Karingal and Karrabee were built by Morrison & Sinclair, Balmain for Sydney Ferries Limited, being launched in 1913.
They were the smallest of the round-ended K-class Sydney ferries, and could carry 608 and 653 passengers respectively.

Karingal's original Bow, McLachlan and Company-built steam engines came from the ferry Alathea when it was converted into a lighter in 1913.
The 28 hp steam engines pushed Karingal at up to 11 knots.
Karrabee's original Hawthorn Leslie and Company-built steam engines were sourced from Pheasant (1887), the second biggest Parramatta River single-ended ferry and Sydney's triple-expansion steam ferry.
The 36 hp steam engines could push Karrabee at up to 11 knots and are currently in the custody of the Powerhouse Museum.

In 1936, Karrabee was converted from steam to diesel-electric power, the first of the Sydney Ferries fleet to be converted.
The new six-cylinder Henty and Gardner diesel engines generated 440 bhp and gave her a speed of nine knots.
She was re-engined in 1958 with a six-cylinder Crossley Brothers diesel provided 450 bhp and a top speed of 11 knots.
Karingal soon followed with a 1937 diesel conversion and she was re-engined 1961.
The conversion from steam to diesel saw their tall funnels replaced with short stout funnels; tapered in Karingal's case and straight in Karrabee's.

Karingal was used on the Parramatta River run in the last few years of that service.
In the 1950s, Karrabee was painted red, white and blue and used as a floating promotion for Armed Forces recruitment.
In 1966, the Sydney Ferry Company used Karingal and Karrabee on a weekend and holiday service from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay, however, despite initial success, the service ceased due to lack of passengers.

For most of their service lives, the ferries had only a few minor incidents.
Karrabee collided with Kameruka in 1951 and with the smaller Radar in 1979.
In 1975, she failed to stop at Circular Quay and rammed the concrete seawall.
Karingal and Karrabee were built by Morrison & Sinclair, Balmain for Sydney Ferries Limited, being launched in 1913. They were the smallest of the round-ended K-class Sydney ferries, and could carry 608 and 653 passengers respectively.
Karingal's original Bow, McLachlan and Company-built steam engines came from the ferry Alathea when it was converted into a lighter in 1913. The 28 hp steam engines pushed Karingal at up to 11 knots. Karrabee's original Hawthorn Leslie and Company-built steam engines were sourced from Pheasant (1887), the second biggest Parramatta River single-ended ferry and Sydney's triple-expansion steam ferry. The 36 hp steam engines could push Karrabee at up to 11 knots and are currently in the custody of the Powerhouse Museum.
In 1936, Karrabee was converted from steam to diesel-electric power, the first of the Sydney Ferries fleet to be converted. The new six-cylinder Henty and Gardner diesel engines generated 440 bhp and gave her a speed of nine knots. She was re-engined in 1958 with a six-cylinder Crossley Brothers diesel provided 450 bhp and a top speed of 11 knots. Karingal soon followed with a 1937 diesel conversion and she was re-engined 1961. The conversion from steam to diesel saw their tall funnels replaced with short stout funnels; tapered in Karingal's case and straight in Karrabee's.
Karingal was used on the Parramatta River run in the last few years of that service. In the 1950s, Karrabee was painted red, white and blue and used as a floating promotion for Armed Forces recruitment. In 1966, the Sydney Ferry Company used Karingal and Karrabee on a weekend and holiday service from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay, however, despite initial success, the service ceased due to lack of passengers.
For most of their service lives, the ferries had only a few minor incidents. Karrabee collided with Kameruka in 1951 and with the smaller Radar in 1979. In 1975, she failed to stop at Circular Quay and rammed the concrete seawall.
Karingal and Karrabee