Ferrython: The sinking of the Karrabee (1984)
The annual Ferrython ended on a far more dramatic note than usual on this Australia Day when the Sydney ferry Karrabee, packed with around 500 passengers, began to ship water mid-race. Limping into a berth at Circular Quay, the 70-year-old vessel was evacuated just in time – though two crew members had to be rescued – before sinking at its moorings. Within minutes, only the tip of the funnel and a lone navigation light were above water.
The incident threw an unforgiving spotlight on long-standing maintenance problems and hastened the retirement of Sydney’s beloved timber ferries. The memory of the half-submerged Karrabee – later refloated and reborn as a restaurant – endures as a reminder of what can happen to the best laid plans.
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