CHAPTER OUTLINE

An introduction to the tragedy and explanation of what I have written about and why; my relationship to the incident

Chapter I - The School Boat

The first chapter spans the time frame between Greycliffe’s departure from Circular Quay until the moment immediately preceding the collision; a description of the ferry and her crew is given, as well as a number of the ferry passengers; the weather and conditions are also briefly mentioned

Chapter II - The Mail Steamer

This chapter spans the time frame between Tahiti’s departure from Darling Harbour until the moment immediately preceding the collision; problems just prior to the departure are mentioned, and a description of the ship and her history is given; the Pilot and Captain are introduced, whilst short descriptions of other prominent members of the crew are given

Chapter III - The Collision

Chapter IV - The Cost

Addresses those who died and their funerals; discusses public shock, the outpouring of grief and sympathy messages received from people around the country and across the globe; investigates the efforts to recover bodies and the experiences made by Harbour Trust divers; presents a poignant letter written by a survivor, whose father had also been on the ferry but was still missing several days later; the identification of recovered bodies; a missing passenger turns up alive; the final death toll is set at forty

Chapter V - State versus Commonwealth Jurisdiction

Briefly discusses the wrangling between the State and Commonwealth Governments; each believed the responsibility for an enquiry fell in their own jurisdiction; discussions between the Premier and Prime Minister

Chapter VI - The Court of Marine Enquiry

Follows the testimony of the first of three main trials, including statements made by the crews, passengers and first hand and professional witnesses; culminates in some highly questionable conclusions by the judge, who ignored vital evidence, including a malfunction of the ferry’s steering gear just minutes before the collision

Chapter VII - The Coronial Inquest

Explores the Coroner’s investigation; his conclusions differed to those of the previous trial, but he had no power to apportion any form of punishment; in effect the findings of the previous court stood

Chapter VIII - The Bow Theory

Significant in each of the trials, the ‘Bow Theory’ was the reasoning Sydney Ferries used to explain why Greycliffe’s course took her across Tahiti’s bow; explains the importance of the theory to Sydney Ferries and why it was necessary for them to continue introducing it in each court, despite it’s repeated rejection

Chapter IX - The Admiralty Court

This chapter addresses the third (civil) trial; most of the evidence heard in the first two trials was re-presented in the Admiralty Court; nonetheless the judge came to several startling and significant conclusions; discusses the ensuing appeal which not only supported but strengthened the findings of the Admiralty hearing; emphasises the anomalies between these trials and the Marine Court

Chapter X - Conclusion

Chapter XI - Epilogue: The Loss of Tahiti, 1930

Tahiti herself sank less than three years after her collision with Greycliffe. This final chapter gives a brief account of Tahiti’s unexpected loss in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in August 1930, completing the story of the fates of both vessels

Appendix I - Greycliffe’s Passengers – The Victims

Biographies of each of the victims; includes names, ages, addresses in 1927, occupations, dates and places of birth, parents, siblings, spouses, children, immigration and movement, career summaries, mentions in newspapers, possessions when found, details of funerals, causes of death, probate records, and other relevant information

Appendix II - Greycliffe’s Passengers – The Survivors

Similar information to the victims, though with less detail; in many cases their lives afterwards are mentioned, including careers, spouses, children and dates of death

Appendix III - Greycliffe’s Crew

Biographies of each of the ferry’s crew; includes names, ages, addresses in 1927, roles, dates and places of birth, parents, siblings, spouses, children, certificates of competency, career summaries, mentions in newspapers, dates of appearances at the trials, and other relevant information

Appendix IV - Tahiti’s Crew

In two parts, the first section shows biographies of the main members of Tahiti’s crew, including names, ages, addresses in 1927, dates and places of birth, positions, certificates of competency, career summary, mentions in newspapers, dates of appearances at the trials, and other relevant information; in some cases also parents, siblings, spouse and children are also mentioned. The second section shows a full list of the crew, extracted from the Union Steamship Company’s original record of the voyage

Appendix V - Tahiti’s Passengers

A list of the passengers aboard Tahiti on 3 November 1927, extracted from the Union Steamship Company’s original passenger list for the voyage

Appendix VI - First Hand and Professional Witnesses

A list of first-hand and professional witnesses called to the stand to give evidence during the trials; includes names, ages, addresses in 1927, positions, certificates of competency, dates of appearances at the trials, and other relevant information

Appendix VII - The Court of Marine Enquiry, 1927-28

A list of the lawyers representing each party and a short biography of the judge presiding over the trial

Appendix VIII - The Coronial Inquest, 1927-28

A list of the lawyers representing each party and a short biography of the coroner presiding over the trial

Appendix IX - The Admiralty Court, 1928-30

A list of the lawyers representing each party and a short biography of the judge presiding over the trial

Appendix X - Individual Actions for Compensation

Eighty individual cases brought against the Union Steamship Company and Sydney Ferries, listed alphabetically by surname; details of the plaintiff, defendant, case number and amount of claim; in some cases, the verdicts are also given

Appendix XI - Greycliffe and Tahiti: Vital Statistics

This section details the two vessels’ particulars: length, breadth, depth, engines, speed, tonnage; when, where and by whom built; owners and former owners; crew and passenger capacities; incidents and fates

© Steve Brew and Navarine Publishing, 2003-2016