From today until midnight 19 September, you will be able to vote to name Sydney’s new fleet of ferries, but we won’t be seeing any Ferry McFerryfaces anytime soon.
The first of the fleet will hit the harbour this summer, bearing names that have been voted for by the public, from a shortlist selected for local and cultural significance — as well as their connection to Sydney and the harbour.
The “Name Your Ferry” competition was launched in July and 15,000 suggestions were submitted.
Among the shortlisted names are Pemulwuy (Resistance leader), Bungaree (Mediator and community leader), Roy David Page (Composer/Choreographer), Olive Cotton (Photographer) and Valerie Taylor (Shark expert) as well as local Indigenous names Bayingawuwa (Garden Island), Memel (Goat Island), Gadigal (Clan), Cammeraygal (Clan) and Waran (Sydney Cove).
Some deadly names there, but no Ferry McFerryface.
Each name will fall into one of three categories — Arts and Culture, Connections to Sydney Harbour and Science, Environment and Innovation. The six most voted for names in one category will become the names for the new ferry fleet.
“This is a chance for everyone to be a part of our maritime history and vote on the names that will grace the next generation of vessels on our famous harbour,” The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance Mr Constance said. “We’ve had some truly great ideas put forward including names like Jørn Utzon, Catherine Hamlin and Victor Chang,” Mr Constance said.
“Our four person panel has had the unenviable task of whittling it down to the final list for public voting.”
Keep an eye on the hashtag #yourferry — that’s where people will be sharing their votes.