History
The Balmain East ferry wharf has been operating since the 1840s as Balmain's main wharf. Originally, watermen offered the first services on demand in small rowing skiffs or sailing dinghies. In February 1844 the steamer Waterman commenced the first public ferry service between Balmain and the Australian Gas Light Company wharf in Millers Point. The service was established by Henry Perdriau, the owner of Perdriau Ferries, later Balmain Steam Ferries.
From the beginning of the twentieth century, Sydney's electric tram system extended down to the Darling Street wharf and connected with the ferries. The tramway operated until 1954. As the road next to the wharf had a grade of 1 in 8.25, a unique counterweight dummy system was installed under the road surface to help push trams up the hill. An underground counterweight system was connected by cable to a cable tram grip dummy on the track on the surface. A tram descending would push the grip dummy ahead of it (which raised the counterweight). On the return journey, the grip dummy would give the tram a helpful push. The mechanism was removed to the Sydney Tramway Museum when the tramway was removed.
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