The RiverCat was a class of catamarans built for the State Transit Authority for use on the Parramatta River.
History In 1991 the State Transit Authority ordered six Grahame Parker Design designed RiverCats from NQEA, Cairns to operate Parramatta River services.Sydney Ferries Transit Australia September 1991 page 211
Named after famous Australian female athletes, the first was delivered in early 1992.Olympian RiverCats Australian Transport & Distribution Management March 1992 page 1 They replaced First Fleet class ferries on the Circular Quay to Meadowbank service on 7 May 1992.Services Fleetline issue 204 July 1992 page 132Sydney's New Rivercats Transit Australia August 1992 pages 171-173 In December 1993 they began operating to Parramatta.Scenic cruise west in sleek comfort Daily Telegraph Mirror 9 December 1993 page 63Timetables and routes Fleetline issue 224 March 1994 page 56
In October 1995, a seventh vessel built by Wavemaster International in Henderson, Western Australia was delivered, named Nicole Livingstone.Sydney Ferries Transit Australia December 1995 page 290 In 2000, Marlene Mathews participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics torch relay.Olympic Transport in Action Transit Australia December 2000 page 279
Although primarily operating Parramatta River services, they also occasionally operated other Transdev Sydney Ferries services.
The last vessel of the class was withdrawn on the 9 March 2026, with all 7 vessels having been scrapped by May 2026.
Retirement
The introduction of the Parramatta River-class ferries allowed for the RiverCats to be phased out.Australian-made ferries to take to Parramatta River Transport for NSW 26 June 2023
On 16 February 2023, Betty Cuthbert was the first vessel retired from service.Betty Cuthbert Transdev Sydney Ferries 16 February 2023 She was stripped for parts at Balmain Shipyard before being towed to Blackwattle Bay Marina for long-term storage, along with several decommissioned SuperCat-class ferries.
On 7 June 2024 Evonne Goolagong was withdrawn.Come for a last ride on our Evonne Goolagong vessel Transdev Sydney Ferries Instagram 5 June 2024 She was used as a parts source at Balmain, before briefly being relocated to Rozelle Bay, along with sister Betty Cuthbert. Both vessels were moved to Rozelle in late June 2024.
In June 2024, Betty Cuthbert and Evonne Goolagong were moved to Yamba by Polaris Marine tug Pegasus for scrapping.Polaris Marine Group at Sydney Harbour Heads Polaris Marine Group Facebook 26 June 2024
On 28 October 2024, Nicole Livingstone was withdrawn from service and was used for parts at Balmain Shipyard before being moved to Rozelle Bay, followed by a final movement to Yamba under tow where she was broken up in early 2025.
On 4 February 2025, Marlene Mathews was withdrawn from service. The vessel was then used for parts at Balmain Shipyard, before being moved via tugboat to Rozelle Bay.
On 3 June 2025, Marjorie Jackson was withdrawn from service. She was then stripped of reusable parts at Balmain Shipyard, before being towed to Rozelle Bay where she was moored alongside sister vessel Marlene Mathews.
On 17 June 2025, MV Marlene Mathews and MV Marjorie Jackson were transferred by Polaris Marine tug EDI, up to Yamba for scrapping. By September 2025 both Marjorie Jackson and Marlene Mathews were scrapped.
On 30 September 2025, MV Shane Gould was withdrawn from service after her 32 year long career. She was used as a parts source until early November 2025, before being briefly moved to Rozelle. In the early hours of 17 November 2025, Shane Gould left Sydney under tow bound for Yamba by Polaris Marine tug Molly Grace. She arrived in Yamba in the morning of 19 November 2025 and was put up onto land on 21 November 2025. On 24 November 2025, scrapping began on the MV Shane Gould. By February 2026, scrapping had been fully completed.
MV Dawn Fraser, the last vessel of her class in service, was withdrawn on 9 March 2026, and was transferred to Polaris Marine Group, Rozelle Bay, on 13 March 2026. In the afternoon of 30 March 2026, Dawn Fraser left Sydney under tow for Yamba by Polaris Marine tug Leaders Creek. Arriving at Yamba on 2 April 2026, Dawn Fraser was bought up onto land on 9 April to be broken up, with the process being completed by 20 May 2026.
Vessels Photo of vesselNameCall signMMSIBuilderShipyard no.Year launchedNamesakeNotes MV Betty Cuthbert at Circular Quay, 2016.Betty Cuthbert18555503376100NQEA181February 1992Betty CuthbertWithdrawn 16 February 2023 MV Dawn Fraser near Cabarita, 2026.Dawn Fraser18554503376200NQEA180February 1992Dawn FraserWithdrawn 9 March 2026MV Evonne Goolagong at Cockatoo Island, 2023.Evonne Goolagong18705503376300NQEA186May 1993Evonne GoolagongWithdrawn 7 June 2024 MV Shane Gould near Homebush Bay, 2025.Shane Gould18642503376700NQEA184January 1993Shane GouldWithdrawn 30 September 2025MV Marlene Mathews passing Cockatoo Island, 2024.Marlene Mathews18643503376600NQEA185January 1993Marlene Mathews Withdrawn 4 February 2025MV Marjorie Jackson near Barangaroo, 2025.Marjorie Jackson18706503376400NQEA187May 1993Marjorie JacksonWithdrawn 3 June 2025 MV Nicole Livingstone at Cockatoo Island, 2024.Nicole Livingstone19044503241900Wavemaster International July 1995Nicole LivingstoneWithdrawn 28 October 2024. Built as Nicole Stevenson, renamed after namesake returned to her maiden name.
Attempted preservation Several attempts have been made to try save the RiverCats, which have all ultimately failed. One of these attempts were made in November 2025 by the owner of Abbotsford point boatshed Roger Kyle, to save the Shane Gould and Dawn Fraser to be used for Christmas parties and other events along the Parramatta River and Sydney Harbour.
Incidents In 1997, Marlene Mathews collided into a small wooden boat around Cockatoo Island.
On 23 September 2005, Betty Cuthbert collided into the bollard at Circular Quay Wharf 5 East and damaging the front bow.
On 11 January 2006, Betty Cuthbert collided into two moored vessels at Fern Bay.
On 7 August 2006, Betty Cuthbert collided into a Luxury Cruiser in Woolwich.
On 24 September 2006, Evonne Goolagong collided into a skiff near Cockatoo Island, injuring two people.
On 5 January 2007, Dawn Fraser collided with a dinghy carrying two people. The force of the collision left one of the dinghy's occupants injured while the other occupant was killed.
On 2 August 2010, Marjorie Jackson collided into the stern of Betty Cuthbert, which then force collided into the stern of the Evonne Goolagong in the Balmain Shipyard, causing Marjorie Jacksons starboard pontoon to be damaged.
On 7 October 2013, Marlene Mathews crashed into Circular Quay Wharf 5 West, injuring 6 people and damaging the front bow.
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