made by apprentices of State Transit Ferries, Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, c.1983
PRODUCTION
Notes
This model was made by apprentices of State Transit Ferries in the Sydney suburb Balmain in about 1983.
HISTORY
Notes
The'Lady Woodward' was built in 1970 for the NSW Public Transport Commission in charge of Sydney Ferries by the NSW State Dockyard Newcastle. The 'Lady Woodward' and the 'Lady McKell ' were being built one behind the other at the Newcastle slipway with the 'Lady Kell' the one closer to the water. The plan was to launch both on the same day, but Lady McKell was unable to make the day chosen for the ceremony, but Lady Woodward could. So quick thinking took place, the names on the ship' bows were cut out and switched ,the one to the other. So the 'Lady Kell' now became the 'Lady Woodward' and vice-versa. The now 'Lady Woodward ' was launched by Lady Woodward on19th October 1970, and the now ' Lady McKell ' launched by Lady McKell several weeks later. In Sydney's First Great Ferry Race in 1980, it was the 'Lady Woodward ' first across the finish line. After a long career servicing Sydney Harbour passenger traffic, the 'Lady Woodward' was decommissioned in 1991, and provisionally sold to Hong Kong interests, but the deal fell through. She was finally sold to Maurice Drent Boating services (MDBS) Tasmania and variously worked on 3D Surveys and as an aquaculture support vessel for harvesting trout, and storage of fishfood. She was eventually sold again in 2010 to a private family, and relocated to Tin Can Bay, Queensland, to be refitted out as a private floating home.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of State Transit Sydney Ferries, 1993
Acquisition Date
19 October 1993
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