Industrial Cathedral

Industrial Cathedral
"Industrial Cathedral" charcoal on paper 131 x 131 cm Jane Bennett. Finalist in 1998 Dobell Drawing Prize Art Gallery of NSW Finalist 1998 Blake Prize Winner 1998 Hunter's Hill Open Art Prize

About Me

My photo
Sydney, NSW, Australia
I'm an Industrial Heritage Artist who paints "en plein air".If it's damaged, derelict, doomed and about to disappear, I'll be there to paint it.

Monday 10 January 2022

Vale Baragoola

Part of Australia's maritime history has been lost forever when the MV Baragoola, the last Sydney built Manly ferry, finally sank at her mooring at the Coal Loader Wharf, Waverton.
Sadly the ferry was only a couple of weeks short of her centenary.
She was built in Balmain and launched at Morts Dock on 14 February, 1922 for the Circular Quay to Manly service. Originally a steamer, she was converted to diesel-electric in 1961 and was retired in 1983.
For nearly 20 years she was at various moorings around Pyrmont and Blackwattle Bay.
This is a canvas I painted in 1991 from the top floor of the tablet House of the CSR Refinery (now Jackson's Landing). The MV Baragoola is on the left hand side next to Wharf 22-23, which was demolished shortly after I finished this painting.
Plein air oil painting of Manly ferry MV Baragoola at Pyrmont Point painted by maritime heritage artist Jane Bennett 

 
 
 










P243A 'Baragoola and the Water Police painted from the Tablet House of the CSR' 1991 oil on canvas 75 x 100cm

Since 2003, she has been laid up at Balls Head Bay on the north side of Sydney Harbour as attempts to restore the vessel continued.
Plein air oil painting of the MV Baragoola and the Cape Don at the Coal Loader wharf painted by maritime heritage artist Jane Bennett
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
S122 'Cape Don + Baragoola' 2019 oil on canvas 91 x 183cm

This is a large panorama I painted from the Coal Loader in 2019 showing the Cape Don in the foreground.
What a contrast with the wreckage I painted recently!
Jane Bennett, maritime artist, painting the wreck of MV Baragoola from the Coal Loader, en plein air

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The artist painting the wreck of MV Baragoola 
(Photo taken by Catherine Atherton)
Over the last few decades of her life, many people volunteered to attempt to save Baragoola.
Jane Bennett,maritime artist, painting the wreck of MV Baragoola from the Coal Loader
Painting wreck of MV Baragoola from the Coal Loader 31 x 61cm
 
Jane Bennett,maritime artist, painting the wreck of MV Baragoola from the Coal Loader
Painting wreck of MV Baragoola from the Coal Loader 31 x 61cm and 45 x 92cm


For a while restoration attempts seemed to make some headway, but a few years ago the ownership changed and the ship deteriorated noticeably.
Unfortunately it became increasingly obvious that her fate was inevitable.
Jane Bennett,maritime artist, painting the wreck of MV Baragoola from the Coal Loader
Painting wreck of MV Baragoola from the Coal Loader 31 x 61cm  

Jane Bennett,maritime artist, painting the wreck of MV Baragoola from the Coal Loader
Painting wreck of MV Baragoola from the Coal Loader 45 x 92cm

 

 



No comments: