Who: Historic Boats What: Walk of Fame Where: Northern end of Marina

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Everyone loves an old boat, and the love does not come any greater than from the team at the Sydney Heritage Fleet.  A group of passionate enthusiasts, the team at the Heritage Fleet have embarked on a journey to find, salvage and restore some of Australia’s most famous vessels.  This year, the fleet bring some of their finest to the show for our visitors to visit and see.  They include:

Waratah 1902 - One of the world's oldest operational coal burning steam tugs.

Waratah, a coal-fired tug, was built at Cockatoo Island, Sydney and launched on the 21st May 1902. Originally named Burunda, her primary role was to tow dredges and barges between the various ports along the NSW coast.

She is the oldest tug in working order in Australia. She carried a crew of 14, including six officers who were accommodated in separate cabins aft. With raked funnel and counter stern, Waratah has the graceful proportions of a vessel of her era.

Lady Hopetoun 1902 - Classic Edwardian VIP steam launch

Named after the wife of the First Governor-General of Australia, the Lady Hopetoun was built in Berry's Bay and launched on 10th April 1902. For many years she served as the VIP launch for the NSW State Government. Her hull which is largely original, is constructed from New Zealand kauri planks on American elm frames. Her deckhouse is teak. She still retains her original triple-expansion steam engine, but her original boiler was replaced in the 1920s. A new coal-fired boiler was again installed in 1997.

With her low profile, raked lines and graceful counter stern, Lady Hopetoun is a classic example of Edwardian grace and style. From the comfort of her decks a great number of notable people including the Duke of York (later King George VI), the King and Queen of Thailand and Lord Montgomery of Alamein have enjoyed Sydney Harbour.

Protex c1908 - Inner harbour turn of the century motor boat
Protex is a typical early 20th century small motor boat built to operate in Australia's harbours and inland waterways. She features a long counter stern, plumb stem and carvel planked hull of 3/4 inch (20mm) kauri. Her deck is white beech.
She was purchased in 1934 by Nicholson Bros., a Sydney ferry and tug company, and was used to transport goods and personnel to ships and waterfront establishments, and to ferry staff from the Palmolive factory at Balmain to various city wharves. She was renamed Protex after a well known brand of Palmolive soap. Hence she was often referred to as the soap boat.