SS South Steyne hits the market
Sydney’s heritage-listed SS South Steyne, which spent 36 years carrying passengers between Circular Quay and Manly before becoming a floating hospitality and events venue, is for sale.
The 67-metre, three-deck vessel crossed Sydney Harbour more than 100,000 times during its ferry service.
It carried more than 92 million passengers on the seven-mile route.
In 1988, the boat was refitted as a cruising vessel and function centre before entering service in Melbourne.
It later returned to Sydney, where it was used as the 2000 Olympic Information Centre.
The ship also has a royal connection, recommissioned during Queen Elizabeth II’s 1988 Australian visit and used as her royal yacht in Melbourne.
Colliers’ Jackie Su and Harry Mitchell are the agents.
South Steyne
Built in Leith, Scotland, for the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company, South Steyne entered service on the Circular Quay-Manly route in 1938.
It was withdrawn in 1974 and sold the following year.
In 1991, it sold to a Newcastle resident and returned to NSW.
Current owner Brian McDermott has owned South Steyne for about 30 years, in 2016 moving it to Berrys Bay from Darling Harbour which was being redeveloped.
It was added to the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999 (continues below).
Floating venue
South Steyne is configured with four function and exhibition areas and a restaurant catering for more than 500 guests.
The Main Deck includes a boardroom, Saloon Lounge and bistro with alfresco seating on the outer deck.
The Promenade Deck contains the Harbourview Lounge and Manly Lounge, both opening to external areas, configured for larger functions.
Its Upper Bridge Deck retains the navigation deck, two wheelhouses, lifeboats and crew accommodation.
The rooftop could potentially be used for further activation, including a sundeck or waterfront bar, subject to approvals.
The vessel retains a commercial kitchen, two walk-in cool rooms, freezers, staff and office facilities, dry-goods storage and a dumb waiter connecting the upper decks.
It is powered by a triple-expansion steam engine, built by Harland & Wolff.
The engine could potentially be returned to steam-powered operation, subject to the necessary requirements and approvals, Mr Mitchell said.
“South Steyne gives an operator something that is almost impossible to create from scratch, an established waterfront venue with its own identity, history and sense of arrival,” he added.
The vessel can potentially be relocated, subject to berthing, maritime, planning and council.
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