Tailem Bend/Jervois Ferry - Tailem Bend, South Australia
Posted by: 
themd
S 35° 15.372 E 139° 27.208
54H E 359312 N 6097448
The original ferry crossing here was a private enterprise established in 1839.
It was taken over by the South Australian Government in 1849 improtantly creating a crossing for coaches returning from the Victorian Goldfields.
Waymark Code: WM11FK1
Location: South Australia, Australia
Date Posted: 10/15/2019
Views: 10
Reports for February 1852 indicated that a total of 1234 people and 1266 horses and bullocks, pulling 164 carriages, crossed the river during that month. Total fees collected were £64. During October to November of the same year the punt serviced 3000 passengers, 361 carriages and 2777 draught oxen.
The early ferry services unreliable and sometimes dangerous and out of action for several days at a time. Sand drifts from the Lake region caused extreme concern and often became a barrier to the crossing. Recurring floods also interfered with the ferry service.
At least four Wellington punts have sunk during a crossing. Perhaps the most notable was in 1958 when the ferry sank with a truckload of cattle and three cars. The divers who later recovered the vehicles reported that there were other derelict punts on the river bottom.
Best of all it operates 24hrs a day for free.
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