The first two-car vehicular ferry, operated by Charlie Blows in 1922, was in the form of a barge with fence like sides and gates at either end. Hinged flaps at each end were connected by chains running up through the corner post rollers, enabling the punt to ride up the shore for the loading of the vehicles. A launch was used to push the punt across the channel.
Pictured is Blows’ four car ferry that was pushed by the “Monterey”. Ladies with prams were often forced to cross on the back flap of the ferry if room could not be found on the ferry proper. Pedestrians either sat in the work launch or if there was no room stood on the punt.
This means of getting from Tuncurry to Forster continued for 37 years until the bridge opened in 1959 with a four and six car ferry entering the system during that time.

During the years of the car ferry service, several incidents took place involving cars overboard, one being a little Chev flat back truck that arrived to board the ferry punt one day with no brakes. The driver instructed his wife to go to the end of the punt with bricks in hand and slide them under the wheels at the appropriate moment in order to stop the vehicle. The car picked up too much speed upon boarding due to the deck on the punt being curved. The lady jumped back in self-preservation letting the car hit the gates. The chain broke allowing the gates to swing open and the car disappeared into the turquoise water. The driver shortly surfaced blurting abuse at his wife and swam ashore.
Another car overboard story is of a man who jumped the ferry queue in haste to avoid waiting in line and drove onto the rear flap just as the punt pulled away. The back wheels of the Vanguard sedan were hanging into the salt water and the car rested on the sills. The punt collected a log anchored in the channel, the jolt dislodged the car and it slipped off the back ramp and quickly sank. The driver managed to swim out of the car and board the punt. The car was hauled up by a crane and later recovered by the punt. The driver took all concerned to court for compensation but failed as police evidence went against him.