HMAS Burra Bra

 

The Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company's fleet transitioned comparatively late to screw propelled vessels and the fleet comprised mostly paddle steamers until the early years of the twentieth century. The difficulty of turning in the narrow bays of Sydney Harbour - particularly in the busy Circular Quay terminus in Sydney Cove - required the use of double-ended vessels. However, a double-ended screw configuration was particularly difficult for the fine bows that Manly ferries required for both speed and heavy seas. Further, a propeller at the leading forward end of a vessel reduced speed considerably. In the prosperous early twentieth century, this speed drawback was overcome by increasing engine size and power.

The first screw ferries on the Manly run were two innovative Walter Reeks–designed vessels; the SS Manly (1896), and SS Kuring-gai (1901), which were to become the fore-runners of the "Binngarra-class" ferries. They both had high forecastles at either to help her run through the deep-sea conditions across the Sydney Heads. The steel-hulled Kuring-gai was larger and she further refined the basic design to be similar to the subsequent and larger "Binngarra-class" vessels. Manly and Kuring-gai had both, however, followed paddle steamer design with their bridges around the midships funnels. Whereas the "Binngarra-class" vessels would have their wheelhouses at either end of their promenade decks.

 

Burra Bra was built by Mort Docks and Engineering Co, Woolwich for the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company for the Manly service. Launched on 17 June 1908, it was the second of six Binngarra type Manly ferries. Almost identical sister ship to Binngarra (1905), Bellubera (1910), Balgowlah (1912), Barrenjoey (1913 - later North Head, and Baragoola.

At 59 metres in length and with a gross tonnage of 458 tons, she had a passenger capacity of 1,448.^[2] With her open upper deck, her winter capacity was 916 passengers. Her triple-expansion steam engines generated 100 hp and powered her to a maximum of 13 knots.^[3]

She made her trial run on 6 November 1908.^[2]

During the 1928 Roman Catholic Congress, the church used the vessel to ferry delegates to Manly. She was painted white with a large cross on either side of her funnel and was escorted many smaller craft and other ferries.^[4] She was the flag ship for the Pittwater Regatta on 28 December 1929.^[2]

She became the last of the open upper deck Manly ferries; unlike her sisters, Bellubera, Barrenjoey (North Head), and Baragoola her upper decks were never enclosed. The second oldest of the Binngarra type ferry (Binngarra of 1905 was hulked in 1933), she was used as a spare ferry from the mid-1930s.^[5] The ferry was withdrawn from service in 1940.^[1][6]

 

On 13 November 1942 during World War II, it was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy. Her superstructure was stripped down, one wheelhouse removed, and she was fitted out by Poole and Steel Limited (Sydney) and armed with one 12-pounder on the stern, two Vickers machine guns, and two depth charge chutes. She was commissioned HMAS Burra Bra, with the Pennant Number 69, on 1 February 1943. Based at Jervis Bay, the navy used her at sea as an anti-submarine training ship and as a target towing vessel for aircraft torpedo and bombing practise.^[5] On 25 August 1943 Burra Bra was purchased by the Commonwealth government. It was laid up on 1 June 1944 at Athol Bight adjacent Bradleys Head, before being used to supply steam to vessels under refit. It was sold in November 1947 for stripping and later scuttled at sea.^[5][6][7][8]

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  Painted white for the 1928 Roman Catholic Congress to carry delegates to Manly.
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  With a capacity spectator crowd, 1920s or early 1930s
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  With Koompartoo (left) during the 1928 Roman Catholic Conference
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  At Bennelong Point as an RAN anti-submarine vessel

• List of Sydney Harbour ferries
• Timeline of Sydney Harbour ferries

•   Media related to Burra Bra at Wikimedia Commons