Ross Bray’s collection of photographs of tug boats working Sydney Harbour is part of a long Sydney love affair with these iconic vessels. From the late nineteenth century, tug boats were a feature of the landscape of maritime industry that dominated the waterways of Port Jackson. They were the subject of artists – especially photographers – and were popular with model-makers and as children’s toys.
The Australian National Maritime Museum holds a significant collection of all sorts of material relating to tugboats – from records, plans, and reports to paintings, photographs and models. Below is a selection of some images from the long history of these much loved vessels.
This 1909 oil painting by Reginald Arthur Borstel shows the clipper ship Port Jackson and the tug Heroic. The two vessels were not in Sydney at the same time in 1909. Borstel may have included Heroic in the image as it was a new, modern tug.
Clipper ship Port Jackson and the tug Heroic. ANMM Collection 00000644
The tug boat Sydney Cove was built in England in 1956 for J Fenwick of the Sydney Harbour Board and operated on the harbour until 1977. This clockwork model of the tug was built by Arthur Joel Cole circa 1960. During the twentieth century tug boats were a favourite of model makers, expressing an appreciation of these vessels that were a favourite with children as well.
Scale clockwork model of tug Sydney Cove
ANMM Collection Gift from J D Edwards 00019252
Around the turn of the twentieth century, Samuel Hood and photographers from his studio were in the business of selling photographs of visiting ships. But Hood in particular was also careful to document scenes of the harbour, in particular the working vessels and their crews. The Hood Collection of over 9,000 glass plate and nitrate negatives and photographs from the 1890s to 1950s is an outstanding historical resource of the working life of Sydney Harbour.
The steam tug Pluvius on Sydney Harbour circa 1910.
Samuel J Hood Studio ANMM Collection 00022737
Built in 1909 in Glasgow, this Fenwick and Co., tug boat was named Heroine. Due to the nature of their work, tugs were given names reflecting bravery, strength and endurance. There were several tugs that operated in Sydney Harbour with names such as Heroic and Forceful. The Heroine’s sister tug Hero was arguably the iconic tug boat of Sydney Harbour, well-known for its incredible rescue of the American barque Abby Palmer in 1905 off the cliffs of South Head in horrendous seas.
Fenwick and Co. tug boat Heroine, built in 1909
Samuel J Hood Studio. ANMM Collection 00023270
In the 1920s Sydney Harbour was still graced by declining numbers of the famous windjammer vessels. In this photo, the German four-masted barque Pommern is being towed through the Glebe Island swing bridge by the tug boat Wellington.
The German four-masted barque Pommern being towed through the Glebe Island swing bridge in 1922 by the tug boat Wellington
The tug Hero towing the sailing ship Pamir, 14 April 1947
Photograph by Max Dupain.ANMM Collection Gift from Brambles Australia 00038310
One of the earliest types of steam driven tug boat is this side-paddle wheel vessel from around 1880. The Yatala was built in 1877 for the Adelaide Steam Ship Company.
Iron paddle tug boat Yatala, 1877-1912
ANMM Collection Transfer from the Australian War Memorial ANMS0047 355
The work of tug boats was varied. This tug guides the container ship Australian Endeavour under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, in about 1970.
A tug boat guides the container ship Australian Endeavour under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, 1970.
ANMM Collection Gift from Captain Sidney Arthur Chamberlain ANMS0333 019
The P&O cruise ship Oriana being turned in front of the Sydney Opera House in the early 1970s. One tug-boat is pushing the starboard-bow, a second is pulling the port-bow, and a third is pushing on the port-quarter.
P&O liner Oriana being turned around with the assistance of three tugboats off Bennelong Point, Sydney
Photographer: John Richard 'Jack' Tyrrell Richardson. ANMM Collection Gift from Patricia Grace ANMS1125 061
