PROCLAIM HISTORY

Proclaim was built in 1939 by the well known boat builders Morrison and Sinclair at Longnose Point, Birchgrove in Sydney Harbour. Proclaim was the largest vessel built for Nicholson Brothers in the 1930s and was launched on 12th December 1939 with great ceremony. It was christened by Mrs Agenlini, Balmain's Lady Mayor, and the launching was attended by members of Parliament, council aldermen, religious representatives, the Nicholson family and friends, employees and trade representatives.

Proclaim began its long association with Sydney Harbour and Balmain as one of the many vessels in the Nicholson Brothers' fleet.

The ferry's first engagement was carrying spectators at the Australia Day Sydney Harbour Regatta on 26 January 1940. Because Proclaim joined the growing Nicholson fleet shortly after the outbreak of World War II its workload soon began to increase. The Erskine Street to Balmain route was intended to be Proclaim's primary route but it was called upon to provide other harbour passenger transport tasks during the war.

In the 1950s Proclaim was operating on the Cockatoo Island run. Known as "Tubby" in the Nicholson fleet, it was also popularly referred to as 'The Balmain Ferry'.

Proclaim has carried thousands of Sydneysiders, commuters, workmen and women, service personnel, tourists, dignitaries and school children in seventy continuous years of commercial operation on Sydney Harbour.

It has had four other owners since passing from Nicholson Brothers in 1982; Stannard Brothers Launch Services (1982 - 1991), Cobb Marine (1991 - 1999), Brystand Pty Ltd (1999 - 2008) and in 2008, Noakes Group.

Each change of owner has brought changes to the livery, the latest Federation colours of red and cream aligning Proclaim with the rest of the famous Rosman ferries now operating under Noakes Group.

Builder: Morrison & Sinclair

Designer: Morrison & Sinclair

Place Built: Balmain

Vessel Dimensions
LWL: 21.03 m (69 ft)
Breadth overall: 6.86m (22.51 ft)
Draft of Hull: 2.36, (7.74 ft)
Displacement: 80 tonnes (78.72 tons)

Source: Australian National Maritime Museum
Proclaim is on the Australian National Maritime Museum Register of Historic Vessels

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