Balmain East ferry wharf
| 275px Balmain East
| |
|---|---|
| 280px | |
| Darling Harbour Ferry | |
| Balmain/Woolwich Ferry | |
| Birkenhead Ferry | |
| Suburb | Balmain East |
| Street(s) | Darling St |
| Travel time from Circular Quay | 14 mins |
| Number of berths | 1 |
| Ticket Zone | Inner Harbour |
| Travelpass Zone | Red |
| Ticket barriers | No |
| Transfers available | Bus |
| Disabled access 12px | No |
Balmain East Ferry Wharf (also known as Darling Street Wharf) is the commuter wharf serving Balmain East in Sydney, Australia, and is part of the Sydney Ferries network. The wharf is on the southern side of Sydney Harbour at the end of Darling Street.
History
The Balmain East ferry wharf has been operating since the 1840s as Balmain's main wharf. Originally, watermen offered the first services on demand in small rowing skiffs or sailing dinghies, until a regular public ferry services were established later by Henry Perdriau, the owner of Perdriau Ferries, later Balmain Steam Ferries.[1]
From the beginning of the twentieth century, Sydney's electric tram system extended down to the Darling Street wharf and connected with the ferries. The tramway operated until 1954.[1] As the road next to the wharf had a grade of 1 in 8.25, a unique counterweight dummy system was installed under the road surface to help push trams up the hill. An underground counterweight system was connected by cable to a cable tram grip dummy on the track on the surface. A tram descending would push the grip dummy ahead of it (which raised the counterweight). On the return journey, the grip dummy would give the tram a helpful push. The mechanism was removed to the Sydney Tramway Museum when the tramway was removed.[2]
Services
Wharf 1
- Balmain/Woolwich Ferry - services to Circular Quay; services to Woolwich and Drummoyne.
- Darling Harbour Ferry - services to Circular Quay; services to Pyrmont Bay.
Bus services
There is an adjoining bus stop at the wharf. This stop services the following routes:
- 442 - Town Hall station via Balmain, Glebe, Ultimo & Pyrmont.
- 444/445 - Campsie Station via Balmain, Birchgrove, Rozelle, Lilyfield, Leichhardt, Petersham, Lewisham and Hurlstone Park.
Neighbouring wharves
| Preceding wharf (towards City) |
Sydney Ferries Routes |
Following wharf (away from City) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McMahons Point | Balmain Ferry | Balmain | ||
| McMahons Point | Birkenhead Ferry | Balmain West | ||
| Balmain | Darling Harbour Ferry | Aquarium | ||
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Spindler, Graham, "Harbour Circle Walk: Notes on Loop & Alternative walks", New South Wales Department of Planning, 2006. Accessed 20 August 2006.
- ↑ Railpage Australia, "Tramways of Australia: Sydney's tram history", 18 August 1997. Accessed 14 March 2007.
Coordinates: 33°51′25.18″S 151°11′45.29″E / 33.8569944°S 151.1959139°E
