{{Short description|Passenger ferry in Auckland, New Zealand}}
{{Short description|Passenger ferry in Auckland, New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2025}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2025}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{ dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}} <!– commercial vessels –>
{|{{Infobox ship begin}} <!– commercial vessels –>
|+”Toroa”
|+”Toroa”
”Toroa” was laid down in early 1924, and was launched on 25 April 1925, with Mrs J. Fotheringham giving her blessing to the ship.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite book |last=Balderston |first=David |title=The harbour ferries of Auckland |year=1986 |isbn=1-86934-004-3 |edition=1st}}</ref> The ferry is named for the [[northern royal albatross]]. She began service that same year in July, primarily travelling between the [[Devonport, New Zealand|Devonport]] and [[Auckland CBD]] ferry terminals with her sister ship ”Makora.”<ref name=”:0″ /><ref name=”PRESERVATION”>{{cite news |last=Falconer |first=Phoebe |date=26 June 2010 |title=Observatory director behind Toroa Preservation Society |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/transport/news/article.cfm?c_id=97&objectid=10654645 |accessdate=9 July 2010 |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]}}</ref> The ferry is double-ended,<ref name=”:1″>{{Cite news |last=Rees-Owen |first=Rose |date=7 October 2015 |title=Full steam ahead for Toroa restoration |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/western-leader/72757730/full-steam-ahead-for-toroa-restoration |access-date=19 September 2025 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref> with a wheelhouse at each end. At her peak, she carried about 20,000 passengers a day.<ref name=”PRESERVATION” /> After 55 years of service, she was laid up in 1980, and was set to be buried in land reclamation work at [[Westhaven Marina|Westhaven]] along with ferries ”Korea”, ”Makora”, ”Takapuna”, and ”The Peregrine.”<ref name=”:2″>{{Cite news |last=Earley |first=Melanie |date=2 April 2022 |title=Volunteers work for decades to restore historic ferry next to Auckland motorway |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/128209903/volunteers-work-for-decades-to-restore-historic-ferry-next-to-auckland-motorway |access-date=19 September 2025 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref>
”Toroa” was laid down in early 1924, and was launched on 25 April 1925, with Mrs J. Fotheringham giving her blessing to the ship.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite book |last=Balderston |first=David |title=The harbour ferries of Auckland |year=1986 |isbn=1-86934-004-3 |edition=1st}}</ref> The ferry is named for the [[northern royal albatross]]. She began service that same year in July, primarily travelling between the [[Devonport, New Zealand|Devonport]] and [[Auckland CBD]] ferry terminals with her sister ship ”Makora.”<ref name=”:0″ /><ref name=”PRESERVATION”>{{cite news |last=Falconer |first=Phoebe |date=26 June 2010 |title=Observatory director behind Toroa Preservation Society |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/transport/news/article.cfm?c_id=97&objectid=10654645 |accessdate=9 July 2010 |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]}}</ref> The ferry is double-ended,<ref name=”:1″>{{Cite news |last=Rees-Owen |first=Rose |date=7 October 2015 |title=Full steam ahead for Toroa restoration |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/western-leader/72757730/full-steam-ahead-for-toroa-restoration |access-date=19 September 2025 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref> with a wheelhouse at each end. At her peak, she carried about 20,000 passengers a day.<ref name=”PRESERVATION” /> After 55 years of service, she was laid up in 1980, and was set to be buried in land reclamation work at [[Westhaven Marina|Westhaven]] along with ferries ”Korea”, ”Makora”, ”Takapuna”, and ”The Peregrine.”<ref name=”:2″>{{Cite news |last=Earley |first=Melanie |date=2 April 2022 |title=Volunteers work for decades to restore historic ferry next to Auckland motorway |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/128209903/volunteers-work-for-decades-to-restore-historic-ferry-next-to-auckland-motorway |access-date=19 September 2025 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref>
However, the vessel was saved after being purchased by the New Zealand Maritime Trust.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}} A volunteer group, the Toroa Preservation Society, has worked towards a restoration. ”Toroa” was towed to [[Birkenhead, New Zealand|Birkenhead]] wharf by the tug ”[[William C Daldy]]” but sank in a storm there in 1998.<ref name=”PRESERVATION” /> She was raised on the second attempt, and brought ashore at [[Henderson, New Zealand|Henderson]] in 2001.<ref name=”PRESERVATION” /><ref name=”:2″ /> Restoration work was continuing slowly but regularly in 2010.<ref name=”PRESERVATION” /> Most of the steel framing of the vessel has had to be replaced, and both wheelhouses have been rebuilt.<ref name=”:1″ /> The timber planks on the hull are being replaced by a mix of old [[kauri]] and new [[macrocarpa]]. Some of the timber was sourced from trees from a Henderson park that was damaged in a cyclone.<ref name=”:3″>{{Cite web |date=19 September 2025 |title=The painstaking, decades-long restoration of Auckland’s Toroa steam ferry |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/573505/the-painstaking-decades-long-restoration-of-auckland-s-toroa-steam-ferry |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>
However, the vessel was saved after being purchased by the New Zealand Maritime Trust.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}} A volunteer group, the Toroa Preservation Society, has worked towards a restoration. ”Toroa” was towed to [[Birkenhead, New Zealand|Birkenhead]] wharf by the tug ”[[William C Daldy]]” but sank in a storm there in 1998.<ref name=”PRESERVATION” /> She was raised on the second attempt, and brought ashore at [[Henderson, New Zealand|Henderson]] in 2001.<ref name=”PRESERVATION” /><ref name=”:2″ /> Restoration work was continuing slowly but regularly in 2010.<ref name=”PRESERVATION” /> Most of the steel framing of the vessel has had to be replaced, and both wheelhouses have been rebuilt.<ref name=”:1″ /> The timber planks on the hull are being replaced by a mix of old [[kauri]] and new [[macrocarpa]]. Some of the timber was sourced from trees from a Henderson park that was damaged in a cyclone.<ref name=”:3″>{{Cite web |date=19 September 2025 |title=The painstaking, decades-long restoration of Auckland’s Toroa steam ferry |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/573505/the-painstaking-decades-long-restoration-of-auckland-s-toroa-steam-ferry |access-date=18 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>
The original steam engine is being restored. Following restoration, the boiler will be fueled by compressed wood waste instead of coal.<ref name=”:3″ />
The original steam engine is being restored. Following restoration, the boiler will be fueled by compressed wood waste instead of coal.<ref name=”:3″ />
== In popular culture ==
== In popular culture ==
The ”Toroa” was in the soap opera [[Shortland Street]] from 1993 to 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-29 |title=1993 Toroa a film set for Shortland Street |url=https://www.steamferrytoroa.com/announcement/1993-toroa-a-film-set-for-shortland-street/ |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=Steam Ferry Toroa |language=en-NZ}}</ref> It was initially the residence of [[Gina Rossi]] and [[Leonard Dodds]], and later [[Lionel Skeggins]], [[Stuart Neilson]], [[Guy Warner]] and [[Carmen Roberts]], but not at the same time. Skeggins and [[Kirsty Knight (Shortland Street)|Kirsty Knight]] got married on the vessel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 August 2002 |title=Rolling in the Shortland Street aisles |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/rolling-in-the-shortland-street-aisles/BCR7RE3QQKCFAQNRJ46J775WB4/ |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
The ”Toroa” was in the soap opera [[Shortland Street]] from 1993 to 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 |title=1993 Toroa a film set for Shortland Street |url=https://www.steamferrytoroa.com/announcement/1993-toroa-a-film-set-for-shortland-street/ |access-date=18 |website=Steam Ferry Toroa |language=en-NZ}}</ref> It was initially the residence of [[Gina Rossi]] and [[Leonard Dodds]], and later [[Lionel Skeggins]], [[Stuart Neilson]], [[Guy Warner]] and [[Carmen Roberts]], but not at the same time. Skeggins and [[Kirsty Knight (Shortland Street)|Kirsty Knight]] got married on the vessel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 August 2002 |title=Rolling in the Shortland Street aisles |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/rolling-in-the-shortland-street-aisles/BCR7RE3QQKCFAQNRJ46J775WB4/ |access-date=18 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
== References ==
== References ==
Passenger ferry in Auckland, New Zealand
 |
|
| History | |
|---|---|
| Namesake | Northern royal albatross |
| Owner |
|
| Builder | George Niccol |
| Laid down | 1924 |
| Launched | 28 April 1925 |
| In service | July 1925 |
| Out of service | 8 August 1980 |
| Status | Undergoing restoration |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 309 GT |
| Length | 130.95 ft (39.91 m) |
| Beam | 31.4 ft (9.6 m) |
| Draft | 9.9 ft (3.0 m) |
| Depth | 9.6 ft (2.9 m) |
| Decks | 2 |
| Installed power | Aitcheson, Blair Ltd Triple-expansion steam engine 51 horsepower (38 kW) |
| Propulsion | Triple expansion steam engine |
| Speed | 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) |
| Capacity |
|
| Crew | 4 |
Toroa is a steam-powered Albatross-class passenger ferry that served Auckland, New Zealand from 1925 to 1980 before being laid up. As of 2025[update] the vessel is being restored.
History
Toroa was laid down in early 1924, and was launched on 25 April 1925, with Mrs J. Fotheringham giving her blessing to the ship.[1] The ferry is named for the northern royal albatross. She began service that same year in July, primarily travelling between the Devonport and Auckland CBD ferry terminals with her sister ship Makora.[1][2] The ferry is double-ended,[3] with a wheelhouse at each end. At her peak, she carried about 20,000 passengers a day.[2] After 55 years of service, she was laid up in 1980, and was set to be buried in land reclamation work at Westhaven along with ferries Korea, Makora, Takapuna, and The Peregrine.[4]
However, the vessel was saved after being purchased by the New Zealand Maritime Trust.[citation needed] A volunteer group, the Toroa Preservation Society, has worked towards a restoration. Toroa was towed to Birkenhead wharf by the tug William C Daldy but sank in a storm there in 1998.[2] She was raised on the second attempt, and brought ashore at Henderson in 2001.[2][4] Restoration work was continuing slowly but regularly in 2010.[2] Most of the steel framing of the vessel has had to be replaced, and both wheelhouses have been rebuilt.[3] The timber planks on the hull are being replaced by a mix of old kauri and new macrocarpa. Some of the timber was sourced from trees from a Henderson park that was damaged in a cyclone.[5]
The original steam engine is being restored. Following restoration, the boiler will be fueled by compressed wood waste instead of coal.[5]
Other Albatross-class ferries include[1]
- Albatross
- Kestrel
- The Peregrine
- Ngoiro
- Makora
In popular culture
The Toroa was in the soap opera Shortland Street from 1993 to 1995.[6] It was initially the residence of Gina Rossi and Leonard Dodds, and later Lionel Skeggins, Stuart Neilson, Guy Warner and Carmen Roberts, but not at the same time. Skeggins and Kirsty Knight got married on the vessel.[7]
