Balmain East ferry wharf is located on Sydney Harbour in the Sydney suburb of Balmain East. It is served by Sydney Ferries Pyrmont Bay services operating between Circular Quay and Pyrmont Bay.
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. In February 1844 the steamer Waterman commenced the first public ferry service between Balmain and the Australian Gas Light Company wharf at Millers Point.Madras – The New Light House Sydney Morning Herald 1 March 1844 page 2Steam to Balmain Sydney Morning Herald 1 March 1844 The service was established by Perdriau Ferries that later Balmain Steam Ferries.Harbour Circle Walk: Notes on Loop & Alternative walks New South Wales Department of Planning 2006
From the beginning of the 20th century, Sydney's electric tram system down Darling Street to the wharf and connected with the ferries. The tramway operated until 1954.Balmain Tram Wharfs To Go Sydney Morning Herald 6 March 1954 page 1 As the road next to the wharf had a grade of 1 in 8, 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 preserved at the Sydney Tramway Museum when the tramway was removed.The Balmain Counterweight System - 1903 to 1955 Electric Traction November 1961 pages 10-13
In 1996 the wharf was renamed from Darling Street to Balmain East.Sydney Ferries Transit Australia February 1997 page 40
On 14 January 2015, the wharf closed for a rebuild with the existing structure demolished and a new one opened on 18 June 2015.Balmain East Wharf upgrade to start in January Transport for NSW 9 January 2015Balmain East Wharf and Sydney Olympic Park Wharf closed for upgrade Transport for NSW 13 January 2015Balmain East Wharf Upgrade Roads & Maritime ServicesBalmain East Wharf to reopen tomorrow Transport for NSW 17 June 2015
Services Balmain East wharf is served by Sydney Ferries Pyrmont Bay services operating between Circular Quay and Pyrmont Bay.F4 timetable Transport for NSW It is also served by weekday and weekend evening Parramatta River services services from Sydney Olympic Park.F3 timetable Transport for NSW
Transport links Transit Systems operates one bus route to and from Balmain East wharf: 442: to Queen Victoria BuildingRoute 442 Transport for NSW
References
External links
Balmain East Wharf Transport for NSW Balmain East Locality Map Transport for NSW