The earliest crossing of the Logan River at Waterford was Waterman's Punt which was an unofficial ferry service established by Samuel Waterman circa 1862 at the end of Tygum Road in nowadays Waterford West. In 1863, William Stone took over using a flat-bottomed punt capable of carrying horses and cattle and also had a boat for passengers. In 1865, Henry Eden and William Stone had a dispute which led to Eden proposing to operate an official ferry service under Government regulations which led to Eden became a lessee. In 1871, Eden's successor William Huston was unable to pay his annual lease of £35 and was forced into insolvency. By 1874, there were numerous disruptions relating to poorly maintained punts. In 1947, Waterford was victim to a major flood on Australia Day which resulted in the bridge being washed away and a ferry re-introduced while the construction of the new bridge was completed.