MV Lady Denman

History
Name:	MV Lady Denman formerly SS Lady Denman
Operator:	Sydney Ferries Limited Sydney Harbour Transport Board Public Transport Commission
Port of registry:	Sydney
Builder:	Joseph Dent, Huskisson
Launched:	1912
Out of service:	14 June 1979
Status:	Preserved
General characteristics
Tonnage:	96 tons
Length:	33.5 metres (110 ft)
Beam:	7.6 metres (25 ft)
Decks:	2
Capacity:	500

MV Lady Denman (formerly SS Lady Denman) is a ferry operated by Sydney Ferries Limited and its successors on Sydney Harbour from 1912 until 1979. It was named after Gertrude Denman, wife of the Governor-General.

History

Lady Denman was built by Joseph Dent, Huskisson for Sydney Ferries Limited, being launched in 1912. With the construction of the Harbour Bridge on the horizon, it was designed for a maximum of fifteen years of life. However, after the bridge opened in 1932, it would remain in service being more economical than the larger K-class ferries and better suited to the lesser number of passengers travelling. It was converted to diesel power in 1933 and remained in service until 14 June 1979 when replaced by Lady Street.

A group of people from Huskisson led by Member for South Coast John Hatton banded together and convinced the Public Transport Commission to donate Lady Denman as a museum piece for display in Huskisson. It was towed from Sydney Harbour by HMAS Snipe on 3 January 1980, but was damaged by rough seas and had to turn back.

A second attempt was made on 1 June 1981. However, after running into storm off Wollongong, the ferry began taking on water after a pump failure. The Royal Australian Navy were able to provide HMAS Tobruk to shelter the ferry and the tow was successfully completed to Jervis Bay. On 3 April 1983, Lady Denman was hauled ashore to its final resting place very close to where it had been built. On 3 December 1988 the Lady Denman Maritime Museum opened with an enclosed structure erected in 1998.