The double-ended, 57-metre long Sydney Queen was built in 1921 for Sydney Ferries Ltd and originally operated under the name of Kalang, until her name was changed to Sydney Queen when she operated as a showboat in the 1950s. While her operation as a showboat was successful for a while, business declined and the Sydney Queen was laid up in 1961. After being idle for over ten years, Sydney Queen was sold, as were the ferries, Lurgureena, Koondooloo and Kooroongaba.
In January 1972, the vessels were travelling under tow of the tug Polaris, to the Philippines. The Kooroongaba was lost off Crowdy Head and then on reaching Trial Bay, Polaris pulled into the bay for repairs to a fouled cable. The three remaining vessels, Lurgureena, Koondooloo and Sydney Queen were transferred to moorings in the bay but broke free and washed ashore to become total wrecks. Their remains lie buried under the beach sand.
