That's the former Manly ferry SS South Steyne.  Have a large print of a painting by Brian Baigent hanging on the study wall behind me.  She is crossing the heads in a lumpy sea with white foaming water streaming from the sponsons.  Bought the print at the ARHS bookshop Redfern.
 
After CGEA (later Connex now Veolia) took over management of Sydney Light Rail and the Monothingie they announced that the '98 Xmas party would be held on the South Steyne.  It was a great night although tied up to the jetty throughout.  A bit tricky dancing on a curved floor and this was the upper deck.  No doubt built that way to drain water to the outside edge.
 
Was lucky enough to find her tied up in Newcastle in the late eighties (maybe have been 1987 or 88).  Late one Saturday afternoon and was invited aboard, with wife and 16 year old daughter, to have a look about.  There was still on board, relaxing with beers, a crew who had had her in steam that same day.  That special smell of hot oil and grease, boy did that bring back memories.  The South Steyne was being used as a night club and the alterations had been very cleverly done in an 'Art deco mode'.  Plenty of photographs on show with the before and after refurbishment.
 
Wandering a bit off topic but she was the venue for a trammies (light rail) Xmas party.
 
Ted
Ding ding  

--- On Sat, 2/5/09, Peter Groom groomp@...> wrote:

From: Peter Groom groomp@...>
Subject: Re: [TramsDownUnder] Fw: OT - Richard's Off Topic Pic for May
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Received: Saturday, 2 May, 2009, 6:46 AM

A lot better looking than the ferries I saw on the harbor a few years ago!

Isn't there an historic  ferry or something moored in Darling Harbor near the pedestrianized draw(?) bridge?

pete groom

On Apr 30, 2009, at 5:23 PM, Bob Merchant wrote:

Hi Bob,

As the wonderful old "Dee Why" has been mentioned a bit lately, here's
a telephoto view of her on the Harbour in January, 1966.

Her sister "Curl Curl" had been withdrawn and scuttled by this time and
the end was not far off for "Dee Why".

Our little group's fortnightly meetings aboard her for an afternoon
round trip to Manly are a long time off now, aren't they.

Regards,
Dick

A small group of Sydney Tramway Museum members used to meet after work every second Friday at Circular Quay for a trip to Many and return on the "Dee Why", and later on the "South Steyne". Some of those trips were truly memorable, especially one made on the last trip before they closed the service due to extremely rough weather!
 
Richard's OT pic can be viewed at http://tdu.to/ Ferry_Dee_ Why_Approaching_ Circular_ Quay_Jan1966. jpg
 
Cheers,
Bob M