Sydney RiverCat

In 1991 the State Transit Authority ordered six Grahame Parker Design designed RiverCats from NQEA, Cairns to operate Parramatta River services.^[1]

Named after famous Australian female athletes, the first was delivered in early 1992.^[2] They replaced First Fleet class ferries on the Circular Quay to Meadowbank service on 7 May 1992.^[3][4] In December 1993 they began operating to Parramatta.^[5][6]

In October 1995, a seventh vessel built by Wavemaster International in Henderson, Western Australia was delivered, named Nicole Livingstone.^[7] In 2000, Marlene Mathews participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics torch relay.^[8]

Although primarily operating Parramatta River services, they also occasionally operated other Transdev Sydney Ferries services.^{[citation needed][which?]}

The last vessel of the class was withdrawn on the 9 March 2026, with all 7 vessels having been scrapped by May 2026.

Summarize Timeline Top Qs Fact Check

The introduction of the Parramatta River-class ferries allowed for the RiverCats to be phased out.^[9]

On 16 February 2023, Betty Cuthbert was the first vessel retired from service.^[10] She was stripped for parts at Balmain Shipyard before being towed to Blackwattle Bay Marina for long-term storage, along with several decommissioned SuperCat-class ferries.

On 7 June 2024 Evonne Goolagong was withdrawn.^{[11][better source needed]} She was used as a parts source at Balmain, before briefly being relocated to Rozelle Bay, along with sister Betty Cuthbert. Both vessels were moved to Rozelle in late June 2024.

In June 2024, Betty Cuthbert and Evonne Goolagong were moved to Yamba by Polaris Marine tug Pegasus for scrapping.^{[12][better source needed]}

On 28 October 2024, Nicole Livingstone was withdrawn from service and was used for parts at Balmain Shipyard before being moved to Rozelle Bay, followed by a final movement to Yamba under tow where she was broken up in early 2025.

On 4 February 2025, Marlene Mathews was withdrawn from service.^[13] The vessel was then used for parts at Balmain Shipyard, before being moved via tugboat to Rozelle Bay.

On 3 June 2025, Marjorie Jackson was withdrawn from service.^[14] She was then stripped of reusable parts at Balmain Shipyard, before being towed to Rozelle Bay where she was moored alongside sister vessel Marlene Mathews.

On 17 June 2025, MV Marlene Mathews and MV Marjorie Jackson were transferred by Polaris Marine tug EDI, up to Yamba for scrapping.^[15] By September 2025 both Marjorie Jackson and Marlene Mathews were scrapped.

On 30 September 2025, MV Shane Gould was withdrawn from service after her 32 year long career.^[16] She was used as a parts source until early November 2025, before being briefly moved to Rozelle. In the early hours of 17 November 2025, Shane Gould left Sydney under tow bound for Yamba by Polaris Marine tug Molly Grace. She arrived in Yamba in the morning of 19 November 2025 and was put up onto land on 21 November 2025. On 24 November 2025, scrapping began on the MV Shane Gould.^{[citation needed]} By February 2026, scrapping had been fully completed.^{[citation needed]}

MV Dawn Fraser, the last vessel of her class in service, was withdrawn on 9 March 2026, and was transferred to Polaris Marine Group, Rozelle Bay, on 13 March 2026. In the afternoon of 30 March 2026, Dawn Fraser left Sydney under tow for Yamba by Polaris Marine tug Leaders Creek.^[17] Arriving at Yamba on 2 April 2026, Dawn Fraser was bought up onto land on 9 April to be broken up, with the process being completed by 20 May 2026.^[18][19]

Several attempts have been made to try save the RiverCats, which have all ultimately failed. One of these attempts were made in November 2025 by the owner of Abbotsford point boatshed Roger Kyle, to save the Shane Gould and Dawn Fraser to be used for Christmas parties and other events along the Parramatta River and Sydney Harbour.^[21]

In 1997, Marlene Mathews collided into a small wooden boat around Cockatoo Island.^[22]

On 23 September 2005, Betty Cuthbert collided into the bollard at Circular Quay Wharf 5 East and damaging the front bow.^{[23][non-primary source needed]}

On 11 January 2006, Betty Cuthbert collided into two moored vessels at Fern Bay.^{[24][non-primary source needed]}

On 7 August 2006, Betty Cuthbert collided into a Luxury Cruiser in Woolwich.^[25][26]

On 24 September 2006, Evonne Goolagong collided into a skiff near Cockatoo Island, injuring two people.^[27]

On 5 January 2007, Dawn Fraser collided with a dinghy carrying two people. The force of the collision left one of the dinghy's occupants injured while the other occupant was killed.^{[28] [29]}

On 2 August 2010, Marjorie Jackson collided into the stern of Betty Cuthbert, which then force collided into the stern of the Evonne Goolagong in the Balmain Shipyard, causing Marjorie Jackson's starboard pontoon to be damaged.^{[30][non-primary source needed]}

On 7 October 2013, Marlene Mathews crashed into Circular Quay Wharf 5 West, injuring 6 people and damaging the front bow.^[31]