User:Kmarquart/Kestrel Ferry

Kestrel Ferry



The Kestrel was launched at Charles Bailey Junior’s yard in Auckland in December 1905. The Kestrel was the second of the Albatross class of ferry and was built for the Devonport/Auckland run.

The vessel is built of 3 inch thick heart kauri planks single skin on wooden frames, with 1 inch totara sheathing. She measures 123 feet long x 28.5 foot breadth x 9 foot draft. She was originally powered by a compound Fraser steam engine but was later converted to diesel. Her current engine is still the 6 cylinder Crossley diesel engine installed in 1950s.

As well as ferrying passengers on the Auckland Harbour she was often used for excursions and charters to places such as Takapuna, Motutapu Island, or Kohimarama. She carried the victorious All Blacks when they arrived home in March 1906 to tumultuous welcome. The new ferry carried them from the liner “Sonoma” to the civic reception at the Ferry Wharf.



In 1910 the Harbour Board chartered the Kestrel as a parliamentary yacht for a 3 hour trip on the Harbour with lunch for a party of MPs. When the battle cruiser “HMS New Zealand” arrived in New Zealand in 1913 the Kestrel was prominent in the welcoming escort from the Rangitoto Beacon, packed to the gunwales with members of the Overseas Club.

In 1921 the Kestrel’s period on the Devonport ferry run ended when she was relieved by the new steam ferry “Makora”. She was sent to work on the Upper Harbour service to Birkenhead and carried on that role for almost 38 years until the Harbour Bridge was opened in 1959. On the evening service to Northcote in December 1925 her master dozed at the wheel and the Kestrel wandered off course to starboard. By the time the Captain awoke she was in among the anchored coal hulks. Despite his frantic actions, she smashed into the hulk “Wanganui”. Although little damage was done the Kestrel was carrying a full load of passengers and the Captain’s certificate was suspended for three months.

The Kestrel was laid up in June 1950 to be re-engined and she returned to the Northcote service in January 1952 completely renovated with diesel engine, glassed in upper deck, and sporting the company’s new livery of dark green hull and white upper works.

Following the opening of the Harbour Bridge the Kestrel went back onto the Devonport run. In 1982 she was laid up for survey and restoration. The refit was very extensive. A fully carpeted restaurant was installed in one of her lower cabins, two bars were installed one on each deck, and a dance floor on the top deck. Her carrying capacity was reduced to 500 passengers but the new owner, George Hudson, believed that she would now be good for at least 20 years. She became the flagship of the historic harbour fleet which also included the refitted “Baroona”.



The Kestrel continued on the Devonport run until being replaced by the modern ferry “Kea”. Kestrel carried on doing excursion work on the Auckland Harbour until 2002 when she was sold to Tauranga to be used as a floating restaurant. She was owned there by Mark Scapens and his company 1905 Limited. She remained at Tauranga until she was sold to the Kestrel Preservation Society in 2010 following the closure of the restaurant. She was towed back to Auckland arriving at Queens Wharf on Wednesday 1st December 2010.

The Kestrel Preservation Society

In mid 2011 The Kestrel Preservation Society purchased the ferry with the goal of restoring her to working order and have her gliding again on the Waitemata Harbour for the benefit of the whole community. The aim is to ensure that she is well maintained and self funding in operation as far as practicable.

Generous support from Waterfront Auckland, Ports of Auckland, the Auckland City Council and many enthusiasts, is insuring that the restoration project is progressing well.