In
1908 the Burra Bra was
built by Mort’s Dock & Engineering in Mort’s Dock, Balmain (NSW). The 59.5-metre screw steamer was registered in Sydney and used for the coastal transport
of passengers. Burra Bra was the last of the open
upper deck passenger ferries used in Sydney Harbour on the Circular Quay-Manly
run. She was requisitioned for naval service on 13 November 1942 and was
employed on target towing duties and for anti-submarine training, based at
Jervis Bay, NSW. Her duties included co-operation with aircraft of the Royal
Australian Air Force.
On
14 April 1943 HMAS Burra Bra was being used by a party of accredited war correspondents
to watch a display of three Beaufort Bombers undertaking a flypast. The three
aircraft from No 8 Operational Training Unit (8OTU) flew at low level down
along the port side of the ship performing a "Prince of Wales"
breakup. A fox Movietone camera crew filming from Burra Bra captured the moment that two of the aircraft collided and
crashed into the sea killing all eight crew.
Burra Bra was paid off into reserve
at Sydney on 1st June 1944. She was employed for a period as a source of steam
supply for vessels undergoing refits. On the 12th of July, 1972 the vessel was
scuttled off Sydney. At the time she was owned by Port Jackson & Manly SS
Co.
Source:
http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-burra-bra
