heres a photo I took on about 04/09/06.

Countess II looked alright before when it had the four part beclawat sliding windows fitted to it. Maybe the reason for fitting two part sliding windows was to make the boat look more modern?

Does anyone know if the Countess is still moored at Barrack St?

I might head down later and take some piccies of the new arrival.

That photo way back in July 1986 of Countess II with the MTT logo on the front of it is a classic.

Photos 1, 2 and 8 were taken when the MV Countess II was used on weekend afternoon tours upstream as far as Bassendean, maybe even Guildford. She was fitted with lamps above the front windows although I am not aware trips upstream were made at night, unless private hires. Hard to see, but visible in the 1973 shot is a tripod mast that had navigation lights. This was removed soon afterwards to allow her to clear the Causeway and Garratt Road bridges.

I had forgotten how many changes were made to this vessel until perusing Herbert's thread and then digging out some of my shots.

Just goes to prove that one should be out there with the camera consistently. Today's photograph of transport is tomorrow's history.

Dennis96 wrote:Photos 1, 2 and 8 were taken when the MV Countess II was used on weekend afternoon tours upstream as far as Bassendean, maybe even Guildford. She was fitted with lamps above the front windows although I am not aware trips upstream were made at night, unless private hires. Hard to see, but visible in the 1973 shot is a tripod mast that had navigation lights. This was removed soon afterwards to allow her to clear the Causeway and Garratt Road bridges.

According to the 1 Feb 1983 issue of the MTT Route Map :

• MV Countess sails 2pm daily except Saturdays, September to May, for a 2¾ hour cruise to Ron Courtney Island and the upper reaches of the Swan River. The fully enclosed Countess is air cooled for your comfort and light refreshments and afternoon teas are available.

I'm not sure exactly how far upstream Countess could reach, but the Point Reserve jetties in Bassendean seem very likely. Although I've yet to find any documented references, I have a nagging, but uncertain recollection that some MTT ferry charters got as far up the Swan as Caversham House - whether these were accomplished by Countess or the smaller MV Georgette, or if any extended into hours of darkness, eludes my dim memory of this aspect of MTT operations.

Then again, I have an even vaguer notion that the 'tidal' (or navigable?) section of the Swan expires somewhere around the Middle Swan Road bridge area. If this is correct, then it is conceivable that an MTT ferry voyaged some way beyond Ron Courtney Island (opposite Garvey Park, Ascot), Bassendean, Guildford or Caversham at some stage.

HI - I live in Forster NSW and have been trying to track all the ferries that have operated or built here. The MV Bardoo was built by Alf Jahnsen in Forster in 1981. After a brief period at Port Hacking (Sydney) she was taken by truck to Perth and then as I understand it was named MV Georgette operated by the MTT - launched onto the Swan River on 5th July 1984. I understand that she was named after Georgette Adams who died in 2016. If anyone has a photo of the MV Georgette or any information on how she was used and when she was retired from service that would be greatly appreciated.
Chris Borough
Forster