PS Herald
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The Herald was an iron paddle steamer imported as frames from the United Kingdom and assembled in 1855 by Richard Johnson in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia, where she was registered. The Herald is one of the earliest iron paddle wheel steamers built in Australia, where she operated within Sydney Harbour. She was initially used on the fledgling North Shore route between Dawes Point and Blues Point by the newly formed North Shore Steam Company; however, due to not enough traffic to make her financially viable, she often performed tug duties. Eventually the North Shore Steam Company was wound up; the vessel was put up for sale but continued picking up business wherever it was available, operating as a tug, ferry, excursion boat and cargo vessel.
Paddle steamer Herald, 1855–1884 | |
History | |
---|---|
Name | Herald |
Owner |
|
Port of registry | |
Fate | Wrecked |
General characteristics | |
Type | Steam paddle wheeler |
Tonnage | 41 GRT |
Displacement | 22 NRT |
Length | 74.7 feet 0 inches (22.77 m) |
Beam | 12.8 feet 0 inches (3.90 m) |
Draught | 5.7 feet 0 inches (1.74 m) |
Installed power | Twin boilers |
Complement | 2 |
By 1873 Herald was working to Mosman Bay and Neutral Bay in a somewhat irregular weekday timetable. In the late 1870s and early 1880s she ran as an excursion boat to Manly and a tug. On 1 April 1884 the starboard boiler blew out while the Herald was waiting to bring in a sailing ship about 400 yards from North Head, causing the vessel to sink.