Timeline of Sydney Harbour ferries

From the mid-nineteenth century, the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company and its forerunners ran commuter and weekend excursion services to the beach-side suburb.

The Manly service fared better, and the Port Jackson company's peak year was 1946, after which a slow decline saw it too taken over by the NSW State Government in the 1970s.

Sydney's first ferries were sail and/or oar powered and by the mid-19th century, paddle steamers were well established.

Double-ended ferries became common as they did not require turning at terminating wharves in Sydney's busy but narrow bays, including the main hub at Circular Quay.

Hydrofoils were introduced to the Manly run in the 1960s and 1970s halving travel times for those willing to pay a premium fare.

Top to bottom and left to right, Kuramia (1914-1934), PS Brighton (1883-1916), Herald (1855-1884), K-class ferries in Sydney Cove , hydrofoil Curl Curl (1973-1992), South Steyne (1938-1974), Collaroy (1988-)
Ocean-going steamer, Sophia Jane , was used sporadically on the Parramatta River.
Circular Quay, 1890s
Circular Quay, 1900s
A busy early twentieth century pre-Bridge Circular Quay
A busy Circular Quay in 1926 with K-class ferries inner harbour ferries and two " Binngarra-class " Manly ferries. Harbour Bridge construction is well-underway in the background.
Vehicular ferries, Koondooloo and Kooroongaba at Jeffrey Street wharf, Kirribilli , with the Sydney Harbour Bridge under construction behind, 1930.
Old ferries laid up at McMahon's Point during the 1950s slump in ferry travel
Circular Quay in 1970, when the majority of the fleet were still pre-World War I timber ferries. They were replaced in the 1970s and 80s following government investment in new ferries.
Karingal , Lady Street and Freshwater in Urban Transit Authority colours, Circular Quay, 1983
Much of the contemporary Sydney Ferries fleet at Circular Quay at dawn, including a SuperCat , two "Freshwater-class" Manly ferries , and eight of the nine First Fleet-class ferries , 2013