Ferry transport in Queensland

Crossings in the Brisbane central business district and at Bulimba, Dutton Park, Indooroopilly and Moggill were needed for road transport to develop in a growing town.

[4] The TMR employ terms that are contained within the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994: a ferry can be a ship, boat, barge or hovercraft; a Public Passenger Vehicle is a vehicle used to transport members of the public and a Scheduled Passenger Service is a service — The TMR is divided into the following administrative regions which, where content is available, form the basis of the remaining information: Central West, Darling Downs, Far North, Fitzroy, Mackay/Whitsunday, Metropolitan, North Coast, North West, Northern, South Coast, South West and Wide Bay–Burnett.

[8] In July 2003, the Shire of Douglas overturned a motion to investigate the construction of a low-lying single lane bridge with a boom gate and a second ferry across the Daintree.

[11] Limited annual quantities of Daintree ferry concessional travel policy applies to the following people: Cairns Regional Council ratepayers, residents, business operators and employees who work north of the Daintree River and are within the former Douglas Shire area; Queensland Health or Blue Care who travel across the Daintree Ferry in the course of their duties; and Residents of the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire and some Cook Shire Council residents.

In February 1842, the first real wave of settlers up the river followed the proclamation of the free settlement of Moreton Bay District.

[23] The early ferry services were privately run until Brisbane City Council created by-laws in 1860 governing their operation.

The 1893 Brisbane flood saw this transferred to the city with the loss of the Victoria Bridge, a winch and cable punt continued in its place.

In 1928 the steam ferry Hetherington enter service and it carried passengers and vehicles, between Bulimba and Teneriffe until its demise in 1952.

[24] Bulimba village was served by a vehicular steam ferry (1886), connecting with the Newstead horse-tram service (1888) which was electrified during the late 1890s.

A walk down Oxford Street to the ferry remained the sole means of convenient public transport to Brisbane until the 1930s.

As a prank, the University of Queensland's Student Union created a petition with approximately 4,000 signatures, largely gathered at the Regatta Hotel, and convinced Lord Mayor Clem Jones of the need for the ferry service.

[28] The Pamela Sue ferry (renamed Hamilton) was sold into private ownership for use at Karragarra Island but ended up in storage at Thornlands.

In 2020 the University of Queensland acquired and restored the ferry and put it on display (out of the water) at the St Lucia campus.

Another of the ferries which operated the service, the Vicky-Lynn, was privately restored by a university staff member who uses it as a pleasure craft on Moreton Bay.

The James Holt was built by Evans Deakin for £192,000, was 169' and powered by 3 twin Rolls-Royce diesel marine engines.

The ferry's trials were delayed by several months as the propellers did not arrive from Scotland due to a massive fire at the factory.

The James Holt ferry officially went into service on Monday 7 February 1966 at the south bank berth on Queensport Road and was manned by a crew of three and had deck accommodation to hold up to 36 vehicles.

After the completion of the Gateway Bridge on 11 January 1986 the James Holt ferry was no longer needed and it was retired from service.

[33] Not long after its retirement as a ferry, it underwent an extensive refit and found a new role as the party boat known as "The Island".

In the two references in this section different locations are given for the operation of John Williams' ferry service called the "Time Killer".

The suggestion to sink or demolish the ferry to prevent it becoming a 'missile' was raised during the flood crises until the captain and former skipper managed to secure the vessel to the banks of the Brisbane River with 5 ropes.

[42] The Brisbane City Council ferry fleet currently consists of CityCats, CityHoppers and CityFerries as well as some leased KittyCats.

[43] The timeline of events leading up to the current arrangements commenced in 1991 when the River Connections contract was awarded by Brisbane City Council for the entire CityFerry fleet.

In 2003 MetroLink Queensland, which was a joint venture between Transdev and Transfield Services, were awarded a seven year contract to operate and market the CityCat and CityFerry fleets.

[45] Stradbroke Ferries' Combie Trader barge service from Scarborough in Redcliffe City to Bulwer ceased in July 2008 due to matters with the terminal and landing areas.

[46] In December 2009, a passenger-only ferry service was launched by Reality Cruises departing from the Newport Waterways Marina near Scarborough.

[50] Additionally, Transit Systems operated the Big Red Cat, a vehicle ferry from Cleveland to North Stradbroke Island.

A schedule involving a catamaran was provided between Hope Harbour, Gold Coast, to Couran Cove Island Resort .

In 1874, minor flooding stopped the service which led to the Land Court at Beenleigh being cancelled because officials were unable to cross.

[76] In 1969, Gordon Elmer commenced the first regular vehicular ferry to Fraser Island, between Inskip Peninsula and Hook Point.