page_title: MV Bellubera
section_title: Service history and configuration changes
hierarchical_section_title: MV Bellubera / Service history and configuration changes
caption_attribution_description: English: S.S. Bombala and the ferry Bellubera, Februrary 18, 1928&#32;(1928).
context_page_description: Bellubera was a ferry operated by the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company on the Manly service. Launched in 1910, she was the third of six "Binngarra-type" vessels. Upon her 1936 conversion from steam power, she became the first diesel-electric vessel in Australia. She was decommissioned in 1973, and scuttled at sea in 1980.
  Due to many misfortunes in her 63-year service life, she was nicknamed the Hoodoo Ship. Two of her masters died at the wheel, two crew members died when she was gutted by fire in 1936, and the owner of a motor launch was killed when the Bellubera ran it down and sank her.
  The name "bellubera" is thought to be an Australian Aboriginal word meaning "pretty lady" or "beautiful woman".
context_section_description: Launched on 6 April 1910 by Mrs J. Fyfe, she was the third of six Binngarra-type vessels. She was a near identical sister to Barrenjoey (later North Head) and Balgowlah (1912), and similar to the slightly smaller Binngarra (1905), Burra Bra (1908) and Baragoola (1922). She was 499 tons and 64.0 m long. As built, she was powered by triple expansion steam engine providing 123 hp and was able to make up to 15 knots.
  The exorbitant cost and difficulty in replacing the large expensive steel hulled Binngarra-type vessels saw the Bellubera, along with the Balgowlah, Barrenjoey, and Baragoola retained and significantly modified. In the 1920s, all four had officers' cabins attached to their wheelhouses. Beginning with Barrenjoey in 1930, and then in 1931-32 Balgowlah, Baragoola, and Bellubera over 1931–32, had their open upper passenger decks enclosed.
  In 1936 with her boilers nearing the end of their service life, Bellubera's original steam engines were replaced by four five-cylinder Harland & Wolff diesel engines (1,800 bhp) which drove two British Thompson-Houston diesel engineers, which could push her to 16 knots. Her single funnel was replaced by two, the second funnel being a dummy mounted for appearance. She became the first diesel-electric powered vessel in Australia. The new engines increased her service speed to 18 knots, but increased vibrations throughout the vessel making her less popular with passengers.
  In 1948, Bellubera, along with Balgowlah, Baragoola, was fitted with the larger wheelhouse/cabin structures that they would sport until the rest of their ferry careers.  In 1954, she was taken to the State Dockyard where she was partially replated, repainted, and re-engined with three seven-cylinder British Thompson-Houston diesel engines that drove 2 English Electric electric engines.
caption: SS Bombala and Bellubera on the harbour in 1928, after wheelhouses were extended.
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