The Riverboat Postman
The Riverboat Postman is a ferry service on the Hawkesbury River near the Central Coast in New South Wales, Australia that departs and docks in Brooklyn. The Riverboat Postman delivers mail to remote communities situated along the Hawkesbury River and is the only remaining service of its kind in Australia. A version of the service has been operating since 1910.
History
[edit]A version of the Riverboat Postman service began operation in 1910.[1]
In 2012, the former operators of the Riverboat Postman went into liquidation. The service was then taken over by the Pigneguy family.[1][2]
The service encountered challenged circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales but they endured and used a Tinnie to reduce their use of fuel and continue delivering mail to communities along the Hawkesbury River.[3]
Route
[edit]The starting point for the Riverboat Postman is near the Hawkesbury River railway station.[3]
The Riverboat Postman passes a wreck of the warship HMAS Parramatta[3] and remote communities such as Dangar Island, Milson Island, Bar Point, Peat Island, Marlow Creek, Kangaroo Point, Fishermans Point, Milsons Passage and Spencer.[4]
Dining
[edit]Travellers on board the Riverboat Postman are served food including Anzac biscuits, a ploughman's lunch with salad and a tea or coffee.[5]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Proust, Keira (25 November 2023). "Australia's last Riverboat Postman remains the 'lifeblood' of the Hawkesbury community". ABC News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- ↑ Vince, Mary-Louise (2 April 2012). "Iconic ferry service goes under". ABC News. Archived from the original on 31 December 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 Jensen, Briar (1 January 2022). "The Riverboat Postman, Hawkesbury River: On board Australia's last mail boat". Escape. news.com.au. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- ↑ Ginis, Liz (March 2025). "The Riverboat Postman – A Mail Route Like No Other". Coast Magazine. Coast Publishing. Archived from the original on 26 August 2026.
- ↑ Adair, Tom (24 December 2023). "Sydney - cruise the Hawkesbury River on a mailboat for a perfect day trip – Scotland on Sunday Travel". The Scotsman. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
Further reading
[edit]- "Australia's last riverboat postman". Quest's World of Wonder. CNN Travel. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- Mitchell, Simone (22 April 2024). "Recipe for 'world's best' Anzac biscuit revealed". Escape. news.com.au. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- "The Riverboat Postman – A stamp on Brooklyn". Greenspan. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
External links
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