MV Lady Denman

The MV Lady Denman is a wooden ferry vessel approximately 34 meters long that remains preserved today as a museum ship at Jervis Bay. The vessel features two passenger decks, two wheelhouses, and a single propeller system designed to reduce structural stress on its hull.

The vessel was built in 1912 for the Balmain New Ferry Company and transported passengers across Sydney Harbour for 67 years before being retired in 1979. Its decommissioning marked the end of an era for passenger ferry services in Sydney.

The vessel reflects the social structures of its era, with separate sections reserved for different passenger groups that persisted until the 1950s. Visitors can still observe this spatial arrangement and understand how society was organized aboard.

The vessel is displayed as a static exhibit at a museum where visitors can board and explore its structure firsthand. Plan your visit during regular museum hours when knowledgeable staff can answer questions about the ship's history and operation.

After 67 years of service as a working ferry, the vessel was brought back to Huskisson, its original construction site, through a volunteer effort. This journey connected the ship to the place where it was built, transforming it into a lasting historical monument.