After the Cowes jetty was built in 1905, the first ferry, the Genista, began a daily service to the mainland, terminating at Stony Point.
The ferry Genista was followed in 1925 by the larger Alvina, formerly the pilot ship at Port Phillip Heads.
Then, about l929, the Narrabeen from Sydney was added to the service.
These two ships could carry only two or three motor cars, which had to be slung on and off with a crane derrick.
In 1935, the shipping company brought from Sydney the vehicular ferry Killara.
Up to 36 motor cars could be driven on and off this ferry, and up to 800 passengers could be carried on the upper deck.
The Killara gave good service until 1941, when it was taken for war service.
Western Port Ferries
The Hilda Norling
Island vessels commandeered Ted Walton, a young boy living at Rhyll during the war years worked on the ferries that plied Westernport during that time. He remembered that the US and Australian authorities were after all the small boats they could...