Description |
88 pages : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 20 x 27 cm |
Contents |
Foreword -- Melbourne's First Ferry -- Melbourne-Geelong Bay Trade -- The Bay Excursion Steamers -- Steamers on the West Coast -- East to the Gippsland Lakes -- Bass Strait Ferries -- Other Ferries then and now -- Appendices -- A Williamstown Ferries -- B Ships int he Melbourne-Geelong Trade -- C Ships in the Bay Excursion Trade -- D Ships in the West Coast Trade -- E Ships in the Gippsland Trade -- F Bass Strait Ferries -- G Ferries-Geelong to Point Henry -- H Ships to King Island -- I Queenscliff, Portsea and Sorrento Ferries -- J Other Vessels mentioned in the Text -- Bibliography -- Index |
Summary |
Today, more than four decades after the last bay steamers and costal ferries ceased regular services from Melbourne, most have forgotten that for almost a century they played an important role in the development of Victoria. The first steamer on the Yarra was the Firefly which began trading on 28 October 1838 between Melbourne and Williamstown. Later, vessels ran regularly from Melbourne north as far as the Guppsland Lakes, west to Portland, and south to Launceston and Hobart. The journeys were often hazardous with fales or rough seas sometimes extending the time taken to go to the Gippsland Lakes or Portland from three to six weeks. Gradually the vessels became faster and by the 1860s and 1870s the time taken for those long voyages was greatly reduced. But even from the early years, all companies demonstrated a responsibility towards the merchants and citizens they served, and in return were highly respected by those who realised that the dependability and safety of the ships and crews contributed to the development and prosperity of their communities. Eventually, road and rail competition destroyed all shipping around the Victorian coast, leaving oly the ferry run across Bass Strait to continue in the face of incerasing competition. With its informative text and many historical photographs, this book will bring to life dor the shiplover of student of Australiana these bay steamers and coastal ferries which served Victoria, and indeed the rest of Australia so well. (Inside cover) |
Notes |
Includes index |
Bibliography |
Bibliography: pages 84-85 |
Subject |
Coastwise shipping -- Australia -- Victoria -- History.
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Ferries -- Victoria -- History
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Ferries -- Australia -- Victoria.
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Ferries -- Australia -- Tasmania -- History.
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Navigation -- Australia -- Victoria -- History -- 19th century.
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Navigation -- Australia -- Victoria -- History -- 20th century.
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Steamboats -- Victoria -- Melbourne -- History
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Steamboats -- Australia -- Victoria.
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Steamboats -- Australia -- Victoria -- History.
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Ferries -- History. -- Australia -- Melbourne (Vic.)
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SUBJECT |
Melbourne (Vic.) http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79029787 -- Ferries -- History
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LC no. |
83108787 |
ISBN |
0589503839 |
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