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Image Not Available for Cabin view of Sydney Harbour Bridge
Cabin view of Sydney Harbour Bridge
Image Not Available for Cabin view of Sydney Harbour Bridge

Cabin view of Sydney Harbour Bridge

Date1971
Object number00040610
NamePhotograph
MediumSilver gelatin
DimensionsOverall: 405 x 505 mm
Mount: 522 x 717 mm
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Photographer Sam Bienstock
DescriptionA black and white photographic print taken inside the wheelhouse of a tug on Sydney Harbour, depicting 'Freddie', master of the tug WARUNDA, at the helm. In the background is the ship IBERIA and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This image is part of a photographic essay taken by Sam Bienstock in about 1971 of Waratah Tug Company tugs. HistorySam Bienstock spent a week on tugs of the Waratah company soon after he came to Sydney from the USA at the end of 1970. The tugs were berthed at Waratah's premises at West Circular Quay. He was given permission to come on board with the intention of making a photographic essay. He produced a series of 27 images. Sam Bienstock grew up in New York and was inspired to take up photography by the celebrated photographer Weegee (Arthur Felig) who was a friend of his family. He emigrated to Australia in 1970, and has worked since then in the film industry as a lighting specialist. He has always carried a camera and taken pictures of everyday life and street scenes. In 2006 he had a one man retrospective exhibition showing 40 years of work at Gallery Xposure in Sydney, in which some of the tug photographs were displayed. Waratah has been one of the major towage companies in Sydney, Newcastle and other ports since it was set up in 1931. It was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of Adelaide Steamship Company, named Waratah Tug and Salvage Company Limited, to take over the 70 year old towage interests of Newcastle-based J & A Brown. In 1968 Adelaide Steamship Company introduced a new type of motor tug to replace the ageing steam powered fleet, and set up a division to build them in Port Adelaide. The tug company was then renamed Waratah Towage Division. The new tugs were single screw diesel-fuelled vessels with Hydroconic hull design. All their names began with W. The three tugs in the Bienstock photographs belong to this class. SignificanceTugboats and towage are a daily sight in working ports, yet they have been little documented in Australia. These images show a particular class of tug, the 'first generation' diesel-powered motor tugs of Hydroconic hull design, which replaced the older steam-powered tugs in the 1960s. They were introduced into Australia and built for the east coast ports by Adelaide Steamship Company for its subsidiary, the Waratah Tug and Towage Company Limited.

The images show detail of work on deck - receiving and handling the towline - and scenes in the mess room and the wheelhouse. They give a good picture of the working life on tugs in Sydney Harbour at the time.