Paddleducks
Paddler Information => Research => Topic started by: thewharfonline on November 23, 2006, 02:23:04 PM
-
Hey everyone, here is part one of my 'list' installment. As we've been lisitng boats so far in another thread I thought it was time I released mine. I thought a new thread was in order due the size of my list you'll se in a minute!
If anyone is aware of any other Murray Boats that were missed from the 'current vessel' list please notify me immediately and I will update it.
The list is in microsoft excel format.
Hopefully you can all gain access to it.
Feel free to post your comments or to ask details about any boats. I will give brief answers on this one and still place my main articles on the normal APAM thread. I should be able to answer most questions in relation to most boats through memory or a bit of research so if any of the boats on the list 'floats your boat' feel free to ask a question!
List contains over 100 current paddlers either operating or being built on the Murray River as well as their 'occupation' their PS or PV status and location.
-
Sean, that list is brilliant!!
The Mayflower though from talking to some museum owners in Morgan has moved to Mannum now...
And we are working to get the Oscar W back to commercial passenger use..
This list is a perfect reference to look anything up
But I didnt see the Grebe, Bunyip, Kananook or SJ on there :wink:
-
Sean
The listing shows a surprising number (count = 121) of paddle vessels based on the Murray River. So it seems that this would demonstrate why our Aussie PDers are so interested in Paddle propulsion.
In the UK I don't think are anywhere as many privately owned paddle vessels. Would the shortage of Paddlers on UK inland waterways (rivers and canals) be because of the width of the UK waterways.
- - -
The meanings of column PS / PV are obviously "Paddle Steamers" and "Paddle Vessels" (non-steam powered),
But what does the column SW mean, would it mean that the vessel is slipway-launched (i.e. the vessel is kept ashore and launched from a slipway when required)?.
- - -
However the list does not show the date of building, so we cannot see which are "heritage" vessels or modern builds/rebuilds.
..
-
Hello all, Brian :shock: SW = Stern Wheeler :D . Have a look at the American sites where you'll hardly find any Paddle wheelers which are Side wheelers as us Europeans are more accustomed to. Stern wheelers would be my preference as I tend to like the uilitarian look of these ones. currently still building a Paddle tug with side wheels.
cheers
Jim
-
- - -
However the list does not show the date of building, so we cannot see which are "heritage" vessels or modern builds/rebuilds.
..
I was actually thinking that when I posted the list as I checked it one last time before I looked at it. When I get a moment I will add dates of construction in to the list...at least for the 'heritage' paddlers!
Yes SW is sternwheeler...I obviously didn't add that as a note at the top of the page...Glad you like our impressive number Brian, mind you I haven't touched the 'real' aussie paddler numbers, that will appear on the next list. All the old boats that are sadly little more than wrecks and rotting wood now!
-
Sean's first list covers current boats on the Murray-Darling system:
Murray River, Darling River and Lake Burley Griffin (Molonglo River).
His next list will cover former boats, and hence more of the tributary rivers: Goulburn River, Murrumbidgee River, Wakool River, Edwards River, (Lachlan River?), and the upper Darling (McIntyre River and another).
It has been set up as a spreadsheet to allow for easy retrofitting of construction dates, and possibly length. Other detail would become too cumbersome, and simply replace buying a copy of Parsons.
Here is my list of current Australian paddleboats on other waterways:
Qld:
* Longreach, Thomson River:
- Commercial: PV Thomson Belle (subject of a recent thread).
* Brisbane, Brisbane River:
- Commercial: PV Kookaburra Queen I & SWPV Kookaburra Queen II, Mississippi-style party/dinner cruise boats. www.kookaburrariverqueens.com.
- Commercial: fake SWPV Brisbane Paddle Wheeler.
* Nerang, Bischoff Pioneer Park:
- Museum: Maid of Sker (http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?pid=2961).
NSW:
* Newcastle, Hunter River:
- Club/commercial: PS William IV replica, languishing during political bickering (subject of a recent thread).
* Windsor, Hawkesbury River:
- Commercial: PV Hawkesbury Paddlewheeler (former Turrumburra).
* Penrith, Nepean River (a Hawkesbury tributary)
- Commercial: PV Nepean Belle: sheduled morning/afternoon tea, lunch & dinner cruises; charters.
* Sydney, Harbour:
- Commercial: SWPV Sydney Showboat I (aka Sydney Ballroom) and SWPV Sydney Showboat II, Mississipi-style party/dinner cruise boats.
Vic.:
* Orbost, Snowy River:
- Club: PS Curlip replica/lookalike, under construction (subject of a recent thread, commissiong ceremony Sat.29.11.08).
* Melbourne, Yarra River:
- Commercial: PV Lady Stelfox, on hardstand.
* Ballarat, Lake Wendouree:
- Club/Museum: PV Golden City: Destroyed by arson in 2006; appeal for funds to build a replica.
Tas.
* Huon River?:
- Private: PV Murray Queen (small) at Huon or Port Huon.
WA:
* Perth, Swan River:
- Commercial: PS Decoy replica for party/charter/jazz cruises.
Historically, there were many others: Sydney Harbour, Gippsland lakes, Hobart ferries, some Melbourne ferries, Port Phillip Bay excursion ferries, some coastal boats.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Roderick, I remember when I was in TAS last time, there was a funny looking boat on a river in central TAS that was called the PV (PS, I am not sure if it is steam or other power) Penny Royal. It offered 2-3 1hour excursions a day...
If it still exists is anybodies guess...
-
The vessel which James recalls was Lady Stelfox: propelled by screw, but with decorative paddles. They are turned by the motor (ie not totally lazy), but not with sufficient force to create propulsion. The vessel was taken by barge to Melbourne about 3 years ago, but has not been in revenue service since. The owner alleged that damage was caused when it was shifted in Victoria Harbour without his knowledge. It has been on hardstand since.
My only photo doesn't show the paddles. I posted it with the continuing discussion on fake paddle vessels, under the PV Yarrawonga Queen thread in the Preserved forum.
In Launceston, the gorge cruises are served by MV Lady Launceston, built in Edwardian style, and only about 2 years old. It has electric propulsion for use in the gorge, but relies on the main diesels during other portions of the cruise.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
With APAM split into two parts, I am placing photos into this half of boats which are unlikely to have Sean histories written (they are newer or smaller than the scope of the first half). I am not necessarily sticking to source to sea order.
Today: PV Alice, when it was nearly new (launched in Apr.04). This was built (and owned?) by Peter Turner, who built EPV Gnatty, and features on a website mentioned elsewhere in Paddleducks: www.gnatriverboats.com.au.
On this occasion it was part of a fleet parallelling PS Industry (on which I was riding) and PS Oscar W as part of the ceremonies for the 150th anniversary of Australia's first public railway: a horse-worked line from Goolwa (on the river) to Port Elliot (on the sea), avoiding the treacherous Murray River mouth.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This boat is the one that started my thinking for SJ.. Inspired me.. But it looks really odd I think... Something is odd about it, cant put my finger on it though!!
-
PV Mosquito
These notes have been transferred from the General discusion (large) forum.
10.7 m x 3.4 m x 0.9 m
(the beam is measured over the hull, not over the paddleboxes; I guess that the 0.9 is the hull depth, with the actual draft being less than a half of that; Australian authors are always ambivalent on which figure to quote)
wooden hull (Anth suggests red gum)
Maiden voyage July 95
As at 2001, 2.21 Toyota diesel.
I can’t see much of the paddle in my photo: seems to be 2 or 2.4 m diameter, with 12 floats.
Mosquito has towed barge A11 to Boundary Bend for the raising of Canally, and also towed Hero's hull for 13 km, then A11 and Canally in tandem to Nangiloc. I was aboard PS Mary Ann when Mosquito towed it for 2 km to an altered mooring site after the fire had been dropped for the day.
Mosquito was part of the Randell-Cadell 150th anniversary run, from at least its home port (Colignan) to Echuca/Moama.
Mosquito was at the 2005 Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival (as the support vessel for PS Mary Ann).
Mosquito is owned by the Mansell family, which has a private slipway at Colignan, where the family property grows (amongst other products) avocados for the Sydney market. The family has PV Mosquito, PV Impulse, PV Rusty, the hull of PV Wanera and is building a larger private PV. Rob Mansell was the fleet commander for the Randell-Cadell fleet, organising lockings, mooring arrangements, crewing of the replica vessels, the decision to push on to Echuca, and the final fleet arrangement for the ceremonial entry into Echuca. During this voyage, as on many earlier ones, Mosquito was run with an all-girl crew, skippered by Rob's wife.
In the accompanying photo, notice the Australian-standard towing pole.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This PV was built at Echuca, and spent several months there before heading to a Goolwa owner. It has a metal hull, and so is ineligible to appear at Goolwa Wooden Boat Festivals. It has a private mooring at the owner's property on Hindmarsh Island, reached via a narrow channel through weeds. I tried to motor up the channel to get a good photo while at the 2005 wooden-boat festival, but had to chicken out as I ended up in the weed and not the channel.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
The Killawarra was launched in Echuca and stayed there for some time before being moved by her new owners to Hindmarsh Island. Hope that gives some background to the vessel for you!
-
See www.kookaburrariverqueens.com
Kookaburra River Queen I is a side-wheel PV, and was built in 1986.
Kookaburra River Queen II is a stern-wheel PV, and was built in 1988.
According to the website both are genuine paddle vessels; both have planked wooden hulls. The vessels are 30 m long, built of Queensland timbers, have two 260 kW diesel engines and are 130 tons [unstated whether this is displacement or registered tons].
The two run scheduled lunch, dinner and special-event cruises on Brisbane River, Brisbane; also charters for parties, functions, weddings etc.
Both UK and USA Paddleduckers can feel at home on a Brisbane visit.
I enclose a photo from Sean of I, and one from me of I & II.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Tarella has survived as a houseboat just north of Mannum for many years, without its steam engine and without its paddles (so use of the PS title is simply a historical courtesy), and even without much of the hull. It has been sitting on a concrete plinth.
When I took the accompanying photo it was for sale.
Since then it has been bought by the owner (or syndicate owner) of PV Flender Himmel, with the intention of restoring it to operational condition.
June 07 update: I have included a recent photo, showing the vessel more clearly.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I have seen Tarella a few times now, and had heard of it being restored to working condition.. But it is a pity it got like that in the first place.. I suppose it is a bit like the Federal (though it is a great place to stay. I loved it) that could be returned to working order and run trips from Goolwa, as the Oscar W cant do it anymore, the Aroona has been 'banished' from the community by council, the Mundoo has moved away.. there is a small MV left and the William Randell (private).. It would make a good running there too..
I love hearing that a boat is going to be restored.. I cant wait to see it when it is, but it looks like it will take a while ..
-
PS Federal sits on blocks in the water, at the shore's edge, just downriver of Goolwa. It is run as a rentable holiday home, suitable for fishermen and boaties. See www.murrayriver.com.au/accommodation/psfederal/default.htm.
AFAIK it is bow into the bank. Both paddlewheels have been removed. The port paddlebox has been removed, to give the lounge a broader water view. The starboard paddlebox has been converted to a toilet.
James was only partly right in lamenting the lack of public cruise vessels at Goolwa.
Spirit of the Coorong Cruises has two boats 'Spirit of the Coorong' based there, plus the one 'Spirit of the Murray'. The Coorong ones run down through the lock on full- and half-day cruises to the Murray mouth and the Coorong (a long salt lagoon separated from the sea by sand dunes, and a haven for birdlife). The other runs the popular river safaris. None may take passengers across Lake Alexandrina. River-cruise passengers board at Wellington.
See www.coorongcruises.com.au.
Oscar W is being readied for survey. This may be achieved by the June-July 07 river rally, and will certainly be achieved by 2008, when Oscar W is making its own centenary voyage to Echuca (where it was built). I have a photo of Oscar W in a different thread, demonstrating the high central mounting point for towlines on Murray-Darling paddlesteamers.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This one was built to resemble former SWPS Captain Sturt, a Mississippi-style workboat in SA which languished as a houseboat at Goolwa until it was scrapped. Although I visited Goolwa on many occasions from 1959, I have been unable to find a photo of it in my collection.
I don't know if 'Goolwa' ran regular or charter cruises from Goolwa. It did cruise as part of the Source to Sea event in 2001, and did some damage to the stern-wheel support when it hit the lifting-span bridge at Renmark. I photographed it at Mannum.
For most recent years, it was used as a static b&b at Goolwa. About 3 years ago, it was for sale. A lot of interior photos appeared on the website of a real-estate agency. AFAIK it continues to trade as a static b&b.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This boat is based at Goolwa (SA), and I have photographed it there, and on many other stretches of Murray River. A stern view is in the Mary Ann thread.
This photo was taken at Mildura during the Randell Cadell 150th anniversary run.
The boat was built privately, around the 1990s. The owner is a retired teacher of woodwork, and the interior features some beautiful timber craftsmanship.
The boat carries a steam calliope on the aft upper deck, which the owner plays after tying up for the day.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
You know the William Randell looks almost identical to the Milang (which was a paddler from the day for those playing at home) However she also bears similarities to Etona which boats such as the Barmah do as well.
I planned on Doing William Randell for the main APAM so you can help me out then later with it Roderick!
I don't have a picture of the Milang which I can post however it appears in the book River Boats by Ian Mudie
W.R has a Ruston Proctor portable engine I believe. The wheel is found on the lower deck in front of the engine. Paddle wheels are green! (Just pulling what I know about the boat from my memory) I believe she is pretty much entirely powered by steam, shower kitchen etc.
She's a pretty trim looking boat and I like her, I think I'd like her more if her wheel were in the top deck housing (I don't like top deck cabins not being used when they look like wheel houses...just something personal)
I do believe Goolwa is offering cruises of some form possibly by her new owners.
Is Tarella still owned by the South Australian Government or is she officially owned by private owners now?
-
Sean raised the issue of fake wheelhouses on modern boats.
Traditionally, Murray paddlesteamers reflected centuries of marine design.
The captain (an officer and a gentleman) had a cabin on the upper deck, adjacent to the wheelhouse. Boats warranting a first mate had a cabin for him at this spot too.
The engineer had a berth in a sponson cabin, adjacent to his baby (the boiler and engine).
Deckhands (the lower classes) had to find space on the decks, or amongst the cargo, or on bunks in the hull forepeak.
In building a modern houseboat to a traditional style, the owner has to face the practical problem of running with a reduced crew, and socialising with the friends who are aboard as guests.
A steamer must have the boiler and engine downstairs.
In a small vessel (eg PS Ranger), having the wheel downstairs allows solo operation, or at least chatting with the engineer.
With a diesel engine, remote control is possible.
There are two design schools:
* Bedrooms on the lower deck; lounge and wheelhouse on the upper deck (eg PV Impulse).
* Bedrooms on the upper deck; lounge and wheelhouse on the lower deck (eg PV Kulkyne).
My design for PV Sunbury, a 13 m vertically-reduced variation on PV Shiralee, put bedrooms on the lower deck (recessed into the hull, as on the forecabins of PS William Randell and PS Etona), and the lounge and wheelhouse on the upper deck. I had a large engine room, capable of holding steam equipment, although if I ever build it, it will be diesel. I have placed my two design sketches into General Discussion (Large).
When I inspected PV Matilda (as a potential purchaser), I commented on having the wheel amidships on a single-deck vessel, and not at the front. I would have liked a good vantage point for seeing snags ahead. The owner commented that he wanted to be able to socialise with his guests (who would be sitting in the lounge at the front); they shouldn't have to spend a whole cruise looking at his back.
I have found this with Jessie II. Guests sit in the rear lounge. Invariably, one will come forward and stand in the wheelhouse (there is no guest seat) to chat with me skippering.
There are a couple of boats with wheels upstairs and downstairs; IIRC the new Temeraire (photo in the Preserved forum) is one.
I was unaware that Tarella was owned by the government at any stage; AFAIK it has moved from one private owner to another.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I have never, in person, seen the Goolwa under power.. never.. And I heard that it looked more like a cheap seventies motel on the inside, rather than a paddle boat..
William Randell does have the Ruston Proctor engine on it.. and powers all the boats hot water and steam and cooking needs..
Roderick, is the PV Sunbury based also on the plans that you sent me about making a paddle boat with an old carriage from a train??? It looked a little similar..
-
Adding to yesterday's post, here is another modern cruising paddleboat with a fake wheelhouse. PV Jumbuck is normally based at Wellington, where Murray River enters Lake Alexandrina. This day at Psyche Bend marked the end of participation in the Randell Cadell 150th anniversary run for many boats. At the planning stage, it was the limit of guaranteed navigation. The fleet would continue to Swan Hill if at all possible. Many boats (including PS Oscar W) had run out of crew availability by Mildura, and turned for home. The voyage had started at the end of June, and had run through bleak grey weather through July. This day at Psyche Bend had magnificent weather, and a great local event. It is the site of a preserved steam pumphouse, which was on full activation while the fleet was moored for lunch. There was a large rally of classic cars and trucks too. Every cloud has a silver lining: the bleak weather had brought rain to north-east Victoria; the river had risen; passage to Swan Hill was guaranteed; subsequently passage to Echuca/Moama was achieved. In 1853, Randell had left Goolwa (having obtained customs clearance) in March, but had to turn back to Noa No because of low water. He resumed in August. Cadell left Port Augusta days behind Randell, but overtook near the Murrumbidgee junction. The two raced. Both turned into Wakool River by mistake. Cadell beat Randell into Swan Hill by a few hours. However, Randell got further. Cadell had to turn his larger boat back at Gunbower Creek; Randell got to Maiden's punt (Moama, a few km upstream of Echuca). Hence the importance of these two destinations for this commemoration fleet.
One reason for putting the lounge downstairs is to utilise the space between the paddles: a large open kitchen/lounge can spread back into this space, still with a view forwards.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
What boat was this?
Â
Alistair
----- Original Message -----
From: Roderick Smith (research@paddleducks.co.uk)
To: research@paddleducks.co.uk (research@paddleducks.co.uk)
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 11:25 PM
Subject: RE: APAM- List of Paddlers Part 1 Modern and Restored Vessels
This boat is based at Goolwa (SA), and I have photographed it there, and on many other stretches of Murray River. A stern view is in the Mary Ann thread.
This photo was taken at Mildura during the Randell Cadell 150th anniversary run.
The boat was built privately, around the 1990s. The owner is a retired teacher of woodwork, and the interior features some beautiful timber craftsmanship.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-------------------- m2f --------------------
Exported by Paddleducks Mail System.
http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10332#10332 (http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10332#10332)
-------------------- m2f --------------------
-
Alistair asked which boat was being discussed (the one with beautiful interior woodwork).
It was (and is) PS William Randell.
I have some information buried during house rebuilding; Sean has promised a full writeup when APAM gets that far downriver.
It is private, and isn't licensed to convey commercial passengers.
It was build around the 1990s, but with very traditional lines.
I can't recall how the steam equipment fits in with the kitchen and lounge; I have a dim memory that it sits in the middle of the lounge, rather than in a separate messy and dirty engine room (I have been aboard only once, and wasn't expecting to write a description for paddleboat enthusiasts).
From Parsons: 60 ft x 14 ft x 5.6 ft [18 m x 4.3 m x 1.7 m]
The third figure is hull depth; draft is less.
Built 1995-97.
1 cyl 7 hp Ruston-Hornsby semiportable steam engine, built in 1923.
As in another thread, this hp is an arbitrary rating, but I have still not found the formula which delivers it. PLAN/33000 delivers an estimate of actual power (indicated hp).
Sean commented that William Randell looks like former PS Milang. I couldn't see the resemblance. It is very close in appearance to the original PS William R Randell of 1908.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I think Jumbuck is a good looking boat. Shame about fake wheelhouse. Henry Charles has two working wheels I believe on lower and upper deck. I was dissapointed when I saw the lower wheel and it's what made me dislike the fake wheel house idea.
from the front Jumbuck's sponsons look to large. Like a Sternwheeler almost. But (just adding to my earlier post of this message) the first time I saw her in a book I thought Id love to own this boat. She looks powerful and large...unlike many modern private boats. She has some old fashioned class to her, like the boats of old and I think it's because of her size and colours.
-
When Sean compiled his modern summary, somebody counted 121 vessels listed.
PV Captain Proud, at Murray Bridge, cruising to welcome the Source to Sea fleet. I was aboard PS Industry that day (the Mannum to Murray Bridge sector).
From my article in Sept.06 RNV:
PV Captain Proud: was built as Proud Lady in 1977, and worked as one of the original showboats on Port River (Adelaide, SA). It was rebuilt after a fire in 1987, and was renamed Captain Proud in 1989. In 1993 it entered Murray River and travelled to Echuca. From 1994, it was based at Murray Bridge, running short charter cruises for groups and parties. It was withdrawn by the start of 2005, and offered for sale. In Feb.06, Captain Proud was placed back in survey for commercial trading, and was put back into service by Marina Wellington for charters and functions. It is still undergoing cosmetic change to bring it back to a heritage colour. Captain Proud will cruise any day with bookings of 15 adults or more, from the main wharf at Murray Bridge. The dining room can seat up to 70 guests. See www.captainproud.com.au; contact captainproud@internode.on.net.
The second photo shows its latest livery.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Madam Jade is now moored at Murray Bridge semipermanently. It was for sale 3 year ago, and I did inspect it.
The boat was built as a retirement hobby, to be a floting bric a brac shop.
It incorates a flat for the owner, and garage space for a car.
The man who built it died; his widow runs it at Murray Bridge, no longer cruising.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Murray Bridge (South Australia) was once known as Edwards Crossing. It grew to become an important centre when the first bridge across the SA Murray was constructed there, in 1879. From the 1880s until the 1920s, the bridge was dual road & rail, carrying the interstate line to Melbourne. A second, rail-only, bridge was constructed then.
A railway and paddleboat enthusiast has a small shipyard there, with several boats.
He is constructing a replica of PS Cato, helped by a small syndicate, and is restoring PS Colonel.
The photos also show an old work barge, and a Popeye river launch. These were not paddle, but are very famous. The launches provided public cruises on Torrens River, in the heart of Adelaide. A well-placed weir had turned this minor creek into something resembling a capital-city river. When the 1930s fleet was superseded, all passed into preservation. One on the Murray has been given completely new superstructure, but the hull reveals the ancestry. The one at Murray Bridge is in original condition.
The rear-view photo shows the Popeye as well.
A photo of MV Expedition (former fake SWPV Proud Mary, based at Murray Bridge) has appeared elswhere.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I think I will write an article on Cato when we arrive further downstream in the main APAM thread as it is a replica of an original boat.
Notice the funnel position further indicating the location of the engine, similar to that of PS Australien as discussed in another thread.
Sean
-
My photo of PV Thomson Belle appears in its own thread (APAM Thomson Belle) in this Research forum.
Today: PS Decoy, based on Swan River (Perth, WA).
This isn't really a replica of the original PS Decoy. That vessel went from Murray River to Perth, then back again. It's hull is in use as a houseboat at Dick Bromhead's marina, just north of Mannum (SA).
I don't have a history for the current PS Decoy, and there is no history on the website: www.psdecoy.com
It makes regular Sunday jazz cruises, and is very much in function-charter market.
I believe that it is fairly underpowered, and can be tricky to handle in the broad reach of Swan River opposite the main city centre. This is actually quite shallow. Cross-river and up-river ferries have to be careful to stick within channels.
I haven't yet had the chance to cruise on this one.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Roderick I think it could be a replica more than you think. When Decoy moved to the Swan River she had a different layout to that of her time on the Murray and I'm pretty sure there are photos in books of her looking very similar to that. I would as such say that she is very much a Decoy replica.
Maybe Derek knows a bit more and can shed some light on the matter.
-
Hi Sean - as Roderick suggests, there is little detailed history on either vessel :ohno
The 1878 original [74682] is listed as 40HP [actual? indicated? nominal?]
& when she steamed under her own power to Perth [towing barges of fuel wood] she was given an upper deck & was used as the excursion vessel from 1905 to 1908
Dick Bromhead suggested to me that the Perth owners plotted to renig on the charter agreement & had the boiler examiner condem Decoys boilers & hence she lost classification & was towed back to SA, but not before she was totally measured & from these measurements a copy PS decoy was built to the original lengthened [1881] dimensions
The 1908 Perth copy Decoy was installed with a 16HP [actual? indicated? nonimal?] engine so this may well be what Roderick notes as being underpowered
I noted a very SOUR :hmph attitude from the current owner toward the Perth people as Dick confirmed that when [74682] returned to her home waters, the SA boiler examiner gave the boiler a certificate of worthiness & this boiler maintained certification until at least 1919 or possibly up until 1932
I tend to agree with the point that the Perth copy Decoy is dimensionally = to the [74682] original as fitted out for the excursion trade
[74682] was lengthened in 1881 & sheathed in hardwood over her steel hull [waterline down only] where as the Perth copy is full steel hull
I posted a comunication to the www.psdecoy.com a few years back & an Angelique came back & said they would purchase my 1/24 scale model of [74682]..... :hmmm ... I gracefully declined their kind offer - I mean after 5 years she is only about 67.34578% finished... musn't rush these projects :music - Derek
-
I found this while searching for my Kookaburra River Queen I & II photo.
Brisbane Paddle Wheeler appears to be its name.
It is run by Brisbane Cruises, www.brisbanecruises.com.au
Sun.24.12 update: I phoned to make a booking for Boxing Day. Kookaburra River Queens and this are not running on that day.
The operator has now confirmed: Brisbane Paddle Wheeler is not propelled by the paddle (ie FSWPV, ie fake SWPV).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I have never seen this one, and don't have a photo.
Today: just the website (which has photos).
www.nepeanbelle.com.au
This boat plies on Nepean River (a Hawkesbury River tributary) in Sydney's outer-western suburbs, at the foot of Blue Mountains.
The outside looks fairly tacky, but the interior features beautiful timber panelling (according to the website).
I don't know if it is PV or fake PV, but the paddle churn in one photo seems to be genuine.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This wooden-hulled paddleboat is normally moored at Dick Bromhead's marina, a few km north of Mannum, off an inlet off the west bank of Murray River.
This photo was taken during the 2 days when the Source to Sea fleet was at Mannum. The photo was taken from the town bank, alongside Mary Ann Reserve
Adjacent are PV Goolwa (running with the fleet from Renmark) and a vintage river launch (Pelican, built in 1917).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I like Kingfisher.
Details about the boat:
She has a redgum hull and frames.
Construction completed in 1989 (hey she's as old as me then!)
Powered by diesel.
62ft long, 16 ft wide.
Operated near Mannum.
Sean
-
Hull was built at Nathalia Vic, and is usually moored at Dick's marina
-
Hi PD's - could be wrong.... but the photograph :kewl of PV Kingfisher... is that not taken on the other side or the river @ Mannum?... and is that not the same Dick Bromhead on Kingfisher FWD of the wheel?...... - Derek
-
The photo was taken on this side of the river (ie the western bank).
At the time I had not met Dick Bromhead, or seen him on video (he features in one of the river cds).
If the boat is his, it is probably moored at his marina. When I was there to photograph his houseboat on Decoy's hull, I was in a rush. Dick was wearing a safety helmet and earmuffs, while sandblasting the hull of a hire houseboat. Possibly if I had strolled around I would have found PV Kingfisher.
I have updated my earlier post in the wake of responses from Sean and from Derek.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
You know Derek it does look like him! Does he own the boat or is it owned by somebody else?
-
Yes it does look like him doesn't it... It also looks like Robert O'Callaghan who was heavily involved with the Marion (idea came from the source to sea video - he featured and it could be either of them)
I really like the Kingfisher - though I have only seen it once - but it is usually berthed a short distance upstream from Mannum..
-
Hi PD's - The Bromhead Marina.....maybe I am getting a little :oops: lost as being from New south Wales :shhh , but I thought Roderick's snap'of Kingfisher was taken from the eastern side of the river overlooking the hills or bluffs on the same side as the Bromhead Marina
So for "Out of OZLAND" members.... this Marina is situated on a very quiet backwater arm of our famous Murry river @ Manum & being a back water ... the best description is a turbid fluid whitish muddy mass with fresh green water flora growing in clumps on the surface - with ducks & jumping fresh water [European CARP] fish
The Marina has a set of rail lines disappearing into the murky water, an hydraulic winch & a 10 tonne cradle - mooring is accomplished via floating buoys anchored to mother nature & a short dingy paddle to terra firma
I have 20 something snaps of the HULK of PS Decoy & post some when I return from Whyalla week 2 of 2007 [approx a :sob 5 hour car trip back to Adelaide]..... they fly 2000 Km to Wollongong
I can only re-affirm Jims comment 'don't :beer drink & :nono drive' - best regards to all from :nah OZ - Derek
-
With the flurry of interest in PV Kingfisher, I am adding an extra one of it before advancing (I have the next several scans done already).
There was also a response earlier that someone had never seen SWPV Goolwa leave Goolwa. This photo provides the evidence.
The photo was taken on Sun.23.9.01, as I cruised on PS Marion as part of a weekend of celebrations to mark the presence in town of the Source to Sea fleet (which was running to celebrate the centenary of Australian federation).
From the left:
stern of MV Pelican
PV Kingfisher
SWPV Goolwa
a modern houseboat
a glimpse of the wheelhouse of PV Flender Himmel
If Rubens had painted paddleboats, I guess that he would have depicted only SWPS & SWPV.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I have no details of this one, but I have never seen it budge from this mooring, a few metres from the berth of PS Marion.
It was seen at Mildura by one of my reporters, in Sept.01, as part of the Source to Sea fleet.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Canally was built in 1986 in Berri, SA, by Denis Wasley. It has a steel hull measuring 49ft long and with a maximum width of 14ft, but it was said to be hard to steer so the hull was lengthened by another 11ft.
Canally is powered by a 40hp tractor diesel engine. Canally was sold twice in the 1990's and is now based at Mannum. The present owners have completely refurbished the interior of the deckhouse.
I have seen the boat twice out of Mannum - both at Goolwa!! But I like the boat and certainly wouldn't mind owning it, although it does look a little tacky at the minute..
Canally has made several long trips in the last few years including Mildura, Berri, Goolwa etc..
Not much info, but a little bit of ''stuff'' on the boat!!
-
I have been in Queensland for a week, and was unable to fit in a trip on either PV Kookaburra River Queen I or SWPV Kookaburra River Queen II, or even on MV (fake SWPV) Brisbane Paddlewheeler.
My recent Murray River posts in this thread have been at Mannum, SA. This was (and is) an important river town, and the base of Randell's dry dock for riverboat maintenance.
The most important paddleboat to be found there is the superb restored PS Marion: one of the big four Murray River passenger vessels (Gem, Marion, Ruby & Ellen). Its history will appear in full when one of the other authors reaches it.
After languishing further up river, it was steamed in triumph to Mannum c1964 for retirement as a permanent static display in Randall's dry dock. A photo of the ceremonial arrival is the avatar of paddlesteamerman1: the black smoke was not typical of Murray boats, and was achieved for the photographic effect by throwing car tyres into the firebox.
I first visited the vessel as a static exhibit.
New aspirations in what constitutes effective preservation arose, and the boat was restored to working order by a band of dedicated volunteers, and is maintained and operated by them: about 12-18 steaming weekends per year.
The program includes short cruises from Mannum, the occasional 2 or 3 night cruise through the scenic limestone-cliff part of the river, regular gourmet-meal cruises on behalf of Rockford Winery (a major sponsor of the vessel), appearances at Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival, and at other ceremonies marking river events (eg the opening of the new bridge at Blanchetown, and the recent commemoration of the major 1956 floods).
See www.psmarion.com for history, photos and events.
I have made several cruises, and am booked on the exceedingly rare operation from Renmark to Wentworth in July this year: the first time Marion has gone that far for 60 years.
I have posted photos with various glimpses in several Paddleducks forums and threads. Here is a classic three quarter frontal, coming in to dock at Mannum during a short cruise for the crowds attending the Source to Sea celebrations in 2001.
The lower deck has the engine and wood forward, then the kitchen and dining saloon aft. The sponson cabins hold the engineering workshop and stores.
The middle deck has a lounge with bar forward, then cabins (with toilets and showers above the paddleboxes).
The upper deck has the wheelhouse, several cabins, then a rear lounge.
The berth capacity is above 30: IIRC 30 passengers, plus the crew.
Marion has appeared in a stamp series in recent years: five 50c stamps (the usual regular letter postage within Australia) showed paddlesteamers which have survived. IIRC PS Marion, PS Adelaide, PS Ruby (still under restoration), PS Oscar W (was the fifth PV Pyap?).
The first series of overseas stamps (gst free when Australia went to gst) showed PV Coonawarra in the scenic SA cliffs section.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Two more photos of PS Marion.
The first shows the Marshall boiler and engine. I had to tip it sideways to meet the software's new size-checking rules.
The second shows the vessel leaving lock 1, Blanchetown (also supposedly named William Randell Lock, but the name is not displayed anywhere).
PS Marion doesn't come above this lock very often. On this occasion it was cruising to Morgan for short-term deployment there for local cruising. Morgan is part of the same shire (Mid Murray Shire) as Mannum. The shire is a strong supporter of the project, and this was a chance for ratepayers at the northern end of the shire to experience the paddlesteamer.
The lockmaster wouldn't allow me to alight from the vessel onto the concrete walls (modern health & safety rules) to obtain the photo. The captain allowed me to ride in the tinnie, and a deckhand positioned the tinnie so that I could obtain this photo. There was a tradeoff: he then placed me at the pumpout jetty to take the line as Marion docked; he was using the tinnie as a stern thruster. It was a very impressive sight, standing on a small low jetty as the three-deck boat eased in.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hi PD's & thanks Roderick...... :kewl there is PS Marions engine console gauge panel.....4 + the 1 on the boiler = 5... this snap is dated 23.9.2001, I have a later [January 2004] snap of the gauges so will :computer post it in the Steam Q & A :hammer thread on my return to NSW - Derek
-
With the interest in the boiler & engine, I am enclosing a second view, taken on a different cruise.
I am also enclosing a photo of Marion moored at Morgan, on the same cruise. This is a fairly rare destination for this boat. It is moored at the low-level mooring used by SWPV Murray Princess on its regular weekly cruises. A portion of the famous high-level wharf has been preserved, but is unusable: today's water levels go nowhere near the wharf's level. My photo was taken from a hill overlooking the rail approach to the wharf (the Morgan railway line has been closed and dismantled). The wharf is to the left of the frame. To the right of the frame is the dockyard servicing the river punts which operate at various places along the SA portion of Murray River.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This vessel is also based at Mannum. It is the largest passenger vessel every built for the Murray, with dimensions determined by lock sizes (locks 1-10 are a standard size; locks 11, 18 & 26 are smaller).
The boat was built in Goolwa (SA), then had the third deck added after going above Murray Bridge. Maintenance is undertaken in a dry dock at Renmark, but there are seasons when the boat can't get through for this. Two 6 night cruises are advertised for Nov.07 for this.
It is pitched at the top end of the market, with weekend cruises (Fri. night to Sun. afternoon) towards Blanchetown, and midweek cruises (Sun. night to Fri. afternoon) to Morgan.
The propulsion is via the stern wheel, and the rear lounge (two storeys high) has full-height windows to view the wheel in action.
It also has bow thrusters to get it round tight bends.
In one year, when low water and sandbars prevented access to lock 1, it was running a modified program, incorporating a journey down to Murray Bridge.
I was given a guided tour one morning: it was moored end on to Marion, and all Marion passengers were given an inspection.
Murray Princess has a five chime horn, which sounds as an arpeggio until all five are blaring. This is very distinctive, but there are few places where the captain is allowed to use all five.
See
www.murrayriver.com.au/boating/paddlesteamers/princess/default.htm
www.captaincook.com.au/home.asp?pageid=1661F5DD27C61DDC&destinationid=CE4687459C510656
Buried in the second reference are tech specs and deck plans.
I googled in to more information on this boat, and on other paddleboats, by searching on Vantage Travel USA, then selecting small-ship cruises. There is little point sending them a photo of a traditional Australian style.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
By coincidence, today's mail brought a brochure from Vantage, a big American travel/tour company.
In describing Murray River Princess the brochure says she is "...a modern, romantic representative of a time when hundreds of such vessels plied Australia's Mississippi."
I am no expert on the Murray, although I've been there. But I don't believe that there was ever an American-style sternwheel overnight passenger steamer there.
Indeed, the high-class Mississippi packets were all sidewheelers.
Perhaps Rod or another OZ lister could send Vantage a photo of Marion or Gem.....
Bfill Worden
-
Captain Sturt would be the only close American style boat too run on the Murray...
It's very true there is a definately forgotten period of time in Murray River History where gigantic Mississippi Steam Packets operated on the miniscule trickle that is the Murray. At the time dinosaurs roamed the earth...
You definately find some interesting things when you go searching. Little innaccuracies that may mean nothing to tourists but something to us enthusiasts. Let's not forget that an average tourist, when Paddle Steamer pops into mind may think of a Mississippi stern wheeler.
I can't forget the tourist I met who seriously though the steam engine of the pevensey drove a proppeller underneath the water. Even after showing him the wheels and explaining the process he continued to wonder how the boat worked.
-
Hi PD's - Sean or Roderick... I have located 10 snaps of PS Marion taken in January 2004... nothing spectactular.. would either be interested in me posting :computer them off line :?: - Derek
-
From large to small.
I have seen this PV Eliza-Ann only at Mannum. Although it was advertising Morgan Hotel, I have never seen it at Morgan.
This one is small for two decks. Even recessing the lower deck into the hull, side floats are needed to maintain stability.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I am stuggling to work out precisely where in Mannum this photo was taken.
Is that the punt at the very left of the background?
This one I have never seen at Mannum...... I presume that means it is not usually based there.??
Martin
-
Having just reviewed the original photos, I believe that Martin's guess is correct. I can't recall any boat ramp south of the punt ramp on the eastern shore [see addition below].
On that day, I arrived from the eastern shore on a punt; parked my car; then walked north to south taking notes and photos. This was the first major river event which I had attended; standing beside my car on the punt was magic: paddleboats as far as I could see. I had been monitoring the fleet's progress via a website; this was my first opportunity to see the fleet in person.
* Near the punt ramp, above PS Marion's mooring: PV Akuna Amphibious rafted off PV Tamara Rae
* At PS Marion's dock: PV Impulse
Just down from there: PV Kulkyne rafted off PV Canally.
Lots of private houseboat moorings behind a club and Pretoria Hotel.
Now down at Mary Ann reserve:
PV Eliza-Ann
PV Mayflower
PV Flender Himmel
PV Matilda
SWPV Goolwa
PV Kingfisher
MV Pelican
PV Black Shag (from Swan Hill, Victoria) rafted off PS Etona (the only vessel from Echuca, Victoria), both just above the boat ramp.
PS Marion (cruising from the reserve, and not at its own berth further up)
PS Industry (cruising from the reserve)
PS William Randell rafted off PS Oscar W and barge Dart
Murray Princess (at its own berth)
then a cluster of launches at the public jetty, including MV Winsome (former Popeye 4) and MV Progress (a former Murray Bridge milk boat).
I don't think that Marion stayed at the reserve overnight; it would have gone to the pumpout and then to its own berth ready to leave as a 3 day voyage in the morning (fully booked to Wellington). Perhaps PV Impulse had to be shifted, to raft off Marion?
Friday update: I have looked more closely at more photos. I think that the landmark behind Eliza-Ann is a boat ramp downriver of the punts. I think that it shows in one of my other views.
I thought that I had overlooked reporting PV Shiralee in my list: it wasn't in my notebook, and wasn't in any photo; conclusion: it wasn't at that rally.
I have scanned photos of the two clusters of moored boats (taken from aboard PS Marion).
The seven: Murray Princess, William Randell, Oscar W, Industry, (Kingfisher hidden), Goolwa, (Matilda hidden), Flender Himmel, Mayflower.
The five: houseboats, Kulkyne, Canally (obscured), Impulse (obscured), Akuna Amphibious, Tamara Rae, one of the two punts.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
PV Mayflower has an interesting history; in the 1960s it was a cruise vessel at Mildura. It was then converted for private use, and is normally moored at Morgan (SA).
It appeared in a distant view of the cluster of seven, taken at Mannum in Sept.01, which I posted this morning.
I have a photo (not yet scanned) of it at Morgan. I also have one of it cruising at Mildura in 1963, which I will post when Sean reaches his writeup of this boat.
The first post is of it cruising as part of the Randell Cadell 150th anniversary fleet, on the Wentworth - Mildura day. This was taken near Abbotsford lifting-span bridge, before the lunch stop at Mildara winery. It is towing a pontoon boat (based at Swan Hill) as well as its own tinnie. I took the photo from aboard PS Oscar W.
The second shows it at its new home, Wellington (SA) marina, with my Jessie II visible at the rear.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This paddlevessel was built as a screw-propelled cane tug for Clarence River (northern NSW).
It was brought to the Murray, and converted to paddle propulsion.
It is based at Ramco, upriver of Morgan.
Between the two, the river passes North West Bend.
Having flowed generally westwards from the source in high alpine bogs, gathering multiple tributaries, this is the point where the river turns to the south to head to the sea at Goolwa.
The current owner uses the boat to support his dredging business.
I have seen it at Wentworth as part of the Randell Cadell 150th fleet, and again for 2004 Junction Rally.
Recently it appeared alongside barge Dart, as part of the travelling display commemorating the major 1956 floods.
I have transferred the photo from the large-construction forum.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
PV Gypsy Ellen is moored at North West Bend (between Morgan and Ramco). I have never seen this boat. It was present for local ceremonies during the flood-commemoration voyage during 2006.
This photo was sent to me in Aug.04. It had appeared in the National Geographic book about Murray River. I don't know in which reach of the river it was taken, or the date. Sean's list shows PV Tina being based in Swan Hill, but I have never seen it there.
PV Gypsy Ellen joined the recent commemoration of the 50th anniversary if the 1956 floods, at Cadell and Morgan (ie the two locations closest to North West Bend).
Also joining the commemoration was another boat which I have never seen: PV Incredible, at Cadell, Morgan, Blanchetown, Swan Reach and Mannum. This hints that it is moored in the vicinity.
I hope to obtain my own photos of both as I cruise Jessie II from Morgan to at least Mildura later this year.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
That Picture features in the National Geographic book about the Murray River so even by Frank Tucker the photo wouldn't make sense as their is a lengthy discussion between the Geographic Author and the 'gypsy' boaters.
We might need to watch that photo.
-
She was built out of railway carridges. Was out of the water at Barmah in 2000 ands was later moored up the Campaspe River for a while, before that photo. It was purchased by Russel Anderson and the photo of the two vessels is taken near Swan Hill on their way home from a trip up the Darling River. It was sold in 2004 after the owner bought PV Babbler and the boat moved to it present mooring and has undergone major refurbishment.
-
I should have included this one while showing the boats at Mannum, but PV Flender Himmel hasn't spent much time at its home port.
It was built in time for Source to Sea in 2001, and was with the fleet at Mannum. I don't know how much cruising it did with the fleet, as it was not yet complete. The name is not a traditional paddlesteamer one: it was named after its transmission manufacturer.
The boat is owned by one or more younger adventurers, keen to explore the river with it. It was booked for the full Goolwa - Swan Hill voyage as part of the Randell Cadell 150th anniversary fleet in 2003. However, when the fleet was able to continue to Echuca / Moama, FH was stranded at Swan Hill with a failed transmission. It spent a year there. A new transmission was fitted (but the boat wasn't renamed), and it continued to Koondrook / Barham for the bridge centenary celebration in 2004. The owners were keen to take it to Albury, by having a crane waiting at Yarrawonga Weir (which has no lock). This didn't eventuate, but the boat did reach the weir after delays at Torrumbarry Weir and a very slow section through snags while entering Tocumwal. It returned to Echuca, and spent time in a marina there (I saw it there during a 2006 cruise with Jessie II). It has now gone downriver. The owner has since purchased former PS Tarella (near Mannum).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Former Terella?
HAve they changed her name too?
BTW if he is thinking of refloating Tarella, he is looking at major hassel IMO.
My grandfather knew some previous owners of Tarella and I remember being on board as a 10 year old looking down into the murky hull at the mud, sludge and rotting timbers and asking my father why it wasn't floating.
I was deliberately holed a long time ago. One of my enduring memories of a trip in the ski boat down to Mannum and we pulled in and tied up alongside. <sigh> seems so long ago.
-
It is possible to still raise and repair these boats, the interesting part is Tarella has cabins on top which isn't something the 'modern restorer' faces. Hero, Edwards etc etc all only had hulls under water and very little else. Akuna Amphibious when it was raised had a few tonne of mud in her hold...and lots of fish!
Who knows what will come up with Tarella.
-
This is one of a trio of large crusing boats, dating from the 1970s.
Murray River Queen: built 1972-74, in an Australian vernacular. IIRC this one cruised between Renmark and Wentworth. I photographed it at Mildura in the 1980s. As mentioned in another post, the section above lock 6 became too unreliable for boats of this size. It was withdrawn from cruising, and was placed at Goolwa as backpackers accommodation. In 2003 or 2004 it was bought by new owners, and was taken to Waikerie to become a floating bed & breakfast, making occasional lunch and dinner cruises, plus overnight cruising for charter groups. See www.murrayriverqueen.com.au. IIRC I was going to travel on its 2005 positioning cruise to Renmark for drydocking, but low water levels prevented that journey from happening. The 2006 substitute did not run as a public cruise.
Murray Explorer: built in 1979 in a European (Rhine) vernacular (screw not paddle). IIRC it was used on the Waikerie - Loxton - Berri - Renmark section, which was less popular. In 1987 it was sold for overnight cruising on Hawkesbury River (NSW) as Hawkesbury Explorer. That is a very scenic waterway, but it still wasn't a success. With the bow rebuilt, it went to Sydney Harbour as Sydney Explorer. AFAIK it runs dinner and overnight cruises there.
Murray Princess: built 1985-86 in a USA (Mississippi) vernacular. This has always been on the Mannum - Morgan section, but I did mention the temporary route Murray Bridge - Blanchetown during a low-water season. This boat has had its own writeup already in this thread.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Amphibious has had a very varied life, including appearing in the film 'Gallipoli'.
It was converted to paddle propulsion, and rebuilt completely with a very expensive fitout, then was renamed Akuna Amphibious. The living area is upstairs: polished wood with brass fittings.
In one guest bedroom, the double bed swings up to reveal the diesel engine.
It was renamed when bought by the owner of Akuna Homestead, at Wigley Flat (between Waikerie and Overland Corner).
It is normally moored there, in use as a b&b when not cruising.
The boat has joined several of the major fleet cruises. I have seen it at Mannum & Murray Bridge during Source to Sea, and at Wentworth on Randell Cadell 150. The owner has also hosted private functions for boat operators during a rest day at Akuna on these voyages.
I had a brief visit when obtaining a resupply of Akuna wine during one voyage.
Overland Corner has an interesting historic hotel on the north bank. It fell into disuse, then was restored (by National Trust), and now trades for tourists. It is a bit of a walk up from the river, but most boaties do call by and head up for a drink or a meal. In particular, it is the lunch stop for the 'Spirit of the Murray' river cruises, described in one of my other posts.
Today's photo shows Akuna Amphibious leaving Wentworth for Mildura during the Randell Cadell 150th anniversary voyage.
Sunday update: The next vessel in river order is PS Roy, at Cobdogla. It already has had a write up and photo in APAM, Director's cut, about page 2 or 3. I have added a further photo and some more text to the existing post.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
The previous entry in this thread was PV Akuna Amphibious. The next boat, moving upriver, was/is PS Roy at Cobdogla, covered in the APAM Director's Cut thread. Moving upriver, I have no references to private paddleboats at Loxton or Berri. Berri had been the site of twin punts, replaced with a bridge in the late 1990s. It is also the site of a large slipway, and is the base for a government workboat (not paddle) and barge.
Continuing upriver, the city of Renmark is the base for PS Industry.
This was built as a government work boat. When it was superseded (1969?), it was placed on static display. In 1990, it was restored to operational order by Friends of Industry. It provides short cruises about once per month (no website). It has a generous railway-style boiler, and is probably the fastest paddlesteamer on the river (it was certainly the fastest in the Source to Sea fleet).
Like Oscar W, this boat has been involved in SA river ceremonies on many occasions. When on these voyages, it offers day-sector travel to the public.
In 2001 it voyaged from Renmark to Goolwa with the Source to Sea fleet. I rode from Mannum to Murray bridge.
In 2003, it joined the Randell Cadell 150th for some of the distance. It is deeper draught than many other paddlesteamers; usually it cannot continue above lock 6.
In 2004 it made a special solo voyage to Goolwa to mark the 150th anniversary of the Goolwa - Port Elliot railway (the first public railway in Australia, although only horse worked). The railway was built to connect the river to the sea, avoiding the treacherous Murray mouth. The celebration drew on many community groups to recreate the spirit of the times. Industry voyaged from Renmark, collecting Riverland produce from the major towns: wine, citrus fruit, chaff (threshed on vintage machinery). Oscar W voyaged from Milang, carrying bales of wool. I rode Industry on the Clayton - Goolwa day. At Goolwa, the produce was transferred to a railway wagon on the tourist railway there, which was also conveying a replica of the first wagon used on the line. Next day the train conveyed the produce to Port Elliot, where it was transferred to a horse-drawn dray, and was escorted to the waterfront by people in period military outfits. There it was transferred to the local surf-rescue boat to be lightered out to SA's sail training ship 'One and All', which then raised anchor, set sail and headed to Victor Harbor and Adelaide.
In 2006, Industry spent a few days with the ceremonies associated with commemorating the 1956 floods, paralleling barge Dart (towed by a work boat) from Renmark to Berri.
Today's photo: PS Industry at Mannum and at Clayton (the ceremonial crates, sacks and barrels are in the upper-deck breezeway adjacent to the funnel).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
It is a long way from Renmark to Wentworth, the loneliest stretch of the river. The only civilisation en route is the old customs house, near the SA - Victoria border. That is now a store for boat supplies, fuel point and houseboat-hire centre. Two of the locks and weirs in this section have no public access by road. This was a popular section for tourist-cruise operation from the 1930s, but is now too unreliable above lock 6 for large vessels.
Here is the text on locks and weirs from my Jan.02 article in RNV, which was looking at the impact of federation in Australia, as well as the celebrations for the centenary.
SA, Vic. & NSW came to an agreement in 1915, so that the needs for irrigation water and commercial traffic could be met. Murray River Commission was formed. A system of 26 weirs & locks was planned. The weirs would provide relatively-constant pool level (in 3.1 m steps) to facilitate pumping for irrigation and water supply. The locks would provide permanent navigation from the mouth to Echuca. Recommended lock sizes were: large (17 x 83 m) and small (17 x 51.5 m). The overall dimensions as built were slightly larger, with 1-10 being larger than the upstream ones. With the onset of depression from 1929, 13 were not built (only those needed for irrigation were completed). The weirs with locks are:
* 1: Blanchetown (274 km from the mouth), 1922 (the first, also named William Randell lock).
* 2: Waikerie (362 km), 1928.
* 3: Overland Corner (431 km), 1925.
* 4: Bookpurnong (516 km), 1929. A very photogenic approach, with a backdrop of cliffs.
* 5: Renmark (562 km), 1927.
* 6: Murtho (620 km), 1930. No public land access.
* 7: Rufus River (~704 km), 1934.
* 8: Wangumma (~733 km)), 1935. No public land access.
* 9: Kulnine (~771 km), 1926 (raises the water level to allow gravity diversion to Lake Victoria, serving Adelaide and towns through to Whyalla).
* 10: Wentworth (~832 km), 1929 .
* 11: Mildura (~886 km), 1927.
* 15: Euston, (1110 km from the mouth; 1420 km from the source), 1937. It was fitted with a fish ladder in 1938.
* 26: Torrumbarry (1638 km from the mouth; 892 km from the source), 1924. Lock 26 is 81 m long, 17 m wide and 6 m deep. The weir was fitted with a fish ladder after 1938. A significant leak under the footings was discovered in 1992. Over 1993-96, a new $33m weir was constructed; it was opened officially by Prime Minister Howard on 12.3.97.
Back in the days, passage was available 24 h a day. Now passage is still free, but availability is restricted to 8.00-11.30 and 13.00-16.30. Advance warning is not essential: just give a long blast at the 500 m marker, and wait for the signal to change from red to green. Lock 11 is very busy, with greater formality: set times (one direction on the .00; the other on the .30). Most/all of the weirs have flow rated adjusted by remote control from head office, but all are still attended by lockmasters. They have a range of duties, including clearing floating snags. Most/all locks have beautiful landscaped surrounds. Winch operation of gates has been superseded by electric operation. Crane booms have been installed to make easier the job of periodic removal of the gates for maintenance. Modern health & safety has resulted in fences being placed around the locks: close enough so that viewing the boats is easy, but photographing them is tricky.
The river is available for boats upstream to Colignan (east of Nowingi) at all times; sections above that are dependent on river flow. At low water, boats may not be able to get over the downstream sill to enter lock 26.
Today's photos private PV Yarrara at Wentworth, an important river town at the Murray & Darling confluence.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Wentworth is the home to PS Ruby, with restoration now virtually complete, ready for its centenary voyage to Morgan (where it was built in 1907).
This vessel will certainly warrant a full essay in APAM Director's Cut.
It was expanded, and had more accommodation on the third deck when it was running as a cruise vessel.
It was long and lean, with a shallower draft than its fleet companians (Gem, Marion). I am not sure if Ellen was in the same fleet, or if it was a rival.
Ruby was used for the upper reaches of cruising, and is the vessel remember by my father, growing up in Swan Hill in the 1920s.
I have stacks of photos, but this is the only one on the hard drive at this minute.
My family visited Ruby when it was a houseboat at Mildura, with all superstructure removed from the third deck.
I watched it for many years as a static display at Fotherby Park (Wentworth).
The photo today was taken at the recommissioning ceremony: Junction Rally in 2004. At that stage it had no boiler or engine. This photo shows it being propelled across Darling River from its restoration wet dock to the public dock for the recommissioning ceremony. Later it was in a parade, propelled by PV Impulse lashed to the offside.
It has also been towed to Mildura for display at a tourism convention.
The forward cabin on the second deck is the lounge and dining saloon; the kitchen is in one sponson on the main deck, with a dumbwaiter to the saloon. The rear of the second deck holds the passenger cabins, in pairs opening to each side. Wentworth ladies have hand embroidered individual tapestries for the bedspreads, curtains and bureau tops, so that each cabin is unique. Another feature of the restoration is the hand-knotted mesh for the safety fences: an old craftsman reviving the skill of his youth.
There is a website (google on PS Ruby) covering the latest progress.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
With my photos currently at Wentworth, I'll digress into the Darling briefly.
It is longer than the Murray, and carried more traffic back in the days, but has been destroyed.
Currently it is navigable for about 60 km above Wentworth, to a point blocked by a fallen tree (I am told than not even a tinnie can get through). The section is cruised occasionally by Spirit of the Murray, from Goolwa (mentioned in an earlier post).
Not far above Wentworth is a private slipway for PV Coonawarra.
The river is blocked by dams at Pooncarrie, Menindie and Bourke. The one at Bourke had Australia's first lock (c1890), but that was filled in the 1940s.
Lifting-span bridges have been decommissioned.
Queensland was not a party to the Murray-Darling agreement, and has a policy of 'if it falls in Queensland, it stays in Queensland', then uses it to grow cotton: an extravagent use of water in this nation. There is also a lot of cotton grown on the north-west NSW tributaries.
I don't have a photo of the one paddle boat on the river, PV Jandra. This is a modern boat, in traditional style, running tourist cruises in the pool of Bourke Weir. It doesn't have its own website, but is mentioned on several tourist sites. One is www.openroad.com.au/backtothebush.asp
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
As I post, it is 9.10 (ie morning) on Fri.26.1 in eastern Australia, and this is Australia Day.
Enclosed today:
Two paddlesteamers waving flags.
PS Ranger was running as PS Mary Ann that day, for the annual heritage festival. The theme that year was Echuca's 150th anniversary.
It is waving an Australian flag: very patriotic, but the flag didn't exist in 1853 (federation came in 1901).
PS Canberra is waving a River Murray flag. There are two versions: an upstream and a downstream. I am not sure where the changeover occurs. There is no compulsion to fly one, but virtually all paddleboats (commercial and private) do.
Behind them is the preserved portion of the wharf, with vintage wagons two old steam locos.
The green one was the oldest working steam loco in Victoria (built in the 1880s); the one in red undercoat was built c1910, and was one of a prolific and long-lived mainline class. It was under restoration (the boiler had been fired), but the project has lapsed. The green one has gone back to the steam base in Melbourne; the red one was relocated to Echuca station to release the platform for steam excursions form Melbourne bringing enthusiasts and tourists to ride paddlesteamers.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Both PS Emmylou and Pevensey had there Australian Flags up for the long weekend.
-
PS Tarney is found slightly up the Murray from Wentworth. It is moored near Yelta (which is on the Victorian side, near Abbotsford Bridge, a lifting-span bridge which carries the main road from Mildura via Merbein to Wentworth).
This vessel was launched only a day or so before 2004 Junction Rally. It also attended the July 2006 paddleboat rally in conjunction with a major rally of Ferguson tractors to mark the 50th anniversary of the major flood at Wentworth.
This photo was taken at the 2006 rally.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Mildura just about matches Echuca for the number of paddleboats in the area: but the Mildura ones are more spread out along the river, and only a couple are steam (just commercial PS Melbourne?, plus PS Ruby and PS Tarney if we count Wentworth as Mildura area).
I am not sure where SWPV Chalka moors, but I think that it is in one of the city moorings, below the lock.
I have seen it on the Wentworth - Mildura day of Randell Cadell 150, and at 2004 Junction Rally. It was also one of the local boats to form a guard of honour in the river as the Queen's baton to the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games was carried over George Chaffey bridge (at Mildura). This high-level bridge was designed to clear a three-deck paddleboat, and replaced a lifting-span bridge in the 1980s.
Like many riverboats, Chalka is named after one of the waterways. I can't recall in which section Chalka Creek flows into the river.
Enclosed: Chalka at Wentworth in 2004.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This one will get a full write up in Sean's latest series (River queens, in the APAM Director's Cut thread).
It was built in 1950 for tourist cruises between Echuca and Torrumbarry (downriver) and Goulburn Jn and Barmah Lakes (upriver). The water was too unreliable; it was transferred to Renmark, cruising upriver to Mildura, and downriver to Waikerie.
It left Echuca on 29.10.1953, fully booked. This was the first commercial passenger cruise from Echuca to Swan Hill since Captain Drage took Marion through in 1937.
In 1959 it was transferred to Murray Bridge, cruising upriver to Morgan, and occasionally downriver to Wellington. After larger vessels were built for this stretch (1970s), it was brought back to Mildura, and ran 5 day cruises to Wentworth, a little up the Darling, and up the Murray to Nangiloc.
A new owner is using it as a b&b at Mildura, and for charters, with only occasional public cruises. He has extended the territory and does cruise below lock 10.
The vessel has been modified many times, and now has a much larger lounge; most cabins have en suite facilities.
I have lots of better photos, but not scanned and on the hard drive.
It appears in the background of a photo which I placed in Preserved, Replica Mary Ann thread.
Here it is in the background at Wentworth, as part of 2004 Junction Rally.
Later in the day, when tinnies were unable to haul PS Ruby from this restoration dock to the wharf (it got stuck on a bar at the entrance), Coonawarra pulled Ruby across the bar.
There is a book on the history of the boat: Gwenda Painter 'In the wake of the Coonawarra', Lothian, 1970. ISBN 0 85091 029 3 and 0 85091 028 5.
There are two websites:
www.murrayriver.com.au/boating/paddlesteamers/pbcoonawarra/cruises_charter.htm
and
www.pbcoonawarra.com.au
The name is an aboriginal one for a black swan, and hence this is the emblem on the paddleboxes.
Checking the website confirms something else which I obtained from local news: Coonawarra is now based at Wentworth. All public cruises are short ones, not overnight. An afternoon-tea cruise goes down through lock 10.
Something else from local news, not on the site: the vessel is for sale.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
These are based at Mildura for tourist cruises, under common ownership.
I saw Rothbury for the first time in 1963, when it was still a work boat (and still steam).
It was modified into showboat configuration soon after.
It is the fastest paddle vessel on the river, having won every Signal Point race since the inception of the series.
Usually Melbourne does short cruises, down through lock 11.
Rothbury runs upriver with a lunch cruise to Trentham Estate winery.
For details, see
www.murrayriver.com.au/boating/paddlesteamers/melbourne-rothbury
PS Melbourne has now appeared in the APAM DC thread, page 10.
PS Rothbury has now appeared in the APAM DC thread, page 11.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This one is private, and is usually moored at Mildura.
As with many Australian terms, the name has unclear ancestry and unclear meaning.
See www.anu.edu.au/andc/ozwords/October_2004/Shiralee.html
It seems to be used most as a synonym for swag or bundle.
The name was adopted for an Australian novel about a swagman who has to care for his 10 yo daughter: she becomes his burden. This was turned into a well-known film and a tv miniseries.
The name has been adopted for a backpackers hostel, and is an appropriate choice for this touring paddle vessel.
I am sure that I have seen it on two rallies, but I have photographed it on only one: the 2006 run from Mildura to Wentworth for the weekend of the Ferguson-tractor rally in July.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This one was built for a Mildura owner, and was usually moored slightly upriver of the city. It is one of several boats of this size in the area, and the owners would often go out in convoy for a social weekend cruise.
I saw Matilda for the first time in Sept.01, at Mannum as part of the Source to Sea fleet.
In this view, it is at Swan Hill as part of the Randell Cadell 150th anniversary fleet. This Saturday was its last day with the fleet; on Sunday it headed for home. The 'For sale' sign was tempting, and I did inspect Matilda in Mildura in Apr.04. It was well appointed, with a lounge forard (convertible to guest beds), steering position adjacent to the deck doors, kitchen and dining area between the paddles, toilet in one sponson cabin and shower & mini laundry in the other, then the owner's bedroom at the rear. However, I don't live along the Murray: access for maintenance and regular cruising would be tricky. Obtaining a mooring would be tricky and expensive. I declined and bought Jessie II instead. Matilda has since been sold (the former owner is building a larger boat, with two decks); I believe that it is now based at Goolwa (SA).
Presumably the name is linked to Australia's famous song 'Waltzing Matilda'; matilda was a slang term for a swag (ie bedroll).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Here is a fleet photo at Mildura, from the Commonwealth Games website (www.melbourne2006.com.au/Channels). The daily progress, photos and movie clips (including the one of this day) are being kept as a permanent archive, and still available for downloading. The movie comes in low-res and high-res (5 MB) versions, and has some good (but brief) views of the paddle vessels, including a close up of Mundoo positioning, a view from the water of a sternwheeler (must be SWPV Chalka), and a repeat of the view in the enclosed still photo.
On the previous day, the baton had started at Renmark with a Murray River cruise on a modern houseboat. It left across the lifting-span bridge built in 1927 for rail & road, but now road only.
On this day (Fri.17.2.06) the baton commenced with a tethered ascent on a hot-air balloon, then was carried across George Chaffey Bridge. This concrete bridge was built in the 1980s, with clearance for three-deck paddleboats, and replaced a lifting-span bridge.
Mildura boats formed a guard of honour in the river, with PV Rothbury, PS Melbourne and PV Mundoo at the head of an assortment of smaller paddleboats, houseboats and launches. Later in the day, the baton crossed back into Victoria on the soon-to-be-replaced lifting-span bridge from Euston to Robinvale. This one was built in the 1920s for rail & road, but had been road only from ~1930.
Later in the program, the baton had its only ride on a paddlesteamer: PS Cumberoona carried it from Wodonga to Albury (a photo is posted in the early stages of the APAM Director's Cut thread).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This private-owner vessel is related to several others: IIRC a standard hull, designed by Mildura builder Cook, but individual superstructure. It is moored somewhere in the Mildura area, but has not spent much time at its home port.
I saw it for the first time as part of the Randell Cadell fleet, in Sept.03.
The owner took it to Echuca for a while.
The boat missed the July 06 tractor-rally cruise to Wentworth. Even with its shallow draught, it was stuck at Colignan, unable to cross a reef.
As at Dec.06, it was out of the water for the first hull cleaning and maintenance since construction.
Local gossip is that the owner is about to set forth on an extended voyage downriver.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hi do you have any contact details of the owner. I met her when she started building and lived in Echuca
-
Here's PV Murrundi the start of this year back at Mildura, Clare had just painted the front and rear deck, she also just been out of the water and had her bottom checked and her new funnel fitted- a irrigation pipe picked up at Robinvale!
-
This is another of the Mildura-based single deckers.
I thought that I had seen it in 2003, but it isn't in my notebook or photos.
The enclosed photo was taken at Wentworth, during the 2004 Junction Rally.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
The newest paddler on the Murray River is Stern Wheeler PV Risbey, which was biult over a period of 3-4 years at Andrew Cooks Boat Yard. Steel hull, diesel engine she was launched early in February at Mildura and is owned by locals Phill and Pam Shugg. On her first couple of trips she had to have barrels of water on the front deck as she's arse heavy, she has been slipped and is having floats put at her stern to even her up.
-
In 2001, this one was under construction. The hull was finished; the superstructure had been framed but not clad and not fitted out. The owner had been the full-time PS Cumberoona captain for a while, but had now shifted back to the Mildura area. Miralie was moored near his house at Red Cliffs, but is now moored further away. He goes out quite often. For the Randell Cadell fleet, Miralie went downriver to Akuna Homestead (exploring various side waterways en route), then up to Swan Hill. Here it is making an afternoon jaunt at Swan Hill. Next day it left the fleet, and returned home in tandem with PV Matilda.
The single-deck design had existed 'back in the days' for paddle fishing boats. In the two APAM series, there are photos of PS Roy and PS Ranger in this style. For many years, PS Etona ran as a single decker. Presumably this let them pass under overhanging trees more readily, and get closer to the banks.
Today's single deckers have the advantage that they can pass under the bridges in most water conditions without the formality of booking a time. Bridge raising is free, but most will be opened at only two set times per day (morning and afternoon, clear of traffic going to school, to work or shopping), and only with advance booking. The Echuca single deckers have got up both the Campaspe and the Goulburn under fixed bridges when the water was right.
Many lifting-span bridges have been replaced with high-level fixed bridges. Today the lifting ones are:
Murray: Renmark, Tooleybuc, Nyah, Swan Hill, Murrabit, Koondrook/Barham and Tocumwal (railway).
Darling: Wentworth (a modern style, replacing a traditional one). A bascule bridge at Menindie (former road & rail) is now rail only, and has had the counterweight removed; it cannot be opened. The lifting-span bridge at Bourke has been preserved on site, for pedestrians. A couple of other Darling ones survive, but I doubt that they can be opened.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
SWPV Temporary, hull was built in Swan Hill early 2000, bought by Adam Cook and trucked to Mildura where he has slowly down work to her. She was launched late January 2007 and has been Cooky's first boat to hit the water, all he's other ones were sold off, thats why its rumoured to be called PV Temporary as he's only hangs on to his boats for a short time.
-
I am on a long-day train tour on Saturday, so have tomorrow's post tonight.
PV Paddlecat is unusual: it is on the hull of a WWII Catalina amphibious aeroplane (ie flying boat, not just a floatplane).
Its history is covered in Plowman.
It is moored at the owner's property at Gol Gol (NSW shore, upstream of Mildura).
There were three other flying boats on the river as houseboats/launches.
IIRC they were all screw, not paddle. Two were Catalinas; one was half of a Dornier. One Catalina was retrieved, and is now preserved as a Catalina at an aviation museum at Moorabbin Airport (Melbourne).
I am in the middle of a research project, in conjunction with Michael, on behalf of aviation contacts to trace the remaining Catalina and the Dornier.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
PV William Albert was launched 2004 as a single deck paddleboat. Her hull is identical to PV Kulkyne, and her cabins are made of coolroom panels. She is 60ft long and 14ft wide and is powered by a diesel engine. It wasn't untill the end of 2006 when the boat had its upper cabins constructed. The William Albert is a houseboat and is usually seen around the Mildura area, she was photographed at Bruce's Bend Marina
-
Continuing on from Roderick's post: PV Yarrara was built at Merbein and launched in 2002, a different cabin layout it has a sunken cabin in the middle of the hull. Its is diesel powered this houseboat is often seen tied up near PV William Albert
-
There are alot of new boats being built in Mildura and surrounding towns, some are hulls, other's are nearly ready to be launched into the river. Each having different designs to the otherws, some never seen before, and others using different materials to minimise weight.
-
by the look's most are using 1/4 inch or 5. plate steel or even perhaps 3/8 or 9mm on the larger boats as this is the most common method of construction with modern paddlers, the boats look quite impressive but it's interesting to see how the different designs perform.
proven designs verse's new concepts and materials
It's a shame alot of these modern vessels can't be built with a modern steam plant, I guess you can't beat the ease of turning a key and going!
-
...It's a shame alot of these modern vessels can't be built with a modern steam plant....
Yes it is, but at least they don't have propellors like the ones on the Thames :?
I notice that on the photo 'Evalagine.jpg', despite the welded steel construction, they've had a go at replicating the 'carved stem-post' where it extends above deck level.
-
I have the name of one of today's boats (from another source) as PV Evangeline.
Here is a better angle of the hull of PV Waradgery, under construction at Colignan. The name is another revival of a traditional river one. It isn't my photo; it comes from Murray River historian Frank Tucker.
There is a lot of merit in a steel hull in today's snaggy environment (Aussie slang: fallen redgum trees in the river, sometimes visible, sometimes just below the surface). Billy Tea required panel beating when it was only 2 years old, and some dents couldn't be removed. A wooden boat given the same battering might well be on the bottom.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Does anyone have information on Andrew Cook's progress on the DAISY? Is he doing anything with her, sold her on...?
Plus, I'd love more info on the IRRAK (real name?) pictured on this page. It looks as if it may be one of the most traditional looking of the new builds at the moment.
-
Here is a list of 20 new boats, plus some existing ones.
It was created by Frank Tucker in Jan.06.
I have attempted to update the list with links to photos placed in Paddleducks recently.
1. Jeff L at Ultima is constructing a two deck vessel.
2. Adam A is constructing a vessel at Echuca East ("Maid of Loch Eille"?). [This seems to be Cameron of Locheil, being built for & by George; I have a photo which is waiting its turn to be posted. The interior features ornamental timber work and pressed-metal ceilings]
3. Adam A has his own vessel "Eclipse" under construction at Echuca [work has been suspended for some time; Michael has inspected it as a prospect for his own paddlesteamer. I have a photo waiting its turn]
4. Adam A is constructing "Tooraloora" at Strathfieldsaye for Harry & Margaret M [As at January, to be brought to Echuca soon]
5. Cliff H and his son in law are constructing a vessel, somewhere out of Swan Hill near the Wakool
6. Peter McL is constructing a paddle steamer/diesel at Echuca [coded 'F05', and several photos have been posted]
7. Gus M is constructing a stern wheeler, "Waradgery", at Mansell Farms, Colignan [two photos now on Paddleducks]
8. John M is constructing 'Iraak' at Nangiloc. [This is named after a small town, and has had a photo posted by Michael].
9. Robert M is constructing a small side wheeler for Bernie & Jill S of Colignan
10. Robert M is constructing a 50' side wheeler for his friend Albert, at Colignan [I believe that this is to be called 'Sunraysia' or 'Sunbeam']
11. Gary & Jackie W are construction a 60' side wheeler, "Evangeline" at Red Cliffs [photo posted recently]
12. Peter M of Swan Hill is constructing "Temeraire" at Murray Downs marina [I have a photo of progress as at July 06, waiting for its turn to be posted]
13. Andrew C is constructing "Risbey" at Mildura for Phillip & Pam S [now launched, and photo posted]
14. "Final Endeavour" is being constructed at Merbein.
15. "Cato" is being constructed at Murray Bridge by Bob B & partner [I posted a photo much earlier in this thread]
16. "Tania Anne" is being constructed at Karoonda, SA, by Colin W
17. "Lady Rae" was built at Heathcote by Denis C. [It has been launched; and a photo has been placed by Michael. As at Jan. it was at Torrumbarry, waiting for suffience water to continue to SA].
18. Mick T of Wallerawang has launched his third paddler "Shay" at Swan Hill and has her moored behind 'Black Shag'. Both vessels are of aluminium construction. [I have photos to post]
19. Harry P of Mildura is building a steel replica of PS 'Success' which is to be called "Succession"
20. The P family, near Morgan, are building a paddle boat, to be named 'Chloe', 20 metres long and 4.3 metres wide
21. John S from near Waikerie is still building his side wheeler
22. Andrew C, Mildura, has started a side wheeler for Dr R [AFAIK this is the hull under the shelter in Michael's quintet of photos of boats under construction at Cook's yard]
23. Steve & Chris B have started their side wheeler, "Ulonga", at Boille Creek
24. Robert F has plans to build a small side wheeler day tripper
25. Greg & Julia E are about to start "Wentworth", a side wheeler specially
designed to operate at Wentworth
26. PS "Ruby" is under restoration at Wentworth [photos posted]
27. PS "Canally" is under restoration at Euston [photo of the hull posted]
28. PS "Tarella" has been purchased by Shaun G with plans to rebuild the vessel [photo posted]
29. PS "Hero", restored by Echuca Port Authority for Gary B, is nearing completion at Echuca [several photos posted]
30. Andrew C is constructing his own small stern wheeler at Mildura [photo posted by Michael, using the name PV 'Temporary']
31. PS "Wanera" is under reconstruction at Colignan [It was burnt to a hull years ago, having been an overnight cruising PV]
32. PB 'Gnat' recently launched at Goolwa
33. Graham & Penny M - about to start a paddle boat at Mildura
34. John L - about to start a paddle boat at Mildura
35. John A recently launched PB 'Incredible' [That's why I don't have a photo; it is newer than my last visit to the area].
The two-deck vessel in Michael's photosis being built at Cook's for Graham and Penny M, name not supplied.
I enclose a photo from the Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival website, showing PV 'Incredible' with barge 'Dart' and PS 'Marion' during the recent cruise of the barge carrying memorabilia of the 1956 major flood for local displays. The port would be Cadell, Morgan, Blanchetown, Swan Reach or Mannum. My guess, from the backdrop, is Cadell.
Tues.20.2 update: I have edited the text to include Michael's updates supplied later in the day.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I never new there were that many new boats being built on the murry.
Makes me wonder where some of these new boats around echuca are planning to moor there boats as according to luke there aren't any new mooring's around echuca..!
We had a look at eclipse a while ago ,not long after the paddle box was hit by a car,not too much damage :) she does have potential and a lot of work,goodluck with it michael :wink: certainly a lot bigger than gemma....!
cheers anthony :D
-
Raak Plain is a stretch of Mallee west of Colignan/Nangiloc, stretching for 100 km to the SA border (lots of references by googling).
It is unsuitable for agriculture, and has housed gypsum mines (feeding cement factories at Geelong). I did travel there twice on a quaint private line: once in the loco, and once atop an open wagon loaded with gypsum.
I don't know if there are local variations on the name.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Its called Iraak, which is a small township out of Mildura where the owner grew up, as on Franks list its number 8.
Traver's Lee is actually Lady Rae.
Final Endevour is being built in Merbein on the edge of the river and is nearing completion.
-
This hamlet is between Red Cliffs and Nangiloc.
It is the area for Deakin Estate wines (I buy a lot of DE shiraz, good value) and a major asparagus-export estate (going to Japan).
I will certainly include Iraak on my next visit to the region (when I also go to Colignan).
Bill's Siberia tour is coming together gradually, but may be too expensive and with advice too late to get the required patronage. If it is deferred to 2008, do consider coming to Australia and seeing the fleet, the river, the redgums and the places which we have been describing. A warm welcome is assured. There are also lakes with model paddleboats in Melbourne and in Bundaberg (and undoubtedly in many other locations).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Back to a traditional vessel.
This one has been through many incarnations as a tourist vessel.
I have photos in three eras; Sean has placed a set of current photos in the albums section.
It was converted for tourist cruises (1930s?) at Mildura.
It spent some years at Murray Bridge. In this era it was diesel electric, with traction motors and conrol equipment from scrapped Adelaide trams.
It returned to Mildura (in the 1970s?).
At this stage, the engine and transmission were changed; the paddles had hydraulic drive.
By the time this 1992 photo was taken, the ugly paddleboxes, extending to the top of the upper deck, had been removed.
As at about 2000 it was for sale. It has been converted to an expensive restaurant, trading statically for casual bookings, cruising for charters.
Avoca River rises on the northern flanks of Great Dividing Range, and flows across northern Victoria, but gets lost in a lake and never quite reaches the Murray as a river (but the water may seep through as groundwater).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This one was built in Goolwa, to a Veenstra design. The thrust up and forward wheelhouse was also used on SWPV Goolwa. However, I can't find any Australian boat which had that feature, not even Captain Sturt did.
It run public cruises and charters from Goolwa, including some from railway enthusiast: special trains could run from Adelaide to Goolwa until the mainline was converted to standard gauge in 1995.
It was bought by Mildura interests, taken there, and converted to diesel.
It is visible in the guard of honour for the Queen's Baton relay (placed in an earlier post), and on the video which can be downloaded.
Here are two photos taken at Goolwa. Neither is a clear angle, so I have posted both to give a better understanding of it. I was there with a railway group, travelling on the tourist railway, which links Mt Barker via Strathalbyn and Goolwa to Victor Harbor (where there is a connecting horse tram onto Granite Island).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
A slight diversion from Murray River today.
This boat operated on southern Queensland waters, and is preserved in a park at Nerang (Gold Coast).
There are two photos and some history at
www.kenfig.org.uk/skermaids.html
Could Mac please post an existing photo, or drive down specially to take one to post?
Afternoon update: Googling has brought up
* www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?pid=2961 (which I had found before; useful text but no photo).
* http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-pa-HTTP%253A%252F%252FCATALOGUE.GOLDCOAST.QLD.GOV.AU%252FUHTBIN%252FPGC_IMAGE.EXE%252FLS-LSP-CD032-IMG0105-MR
(more interesting history, plus a photo in its working era).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Yeah, not a problem. Might be a few weeks though, I'm flying to sydney in a couple of days for a party that it will probably take me till next year to recover from!
-
Alistair D commented in an off-topic thread:'Murray paddle steamers are comparatively easy to build, put a traction engine boiler and machinery into a hull, and add some basic wooden paddle wheels and paddle boxes, and there, you have a paddler. None of your heavy engineering or naval architect stuff, eh'.
Only last night I had asked: were there ever any twins constructed, or was each Murray paddlesteamer unique? Because the style is generic, many boats looked similar, but were any identical? This hints in turn that none was built to a formal plan, just by the experience of the builder, possibly modified to match an owner's request. If plans were used, surely they would be used more than once? [Steam tug Wattle, which is not a paddle vessel, was build as a depression-relief measure for apprentice training using old plans].
In one of the modelling threads somebody else suggested to build a hull, and then experiment with the best position for the engine to get the balance right, as that's what the full sized ones did.
Friday update: Eddy has shifted the discussion into this Research forum, as the thread 'Aussie sister ships'.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Here is one which you can't photograph today.
The boat had been a hawking boat at one stage.
Over 1951-53, PV Wanera was fitted for overnight cruising with 33 passengers, and was based at Mildura. It ran from 1953 to 1972.
Wanera was the only Mildura overnight boat when Coonawarra went to Murray Bridge.
After 3 years out of use, it was refitted in 1975 and cruised untiil destroyed by fire in 1985. It cruised in tandem with Coonarra from 1981.
The hull is owned privately, at Colignan, to be the basis of a rebuilding.
SWPS Merle was converted to MV Merle in 1940 for overnight cruising, based at Murray Bridge.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
A bit of additional information on the Wanera...
She was built in 1900 as a barge called T.P. In 1911 a steam plant was installed, deckhouses were buile & she was renamed Wanera. Unlike her sisters Ulonga & Pevensey which were named after properties on the Murrumbidgee the name Wanera is apparently a contraction of the words Waning Era. One of the directors of the company which owned her was unsure of how wise it was to build a new boat while the river trade was in decline. I'm not sure whether this story is acurate, or just river lore though.
The vessel was a cargo/tow boat & operated under a couple of owners before being sold to the the Collins brothers in the late 1930s. They removed the machinery & everything saleable before selling her to Captain Jack Searles. Most sources show the Collins buying her in 1942/3 & selling her to Searles in 47. But, in his memiors, Searles records all of this happening in 1937/8.
Searles used the vessel as a houseboat, eventually installing the steam plant from the PS Maggie in an attempt to gain some cargo & towing work. Apparently she was underpowered & due to a lack of work this was unsuccessful. Searles then had the idea of converting her to diesel & using her as a river petrol tanker. He spent 2 years on the conversion & upgraded the home facilities on the boat. He then got a contract with a petrol company. This fell through, though, before a trip could be completed & the vessel only ran a couple of voyages to Morgan before being tied up.
It wasn't long after this that it was decided to rebuild her as a cruise boat. That conversion also took a couple of years, but it completely changed the appearance of the vessel. After an initial period of low passenger numbers the Wanera became very successful & continued to be until she caught fire in 1985.
The hull was then purchased by the Mansell family & returned to barge form, reverting to the name T.P. I've seen reports recently that she is to be rebuilt as a paddler, but I'm not sure if this means work is about to start on her. Or, if it's just a statement of plans that have been around for many years, but with no new work done.
*** According to Searles the Wanera was the first Murray boat to be converted to Diesel. I'm not sure if this is correct, or if he was unaware of other conversions on different parts of the river. The Bejo was certainly diesel at least in the early 50s. Possibly earlier. And someone on here might be aware of when the Australien was converted. There were also earlier boats internal combustion, such as the Arcadia of 1903 (oil engine) before she was lengthened & converted to steam in 1911. The little known Goonda of 1898 also had an oil engine.
-
There are new ribs lying inside her but not many have been fiited, it is rumoured that she may have her bottom done in steel.
-
The next town upriver from Mildura is Colignan (Red Cliffs is inland from the river), also in an irrigated agricultural area. Slightly further upriver is the related Nangiloc. The palindromic pair mark the end of the pool of weir 11, and the end of guaranteed all-year navigation of the river. Several private owners have their boats adjacent to their properties, and one runs a private slipway. The family grows, amongst other produce, avocados for the Sydney market. The family boats include PV Impulse, PV Mosquito (I have posted a photo to a different thread) and barge TP (pictured my Michael in the preceding post). I first saw Impulse as part of the Source to Sea fleet at Mannum. For the Randell Cadell 150th anniversary voyage, it was running as the mother ship for the crews operating PS Mary Ann and PS Lady Augusta. Upstairs is one gigantic lounge, with the wheel and controls forard, and the kitchen aft. Downstairs forard there are three guest cabins. The one across the front can be partitioned into two smaller ones; the next two are long and thin, so that each gets a window with a view clear of the leading sponson cabins (which house toilets, showers and a laundry). The amidships section holds the internal stairwell, and space for bulk stores (including a freezer). The owner's cabin is aft; IIRC the rear sponson cabins hold the ensuite facilities for it. There are davits on the rear deck, so that the tinny can be hoisted during a voyage (rare in Murray practice; most have always been towed, another difference between rough & ready Murray and elegant Europe). Impulse has hydraulic drive, and the wheels can be operated independently.
The enclosed photo was taken during the tricky entry to lock 26 Torrumburry, the highest lock upstream (Yarrawonga Weir and Hume Weir were built without locks). This weir provides the pool in which Echuca boats operate. After a leak in the footings was discovered, the weir was reconstructed, on the opposite side of the lock from the original one. The problem with this lock is the concrete sill below its exit gates: the sill can often be too shallow for navigation, even though the river immediately beyond has sufficient depth to cruise to Swan Hill. The impact of the new weir has been to create tricky currents, hence the angled approach. Within minutes of taking this photo, the owner (acting on impulse) invited me aboard; I was a grateful guest for the final two nights and the triumphant entry into Echuca of this epic voyage (see my PS Mary Ann thread, elsewhere, also my avatar photo aboard Mary Ann on the middle day). I did run a photo of Mary Ann as one of my rare colour covers (and one of only two covers in 170 issues not featuring a railway theme). As thanks for my passage, I arranged for an onrun of the colour portion, which I supplied to the author of the book about the voyage, and the first 100 purchasers were able to have a glued-in colour photo in an otherwise black & white publication.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
These two are both normally moored at Colignan.
I have posted a photo and description of PV Mosquito on page 1 of this thread (describing the typical tow pole position on Murray boats).
Kulkyne is fairly modern, styled to look like a loaded traditional boat.
All the bedrooms are upstairs (the wheelhouse is only for appearance).
Downstairs has the kitchen and living area, with the wheel.
The front is not open, it is all glass.
I just missed photographing the boat in lock 9 Kulkyne as it was positioning downriver for the Randell Cadell 150th anniversary run. I was on a project photographing every punt, weir, lock and bridge over the river. The enclosed photo is taken in the final hour of the Randell Cadell run. Mosquito and Kulkyne are passing the preserved historic Echuca wharf, with vintage railway equipment visible on the wharf. This was Kulkyne's first visit to Echuca.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria
-
With my posts of Australian paddleboats in the APAM Director's Cut thread having gone as far as I can research pending the finding of two more reference books, I am resuming this upriver voyage of discovery, which has been moored at Colignan for 2 weeks.
Continuing up river, the base for PV Tamara Rae is Wemen. This is an area, not a town. It is back into the dry mallee wheat country, and is now being exploited for mineral sands. After 10 years of construction, PV Tamara Rae made its maiden voyage in 2000.
24 m x 5 m x 1 m (hull depth); 126 kW Cummins diesel.
TR has two unusual features:
* It is a quarterwheeler (PS Kookaburra had also been one).
* Behind the main cabin on the main deck is a transfverse garage, with a drawbridge on each side to give access to a bank or dock.
* I don't know the layout, but the wheelhouse is on the second deck.
I saw Tamara Rae at Mannum in Sept.01, as part of the Source to Sea fleet. The notes for that voyage indicated that it had already been to Wellington; I don't know if it got to Goolwa with this fleet. I saw Tamara Rae again as part of the Randell Cadell fleet. It reached Echuca, but was running more slowly than the other boats in the fleet. On the final Thursday, it reached Torrumbarry too late for the final locking of the day, and had to come through next morning and catch up to the fleet late that night. I have already posted a rear view to a thread on quarterwheelers, so today I post a 3/4 frontal. I didn't know at the time to take a closeup of the winch. The home stretch of river is unreliable for depth, and Tamara Rae is a big boat. I predict that the winch isn't just for decoration; there will be many times when it must be used to get the boat through a tricky stretch. This photo was taken on Sat.27.9.03 as the fleet made its entry into Echuca. The wheelhouse and garage are visible clearly.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
From Wemen,
my journey continues through Robinvale/Euston.
This is the site of lock & weir 18, but there is only one paddleboat in the pool. This is the restored PS Canally, and I don't have a photo.
I have posted elsewhere a photo of the hull at 2004 Wentworth Junction Rally. After that event, the hull was towed to Robinvale/Euston for superstructure to be added. In order to be ready to celebrate its centenary in 2007, a diesel engine has been fitted temporarily; after the celebration, work will continue on installing steam equipment.
There is also an interesting cruising launch based there (not paddle): built from a former railway steam-loco tender, and powered by a diesel engine running on recycled cooking oil from the fast-food industry.
There is a long stretch of unreliable river to Swan Hill, including the notorious Bith & Pups rapids near Goodnight. There are many years when not even a tinny can get through. Along the way, the Murrumbidgee Junction is passed, also the Edwards junction.
Swan Hill was a a river port: the railway had a special siding down to the wharf. My father grew up on a farm not far from the river when there were still some cargo boats, and the big four passenger steamers cruised through. It is famous as the home of PS Gem, now in a lake in the pioneer village. This boat has had its own write up in the APAM Director's Cut thread, with photos of it today, and one from my father of its condition soon after arrival. To maintain continuity, I include another one in this thread, but no notes.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This one has been written up in APAM Director's Cut, with contemporary photos and one from my collection showing it before rebuilding.
Enclosed: a photo for continuity.
Swan Hill is also the base for four private boats.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This is one of four which are based at Murray Downs Marina, a couple of kilometres upstream of Swan Hill's lifting-span bridge.
It was launched in 1999, built of aluminium. The builder was a retired engineer, familiar with the material, and has built two more since then.
16 m x 3.5 m x 1.2 m, draught 45 cm.
65 hp (50 kW) Garder diesel with hydraulic transmission.
The boat has cruised upriver to the Narrows (Barmah), and down to Wellington.
I saw it for my first time at Mannum as part of Source to Sea. That noble plan foundered on low river levels. The idea was for a tinny fleet to run from Khancoban to Echuca, then a paddlesteamer fleet from there to Goolwa. Because of low water, the tinnies made most of their journeying on trailers. The boats coming upriver to join the fleet had to terminate at Mildura. The ever-daring Flender Himmel tried to continue, and was stuck on a sandbar at Boundary Bend for 2 weeks. Seizing the opportunity provided by a freshet, PS Etona (see APAM DC) became the only boat to leave Echuca for the voyage, and was joined at Swan Hill by PV Black Shag, and at Boundary Bend by PV Flender Himmel. I was so proud of the Victorian duo that the photo of the pair together got half of the right-hand page of my colour centrespread in Jan.02 (I print only four colour spreads per year; the other photo on the page showed PS Industry and PS Marion together).
The enclosed photo was taken during a rushed visit during the layover of a railway-enthusiast day return to Swan Hill. All four boat owners were at the marina that day. I lunched with them, and inspected two of the boats. Black Shag was for sale, but I had already bought Jessie II. The engine bay is very spacious, designed for fitting a steam engine if a new owner wants to.
Of interest for the construction thread: see the shape of the floats, and the number dipping into the water.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Another based at Murray Downs Marina (Swan Hill), and from the same builder as Black Shag, is PV Iron Dry. It is single deck. The cabin is one large space, a bit like a caravan, with settees forming the beds. As built, it had a short bow but a rear deck large enough for a barbecue. In the water, it tended to look stumpy and have a nose-down attitude. A new owner has extended the bow, and it has a a greyhound look now (a miniature Ruby).
I saw it for the first time when I visited the marina while filling in the day as the Randell Cadell fleet progressed from the Murrabit lifting-span bridge to the Koondrook/Barham one. I enclose a photo. Iron Dry is behind PV Black Shag, the subject of yesterday's post (but the boat behind Black Shag in that photo was not Iron Dry; it was Shay, the third from the same builder).
With new owners, it was the sole upriver boat to venture to Wentworth for the 2004 Junction Rally. That was the event at which PS Ruby was recommissioned officially, and Iron Dry carried a gift from Swan Hill Pioneer Village (IIRC a painting or photo of PS Gem). I was offered (and accepted) a cruise in one of the parades. I published a profile photo of Iron Dry there, describing it as the 'ambassador from Swan Hill'. The return trip was spent dodging snags.
The owners took Iron Dry to the Koondrook/Barham bridge centenary. I spent the morning aboard, and didn't get any photos of it myself. I have posted one from Michael, in the Koondrook bridge centenary topic within the Preserved Paddle Boats thread.
Based on this cruising experience, the owners lengthened the hull, to improve the appearance, improve the stance in the water, and provide more partying space. I am told that the speed has also been improved, an all-round successful project.
My second photo today shows it on a trailer at Murray Downs Marina, with the lengthening work nearly finished.
The third photo came via Michael, and shows the finished result cruising.
The fourth photo makes a good before-and-after contrast: PV Iron Dry before lengthening, at 2004 Wentworth Junction Rally.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Iron Dry at present mooring at Marina
-
This type has great significance for me: I had my first solo command on one, at age 12. I also used one to explore to the navigable limit of Torrens River (SA) in 1964, a foretaste of what I do in Jessie II now.
I doubt that the style was uniquely Australian. I am sure I saw the style in a film about Swiss lakes in the mid 1950s.
The wooden design had two floats (ie a catamaran). In the fish-shaped body, two passengers (pedallers) sat semi recumbent. The pedals connected via chain drive to paddles in front of the body. There was a lever (IIRC on the starboard) to control the rudder. Multicoloured fleets existed on all sorts of lakes and sheltered inlets.
I have been in charge on Lake Treganowan (Emerald Lake, Victoria), Lakes Entrance inlet, Torrens River, Albert Park Lake and probably Lake Pertobe (Warrnambool, Victoria). However, my father didn't photograph any of these exploits. The only photo which I can find is of this fleet, on the inlet at Tooradin (protected from going to sea by a weir with a sluice gate).
They were quite heavy.
AFAIK all are superseded today by a plastic design, resembling a motorcycle (a pedal version of those horrible noisy wakemaking personal watercraft which destroy the serenity of the rivers on which I cruise).
The wooden ones were very stable, and are not the source of the hire-dinghy joke:
Boss through loud hailer: 'Come in number nine, your time is up'.
Assistant: 'Boss, we don't have a number nine'.
Boss through loud hailer: 'Number six, are you in trouble?'.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Here is the third of the Swan Hill trio from the one builder, and this one shows its aluminium construction quite clearly. It had been launched quite recently when I took this photo. It will be interesting to see how this material handles hitting a few snags: more easily panelbeaten that a steel hull?
My visit that day was too rushed to have an inspection. I don't know how the space has been used, or what changes the builder made in the light of his experience with two other vessels. This does seem to be wider than Iron Dry. Our lunch conversation didn't cover the design of this boat. I can only guess that it is single deck to simplify cruising in this reach. To leave downstream, a boat must pass under the lifting-span bridge at Swan Hill, with another two at Nyah (1 day cruise) and Tooleybuc (2 day cruise). Going upstream there is the bridge at Murrabit (1 day cruise) and the one at Koondrook/Barham (2 day cruise). Raising the spans is free, but the formalities are time consuming and the available opening hours restrict cruising choice. I suspect that the name comes from a railway source. A Shay loco is a famous geared steam loco. Several came to Australia, including one (or more) on Wolgan Valley Railway. This hauled oil shale, and was not far from the builder's home.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
PV Shay and Black Shag
-
The fourth at Swan Hill is PV Temeraire, being built by a semiretired locally-based legal practitioner.
When I viewed the progress in June 2006, the vessel (~18 m long) was showing elegant traditional lines.
The boat will have two wheelhouses: the traditional one on the second deck, and an auxiliary one on the main deck.
The second deck also holds the owner's cabin, and possibly one guest cabin.
The main deck will be a gigantic kitchen, lounge & living area, with auxiliary guest accommodation curtained off at night, using settees on each side..
AFAIK, the name has never been used for a Murray River boat before, but four British warships have carried the name, and two British railway locomotives (which were being named after the warships).
Michael has a photo of the progress by December. The owner planned to have the boat ready to join the June-July Morgan - Koondrook cruise, but the cruise has been postponed.
From time to time there are rumblings of restoring Gem to running order. However, it would then have to leave Swan Hill to find a stretch of river where it could cruise reliably. In the current political climate, nobody is going to build any of the missing weirs and locks to provide reliable cruising at Swan Hill. I have seen one map which showed all of the proposed locations, but I can't find it now. IIRC, lock 22 or 23 would provide a pool at Swan Hill; building 24 & 25 would provide permanent boating to Echuca, a great boon for Victorian tourism.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Temeraire early Jan 2007.
I saw her under construction at Mildura in 2003 at Cooky's boatyard. She was launched in 2006 where it cruised to Swan Hill ( hull and paddlewheels) where its home port will be.
-
Moving upriver from Swan Hill, the next town which is a base for a paddle vessel is Barham (the NSW town opposite Koondrook, Vic.). PS Barham was built by a machinery enthusiast, and has a rare/unique vertical boiler. It is dual powered, with a diesel to run for quick voyages. Another feature is a funnel which can be lowered, so that the boat can pass under the bridge in a lot of river conditions without the formalities required to have the lifting span raised.
I have placed one photo in the Preserved Paddle Ships forum, under a Koondrook - Barham bridge centenary thread. On that occasion, I was aboard in the afternoon. The boat held 30 passengers with ease and comfort. The wheelhouse alone held most, before the decks and the rear cabin (with kitchen, bunks and toilet) were needed. At that event, this boat was the local host, and headed the ceremonial paddleboat procession under the raised bridge.
Today I enclose two photos, both taken when the Randell Cadell fleet was in town. On the Tuesday, PS Barham came downriver to be with he fleet for the entry into Koondrook/Barham; on the Wednesday it continued upriver with the fleet for the first few hours.
I believe that the boat has now been sold, but to local owners again.
Today I enlose two photos taken during the Randell Cadell 150th anniversary, showing the boat and the boiler.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This hull was retrieved from the river at Koondrook Barham, and was placed on drums adjacent to a major park.
It is hardly even conserved.
If ever there is a new Banyulla built, how much original fabric would be in it? Clearly reconstruction or replica, not renovation or restoration.
I have transferred this photo from the Koondrook - Barham bridge centenary thread, in the Preserved Paddle Ships forum.
To keep the APAM boats manageable, I do go back and edit older posts as I find new facts, rather than add a fresh post remote from the original one. I tidied PS Wanera a couple of days ago.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
There was a flurry of interest in this hull in the Preserved Paddle Ships thread this morning, so I have jumped a few boats between Torrumbarry and Echuca to post this one today.
This is a new steel hull, clearly paddle, but has not had any propulsion to date, so it would be misleading to describe it as PV or PS (or even paddle gas turbine or paddle solar electric).
Michael has more technical detail than I do.
The project has stalled as the builder took up a different boat project.
Behind it is barge Ada.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Just to give an idea of scale...
-
Hi PD's - as Excelsior posted .... Just to give an idea of scale :?:
John......where is your BRAVERY :?: we all know that a Holden Commodore ute is approx 22.5 ft long [Bundy with his Ford Typhoon ute may differ]... so with a :computer to calculate our GUESTIMaTIONS.....my guess is.......
22.5 foot multiplied in 3D via a few AUZZIE :beer would be 22.5 X 2 [plus a BIT] = [44'+5"] or >>>>so'
:great :angel - Derek
-
Here's its measurements: front deck 2.4m long, sponson decks 5m long, paddleboxes 3.1m long, rear area 3.6m long.
Hull 3m wide, paddleboxes 1.1m wide.
Paddlewheels 2.1m in diameter, .5m wide 9spokes
Rudder 1.2m long
So roughly hulls 14m long, 3m wide, 5.2 over paddle boxes.
She hasn't moved still in same place.
Shes up for sale for $9,000 with paddle shafts and chains and gears to go with it aswell. She was designed to be a walk thu hull, with a shallow draft for going up creeks and under bridges.Was to have a vertical eclipse steam engine to be installed, then a 4hp marshall.
-
AFAIK there is no private paddle boat moored between Koondrook/Barham and Torrumbarry. This stretch is away from towns, and even away from access roads. The annual Murray Marathon paddles (ie kayaks) from Yarrawonga to Torrumbarry. The boats are taken out of the water, and are taken by road to a fresh launching (Koondrook?) for the final run into Swan Hill.
Today's boat was completed in 2006 and launched at Echuca. It has a South Australian owner, and is making a prolonged voyage to SA. In this photo PV Lady Rae is delayed at Torrumbarry Weir (along with a houseboat). With the river down, there is insufficient depth to get across the concrete sill at the downstream end of the lock. Returning from the Source to Sea voyage in 2001, PS Etona had been stuck on the downstream side for a few months.
The rear cabin on Lady Rae has been built out onto the sponson, which is uncommon. It has had stability problems, and floats have been attached on each side (one is visible).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Lady Rae in October 06. Before the floats...
-
Hi PD's - I suspect the stability problem is the two 18 gallon kegs of :beer that the skipper has stored on the STDB side :?: - Derek :)
-
Derek's post is closer to reality than he intended.
Either published, or passed on as river lore. When PS Ruby was a full three decks, but still very shallow draft, the method of maintaining stability on bends was to have deckhands roll filled barrels from one side to the other.
In recent times, Michael has reported the launching of SWPV Risbey at Mildura. It had fore & aft balance problems, solved by placing filled barrels on the foredeck. He has supplied a photo of this, either to Paddleducks somewhere, or to me personally.
Related (but not paddle): to maintain stability of modern railway ferries as they are loaded there are ballast tanks on each side of the hull, with rapid pumps. As wagons are shunted on port side, ballast is pumped in starboard side. When wagons are then shunted on starboard side, ballast is pumped out.
Digressing further, the Concorde supersonic aeroplane used the location of fuel to maintain trim, and fuel was pumped around the fuselage in flight.
In the 1960s, BMC (later British Leyland) made a great fuss about the Hydrolastic suspension on the Morris 1100: 'This car floats on fluid'. Aussie versions went round with added bumper sticker: 'So wot, this car floats on beer'.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Michael,
Is the Eclipse up for private sale, or are the owners going through an agent of some description???
And I remember commenting on the Lady Rae in October '06, I thought with the lean it must have been lodged on a sandbar with a hole in one side..
:beer:
-
There are more of these than I had realised: a modern pontoon houseboat, but with paddle propulsion. Plowman shows a lot in his latest book, mainly in the hire market, and mainly stern wheel.
I have seen Run Riot between Torumbarry and Echuca before. On this occasion it was moored a little down river from Deep Creek Marina (on the Victorian bank, roughly opposite Perricoota Homestead), in use for the school holidays. There were many hired houseboats along the whole stretch. The tinny was used for quick trips to Deep Creek Marina for the purchase of supplies from the general store there, or to have a meal at the waterfront hotel bistro there.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This one was built in 1975, ~12 m long, ferroconcrete hull.
When I took this photo it was moored at Deep Creek Marina, on the opposite side of the water from the moorings and facilities, and was for sale.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This one was built in 1979, with a ferro-concrete hull.
According to Plowman, it had been out of use for many years as at 2000.
I have now passed it twice, and it has been repainted.
Both on and off list I have been discussing stability of small two-deck boats, largely as Michael works on a design for his own paddle boat (to follow Bunyip into use).
This one looks to be too tall for its hull size, but perhaps the ferroconcrete hull helps keep it stable? The look may also be misleading: the fore and aft cabins do seem to be recessed into the hull.
Wharparilla is between Deep Creek Marina and Echuca. The boat is moored on the NSW bank.
Observe another feature of an Australian paddle boat: an aft deck (in this case above the rear cabin) set up as a barbecue area. This has shown on a lot of the photos which I have posted recently.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This was built c1977 as PV Lady of Barmah, wooden hull, single deck.
It was rebuilt c1984 as PS Barmah, with completely revised superstructure, now with two decks.
It is moored on the NSW bank, not far down river of Moama.
Michael has sent me photos of it at Echuca over a ceremonial weekend. He regards it as underpowered, and hence very slow, and so not suitable for extended fleet voyages.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Here is one of the few from my collection of a modern box-on-pontoons houseboat with paddle propulsion.
PV Amelia Jane is moored on the Victorian bank, not far downstream of Echuca.
It is more active than many, and has been mentioned by Michael in a different thread as one of the vessels in the Australia Day parade in January, forming part of the pontoon bridge over the river over which marathon swimmer Tammy van Wisse walked to cross from the Victorian bank to the NSW one. That ceremony recalled the era of the pontoon toll bridge built by Echuca founder Henry Hopwood.
Amelia Jane was built in the 1970s as PV Rochester, then was renamed when sold. The foredeck was lengthened in the 1980s. (info from Plowman 'Murray Darling paddleboats').
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
My journey of exposition has now reached the port where the APAM threads started, many months ago: Echuca. This is the closest Murray River point to Melbourne, significant in the commercial era, and now in the tourist era. The port claims to have the largest fleet of working paddlesteamers in the world.
IIRC Sean has placed histories of all of the commercial vessels and the two private vintage ones in APAM DC: PS Adelaide, PS Pevensey, PS Alexander Arbuthnot, PS Canberra, PS Emmylou, PV Pride of the Murray, PS Etona and PS Ranger. I shall concentrate on the private boats, but may put in a token photo of the others, with no notes.
The balance of the fleet: PS F05 (to be named on Anzac Day, 25.4), PS Billy Tea, PS Adventurous, PS Perricoota, PS James Maiden, PS Henry Charles, PS Hero.
Combining these with the few moored just downriver provides a formidable fleet, and there is an effort to assemble most/all on four ceremonial days per year. The most recent was over Easter, and Michael posted a report and photos in the Preserved Paddle Ships thread.
Today I present PS Perricoota. It was launched in 1999, metal hull, 17.7 long, 3.9 beam over hull, 6.5 m over paddleboxes, hull depth 1 m.
I haven't been aboard. The layout features large sponson cabins: the leading two house the kitchen and the toilet/laundry; the rear two are bedrooms. The interior rear of the boiler and engine is set up as a large day lounge/living zone. The clerestory roof brings light and air into it. A similar layout was adopted for PS James Maiden, from the same designer/builder.
A closer view is in a photo posted with my PS Henry Charles post.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hi PD's - the .jpg of
was built c1977 as PV Lady of Barmah, .....not far down river of Moama.
Shows some AMAZING water that is not common on the Murray... like I can see 6" [six inch] high wave/swell.... must have been a very windy day in the Murray :nono or YES to create this in such shallow water ---- should we talk about this :gather :?: :idea: :?: - Derek
-
My first reaction was that Derek's deduction was a little astray. I can't recall the day being very windy, and felt that the waves were the result of a whole fleet of paddleboats in close formation passing at this point. I took the photo from the deck of PV Impulse, in the middle of the Randell Cadell 150th anniversary fleet in ceremonial formation for the entry to Echuca. As we passed PS Barmah, the welcoming Echuca fleet came down river to round up and form the rear of the procession.
I enclose the immediately preceding and following photographs. This was a day when I was fortunate to be carrying a large stock of spare films: I used them all.
Now that I have looked at the the photos just posted, to get chop like that must have been the result of wind, and not just paddle wake. In the lower reach (particularly Pellaring flat, just north of Mannum) chop like this is common, but of no significance for handling even boats with virtually no freeboard. The Randell Cadell fleet was able to reach Echuca because the river had risen after recent rain, mainly entering via Goulburn River. This was a two stage benefit: it wasn't so much that the rain had caused a huge rise, but it had caused irrigators to reduce the amount of water being pumped out. Perhaps the day was windy: I left my hat in the cabin, but that was partly because I was taking a lot of photographs, and the brim gets in the way of the camera.
On page 1 of this thread I have photos of PV Alice and PV Killawarra in chop on the section from Clayton to Goolwa: half lake, and half river (Hindmarsh Island provides shelter in this reach). This day was windy. I was in my centenary outfit, but didn't dare wear the hat. A brief glimpse of me on the tv documentary shows the tails of my coat blowing sideways in the breeze. On that occasion, all of the paddle boats in the fleet glided through the chop, as did one long-lean elegant launch. Shorter V hull sea-going launches were pitching a lot. The main lake Alexandrina crossing can be quite rough, with 1 m (and even 2 m) waves. No commercial operator takes passengers over the lake: Wellington is the boarding point for upriver journeys. Likewise, when PS Marion crosses to Goolwa for festivals, only rostered crew are allowed aboard, no paying passengers and not even volunteer workers who are not on the roster. A Tennessee like mine has survived 2 m waves in the lake; the skipper was able to keep the boat headed into the waves, and the motor performed reliably. My own has survived 1 m waves on Lake Eildon (Victoria, upper Goulburn River, a Murray tributary).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
From the Preserved paddle ships thread comes the news that this Echuca-based paddlesteamer is for sale.
It was launched in 1999: metal hull, 20 m long, 4.5 m beam over hull (plus two 1.2 m paddleboxes), hull depth 1.2 m. The paddles have a diameter of 3.1 m, each with 12 floats. The boiler is certified for 120 psi [950 kPa]. The engine is a 10 hp Ruston & Proctor.
I have only two photos scanned already on the hard drive, neither of which is particularly good.
In the forard view, it is behind PS Perricoota (mentioned a couple of posts back). It is in steam, as this was taken on the Saturday of Heritage Festival weekend, and the boat would be in the evening parade of paddleboats (houseboats and launches banned) preceding the fireworks. I did see it steaming, but in darkness, so no photo. I had hoped to be riding PS Adventurous in that parade: Michael had the boiler in steam for the owner's arrival, but the owner didn't arrive. We went out on PS Canberra, and Michael (only just 17) steered it through the parade, and did the rounding up (competently, he didn't swing the stern into the bank) upstream of the bridge. Also in the parade that evening were PS Etona (before a lengthy period out of service for hull, boiler and engine overhaul) and PV Gemma (a little cutie, now reduced to a hull by a fire and sinking).
The trailing view is taken from some distance, as I was photographing the Randell Cadell 150th anniversary fleet (which now included the Echuca commercial paddleboats) passing the moored private fleet.
In the parade, visible are PS Mary Ann, PS Lady Augusta, PS William Randell, PS Billy Tea & MV Slainte [pronounced Slancher].
Moored, visible are PS Hero, PS Alexander Arbuthnot (under maintenance, with the upper deckhouse removed), PS James Maiden (just a paddlebox visible), SWPS Adventurous, PS Henry Charles and SL (Victoria? with the steam equipment removed?).
Eight paddlesteamers in the one photo. I am not sure which photo I took that day had the greatest number in the view. No Swiss fleet exceeds six (steam); IIRC the Dresden fleet has eight paddlesteamers.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I have a couple of photos of PS Henry Charles, though neither are expert shots.. and it is for sale for anything above $100,000... private sale..
-
This is another of the Echuca private small fleet, and has the same configuration as Perricoota: the sponson cabins house the kitchen and toilet/bathroom, plus bunks; the area rear of the boiler & engine is a large lounge. A clerestory roof brings light and ventilation to the zone between the paddleboxes. It was launched in 1987, 15.8 m long (rudgum planks on a steel frame), 3.7 m beam. It has been to Goolwa.
The boat is named after the founder of Moama, James Maiden. He ran a punt across the river there. This was the turning point of Randell's pioneering voyage in 1853 (see my Mary Ann thread and photo).
I couldn't find a photo from my collection fast, so I enclose one from Michael. How to make small boats look large? Moor Jessie II amid them, and yet my boat is the maximum length for unrestricted road towing (longer boats may be moved under permit).
Visible: PS James Maiden, MV Jessie II, PS Perricoota, PS Henry Charles, with (PS Hero?) behind it. The glimpses through the trees must be PS Etona up on the slip. I had moored in PS Ranger's spot, is it had left for Barmah already, and I was about to voyage upriver (with a lunch stop at Cape Horn winery) to join it and PS Billy Tea.
The second photo is mine, showing PS James Maiden in a cluster of Echuca private paddlesteamers. Sat.11.10.03. (Roderick Smith)
Michael has posted a shot recently of PS James Maiden up on the slip (page three of Echuca news in Preserved paddle ships).
I should have one in my collection taken recently. I was aboard while the owner demonstrated his boiler converted to auto-start oil-burning, using oil recycled from the motor industry.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
The interesting boat has been written up in APAM DC, and has been mentioned in various threads (including a book about it life in the book thread). It was built to be a mission boat in the SA stretch. It was superseded as towns with fixed facilites grew up. It then spent years cut down as a fishing boat. It was brought to Echuca and restored to close to original condition, and has appeared in a film or tv series as a mission boat. The chapel was in the rear saloon, recessed into the hull.
For its centenary, Etona voyaged to Milang (the place of its construction). In 2001, it became the only Echuca boat to participate in the Source to Sea Fleet.
PS Emmylou had planned to voyage with that fleet to Mildura, running as four sector cruises. All were booked out.
* Sun.12-Fri.17.8: Echuca - Swan Hill, local festivities.
* Mon.20-Fri.24.8: Swan Hill - Robinvale, local festivies
* Mon.27-Fri.31.8: Euston - Mildura, local festivities.
* Mon.3-Tues.4.9: Mildura - Wentworth & return, farewelling the continuing fleet.
* Empty back to Echuca in 9 days continously, or 16 by daylight only(Pevensey has done that journey in 16 days).
When it was clear that the voyage could not take place, many Echuca boats left on the originally-planned date, and cruised to Torrumbarry Weir: Emmylou, Etona, Perricoota, Pevensey, Adelaide, Henry Charles, Ranger & Adventurous. Emmylou was lowered in the lock, but then brought up again. The fleet voyaged back to Echuca (but Etona lingered, in the hope of a rise, and got it).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I have only ever seen PS Etona moving under her own steam once or twice.. Once at the Source to Sea in Goolwa, and the other IIRC at the Wooden Boat Festival in 2003...
I always see it tied up downstream from the wharf, or on the slip..
-
Couple of shots of Henry Charles and Perricoota.
Etona is having its forward deck and cabins rebuilt over June/July, with work still needed to be done to the boiler tho the engine has been rebuilt. The owner was keen on taking it in the 2007 trip even if she wasn't complete!
-
This Echuca-based boat has been mentioned many times, and has appeared as a glimpse in a photo of something else, but has so far missed a writeup or its own photo.
Billy Tea was built in Canberra by an enthusiast whose profession is making precision scientific instruments. He rushed to have it completed for the 2003 Randell Cadell event. It was trucked to Yarrawonga, launched below the weir, and made an adventurous journey through less-navigated stretches of the river to join the fleet at Nyah (below Swan Hill). The owner's friendly hospitality at Swan Hill was another of the influences contributing to my buying of my own boat.
At the conclusion of the event, Billy Tea remained at its new home, Echuca. Unlike many private boats, it has had quite a lot of use, helped by having a locally-based supervisor keeping an eye on it after work. I was a passenger aboard a venture into the narrow and fast section above Barmah Lake. Various modifications have been made, particularly shifting the boiler forwards to achieve better trim, and make it more convenient for solo operation. Front sponson decks were added, and paddlebox covers mounted.
The hull is steel, 14.3 m long, 3 m beam. A feature is the counter stern, to give the boat a different look from many others. The boiler and steam engine were purpose built; the boiler is fitted with a superheater (rare in Murray-Darling practice). As at 2006, a larger engine was being fitted. To be ready for a fireworks parade, the owner arrived from Canberra in the afternoon, refitted the old engine, and had Billy Tea in steam in 4 h and in the parade. He has also had to panel beat several dents from hitting snags.
I enclose three photos today: moored at Swan Hill (showing the stern); steaming into Moama on the last day of the Randell Cadell voyage (showing the slightly nose-up attitude); and camped out in Goulburn River at the confluence with the Murray (with Michael, about to assume command, checking how he will leave the mooring).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I am pushing to reach the end of my Murray series before the river itself runs dry. Yesterday's newspaper headlines featured a call from out prime minister to pray for rain.
PV Cameron of Lochiel is a new one, under construction at the rear of an engineering yard on the fringe of Echuca. The owner is semiretired from a factory which produces ornate joinery, and this shows in the fitout: panelled doors, ornate timber mouldings, replica pressed-metal ceilings (characteristic of domestic architecture in the era 1900-20). The main deck will be a large lounge living zone with a roll-down screen to form a home theatre. So far the only fitting installed is the bar (I like the thinking). One sponson cabin holds a toilet & laundry; I guess that the other will house a kitchen. The bedrooms are upstairs.
There are other boats under construction in towns perhaps 100 km from Echuca.
Advice from Mildura is that the owners of many of the boats under construction there (see Michael's post a few pages back) are focussing on launching in time for Wentworth Junction Rally (Sat.7 & Sun.8.7). There could easily be 20 paddle boats present to help celebrate PS Ruby's centenary.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
APAM DC:
p1: general history; PS Cumberoona text & photos; PS Adelaide text & photos; PS Pevensey text only; PS Hero text only.
p2: Barge 22 photo, PS F05 photo, PS Hero photo
p3: PS Roy text & photos; PV Gemma photos (after the fire); PV Julie Fay photos (the attempt to rename as Lady Joan didn't stick: the original name is still on the hull).
p4: PS/PV Australien text & photo; PS Edwards text & photos of the hull; PS Emmylou text & photo.
p5: PV Pride of the Murray text & photos; PS Etona text & photos; PS Ranger text & photos; PS Australien more photos; B22 photo; half a hull of PS Murrumbidgee photo; PS Adventurous photo; PS Enterprise photos.
p6: PS Enterprise text & photos; PS Pyap text & photos; PS Canberra text & photos; PS Gem text & photos; barge Vega text & photo.
p7: PS Gem photo; PS Canally text & photos; Queens article (PS Gem, PS Ellen, PS Marion, PS Ruby, with Gem & Ruby photos); PS Hero photo; PS Excelsior text only; PS Roy text.
p8: List of Sydney paddlesteamers; list of Port Phillip Bay paddlesteamers; notes on Australian railway & tram ferries (not paddlesteamers, but notes on SWPS General Gordon, which connected with trains).
p9: mainly discussion; list of Australian maritime museums; a shipwreck resource.
p10: Gippsland Lakes paddlesteamers; Tasmanian paddlesteamers (I have more to add now, as I have obtained an excellent book in the last few weeks); PS Oscar W brief notes & some photos.
I will edit this post soon, to add the summary of APAM LoP.
While my series there is still at Echuca, I see that the gaps are photos of Pevensey and Alexander Arbuthnot.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
While my exposition is at Echuca, I will post one of each of the boats being covered in APAM DC.
Today: PS Pevensey, PS Hero and PS Alexander Arbuthnot.
There are also several several of Sean's photos of AA in the Paddler modelling - construction forum, in a thread titled PS Alexander Arbuthnot / Lady Caroline.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Here are some more photos of the PS Pevensey from my collection....
-
I had to shrink this picture... the computer kept saying fatal error when I tried to load the normal sized one..
-
PS Hero.. but is much more advanced than this photo.. this was taken last year...
-
These two paddlesteamers have appeared in many parts of Paddleducks; here are two of mine while my series is still at Echuca.
PS Adelaide is loaded with photographers, coming down to welcome the ceremonial arrival of the Randell Cadell 150th annviersary fleet from Goolwa, ~1600 km of river steaming. Sat.27.9.03. Traditionally, there has been bottom-end top-end rivalry on the Murray. In this fleet, PS Lady Augusta arrived with a banner 'The world doesn't end at Torrumbarry'. Despite the rise in water levels, the only boat to come downriver to join the fleet was newcomer PS Billy Tea, not yet an Echuca resident. Addressing the crews at a barbecue which the port was hosting, the general manager stated that the port would release a vessel for future events whenever it has three vessels available (it needs a minimum of two to maintain its program: backup, or private charter while a publis cruise is running). As at Sept.03, PS Alexander Arbuthnot was undergoing maintenance. In two events since then, the port was going to supply a boat, but river levels prevented this. Nothing came to the Koondrook bridge centenary, as it clashed with the port's own heritage festival. In 2006, the port planned to send PS Alexander Arbuthnot to the Koondrook Barham Redgum Festival. It was built there, and named after a member of the family operating the timber mill. The voyage was stopped by low river levels.
My other photo shows PS Emmylou during the 2003 Heritage Festival. It could be in the middle of one of its favourite tricks: coming around in the river by exploiting the current to bring the bow around (like a teenager in a hot car fishtailing in front of a milkbar). More likely it is holding sideways against the current to give passengers a better view of one of the pieces of festival theatre: Henry Hopwood arriving in Echuca on his punt. This was executed well, with a modified maintance pontoon attached to a rope.
Michael has lent me several of PV Gemma to scan: I will try to do these on Saturday, and edit them into an existing post (if I have one), or create a new post.
I have only about four Murray photos left to post from my own collection. I have then having a break (travelling to Myanmar for railway travel and Irrawaddy River voyaging).
I will resume with various promised projects:
My few remaining photos of other Australian paddle vessels.
Expanded lists of NZ and Tasmanian paddlesteamers.
Some of the long-scrapped paddlesteamers, not from my collection.
In an 'Introducing' thread, Peter C has put up a beautiful photo of PS Oscar W at Goolwa, in bright sun.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Here is a photo of the Emmylou and Adelaide from my collection..
(my computer seems to have hidden just over half of my photo "archives" and now I cant find many of them :( )
-
Low res pics recently taken of PS Canberra (b.1912), Pride of the Murray (b. 1924) and Coonawarra (b. 1884) follow. I'm not quite sure of web site rules re size of images so am posting low res versions, although I always take very high res for my own collection. Peter
-
Coonawarra
-
Pride of the Murray
-
SWPS Adventurous was the 4th paddleboat built by Echuca's Peter McLeod. Commenced in 1994 it was launched in May 1995 as a hull and paddlewheel. It was fitted with a small diesel engine connedted by belts to the wheel, untill the restored 2.5hp Ruston Proctor portable was fitted obtained from a local sawmill. Measuring 13m long, 3m wide and a 2m dia paddlewheel.
It is fitted with a large fore deck aka: party deck, and large cabin a rear with two single beds. It has travelled from Murrumbidgee Reef to Tocumwal and as far up the Goulburn River to McCoys bridge aswell up the Campaspe River. It was designed for travelling up small rivers with a draft of 20cm. It was sold in 2001 to Gary Morris of Seymour, it was used for daily trips by the family, then fell into deispar when the couple seperated, the Adventurous front deck eventually rotted but was rebuilt shortly after. In March 2005 she sank in shallow water but was quickly refloated and was moved up to wetdock and tied beside B:22 in shallow water. By now the owner had no use for her but didn't want to sell it. I approached him and I fixed her up and used her for day trips and overnight trips aswell as a sailpast. Untill it was sold to a group in Melbourne July 2006, she has had its paddlewheel rebuilt. Its boiler failed its test earlier in the year and will be need to be removed and fixed, the boat will be taken out of the water and the hull fixed and have the cabin rebuilt and fitted out for living onboard.
-
PS Canberra on the slip..
-
Michael has posted some of this cute small boat after the fire and related sinking.
Before that event, Michael had prepared some designs for modifying the cabin, as the boat was for sale.
A photo only a post or two ago showed it on the slip.
Today I have scanned two photos from Michael: one a major enlargement of a newspaper snippet, replete with Moire effects; the other a small part of a photo which Michael took, enlarged beyond its technical limits.
I will have to rely on Michael to post the history. The boat was built smaller and enlarged, but I am not sure by how much or in which section.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
My voyage up the river is nearing its end. After a long time at Echuca (because of the sheer number of preserved & modern private & comercial PS & PV there) it is time to head to the last few, plus a few topups of photos found recently to fill gaps.
I present today my own photos of PS Canberra (covered in APAM DC and its own thread elsewhere) and PV Pride of the Murray (covered in APAM DC). Both have had several photos supplied from other people too.
PS Canberra is important for me: it was the first paddlesteamer on which I ever rode.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
PV Lil Sipp is in the General discussion (large) forum, in a thread small boats at 2007 Goolwa festival.
By coincidence, the three photos today are all sternwheelers.
* One from Michael showing a recently-launched SWPS, about which I know nothing.
* One from Michael, showing SWPV Adventurous steaming along, to complement the earlier static photos.
* One from a mystery source, showing SWPV Spirit of the Murray, probably in the hire market rather than private.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Construction began in 2003 in a paddock at Echuca East. She measures roughly 80ft long. She was fitted with a 10hp marshall steam engine and has a stell hull with a 'wine glass' stern. She was launched at Echuca East boat ramp 29 August 2005 and pushed to wetdock by tinnies where she was named F05. Being the 6th vessel built by Peter McLeod of the year 2005. She has been built as two decks with large open areas for entertainment, sleeping areas are in the forward hold, behind the paddleboxes and upstairs beside the paddleboxes. She is also fitted with a diesel engine which is connected to the paddle shaft.
She was officially named PS Britannia 25th April 2007 exactly 100yrs after the original PS Britannia which was owned by a distant relative of Peter.
-
The enclosed photo of PV Betsy was taken at Picnic Point (upriver from Barmah, near the point of divergence for the Edwards River anabranch) by my father, in the 1970s.
I also enclose another view of PV Julie Fay, discussed (with photographs) in a different thread/topic already. It was formerly commercial, and is now private. It is moored near the owner's property, on the NSW bank, a few kilometres upriver of Cobram/Barooga.
A third (mystery) vessel is under restoration a few kilometres downstream of Cobram/Barooga. The clues are that the boat was retrieved from the river only a few years ago and has a funny name; the restorer is old.
2.2.08 update. PV Betsy is now between Ulupna and Tocumwal, near 1877 km. Photo enclosed.
5.2.08 update. As at 1.2.08, PV Julie Fay had been swung around, and was sitting partly on the bank. Photo enclosed, taken by my deckhand.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Albury/Wodonga was always the upper limit for river navigation. PS Cumberoona, based there, has appeared in its own article in the APAM DC thread. My photos of it appear there. My 2006 photo, to appear here, was lost when I lost a camera (the film also included Gippsland lakes ferries in the Paynesville area).
To conclude my current Murray coverage, I enclose a photo of the highest point at which I have navigated Murray River: Wymah punt (above Hume Weir). This is one of many across the river: two public and one private in the Victoria - NSW stretch; about nine in SA. All use an onboard motor gripping a fixed pair of cables via a wheel drive [at least its a wheel, even if it isn't a paddlewheel]. This photo was taken in 2004. Because of low water at the time, the punt was out of action. I took my car across in 2005 (photo not on the hard drive). For most/all of 2007, the punt has been out of action again.
Since I started adding to this lengthy thread, I have edited many posts to correct errors, add more information, and fill gaps. Most recently I have added PS Melbourne to my PV Rothbury post on page 6.
As I get to photograph boats which I haven't photographed before, I will add them as well.
This thread also contains the relatively-few Australian paddleboats which are not Murray-Darling. I have yet to photograph the fake on Nepean River. I don't yet have a photo of the one in Tasmania.
I have promised lots of images scanned from books so that Paddleduckers can see the pioneering coastal paddleboats, and observe the Clyde (Scotland) ancestry.
I also have another country to cover, to add to my India, South America and Myanmar threads.
I will also try to update the index post, navigating the two APAM threads.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Back in history, there were many. SWPS General Gordon has been mentioned in a thread somewhere.
Today I enclose a photo showing both Sydney Harbour SWPVs (ie real, not fake). There are only two, but the older has been publicised under different names from the one which it carries.
There are intertwined companies operating these and other charter vessels. Blue Line Cruises / Magistic Cruises / Sydney Showboats has been trading since 1987.
See www.magisiticcruises.com.au, www.sydneyshowboats.com.au & www.cruisingrestaurants.com.au
Sydney Showboat I (also known as Sydney Showboat and Sydney Harbour Ballroom). It has three fully air-conditioned passenger decks and is propelled by a single stern paddlewheel driven by a diesel/hydraulic propulsion system. A theatre-style stage is located on the main deck forward, which is easily viewed by patrons on both the main and upper decks, the upper deck being cut away for this purpose. The vessel has no floor-to-ceiling pillars in the dining areas, allowing unobstructed vision of the stage. Sydney Showboat I is of all welded steel construction, and was built by Siong Huat Shipyard, Singapore.
Built: 1987
Length overall 41.2 m
Measured length 34.9 m
Beam 11.8 m
Depth moulded 2.85 m
Draft 1.65 m
Loaded displacement 415 t
Passenger capacity 400 (plus 30 crew)
Fuel capacity 11.86 t
Fresh-water capacity 7.06 t
Sydney Showboat II: was constructed by Blue Line Cruises at the old State Dockyard site in Newcastle (NSW). It is a larger showboat, having four fully-airconditioned decks and being propelled by a hydraulically driven paddlewheel. It has bow and stern thrusters. The theatre-style stage can be viewed by patrons from both the main and upper decks, with unobstructed sightlines (no pillars). The vessel is of a fully-welded steel construction and 452 displacement tonnes loaded.
Built: 1994
Length overall 45.55 m
Measured length 39.25 m
Beam 12.10 m
Depth moulded 2.85 m
Draft 1.65 m
Loaded displacement 452 t
Passenger capacity 495 (plus 30 crew)
Fuel capacity 11.86 t
Fresh-water capacity 15 t
At Penrith (an outer western suburb) two ferries ply Nepean River (a Hawkesbury tributary, making lunch, dinner & charter cruises.
MV Nepean Belle is a fake paddle vessel.
See www.nepeanbelle.com.au
I have posted photos of the Brisbane paddle vessels way back in this thread.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I have just got home from boating the lower Murray.
Wellington marina: has PV Jumbuck and PV Mayflower (formerly kept at Morgan).
Riverglen marina reportedly has PV Matilda and PV Eliza-Ann. I didn't see either at the outer docks, and didn't venture into the inner ones.
I couldn't see any paddleboats at Long Island marina either.
At Murray Bridge, Madam Jade has been moved from the dock near the sports club to the main public wharf, just ahead of PV Captain Proud. It is still for sale, but I didn't record the name of the selling agent.
I went aboard PS Cato, and was given a guided inspection by the owners.
It is oil burning, with the boiler (100 psi) offset so that the engine is beside it. They were planning to fit the rudder next day, and then it could be moved under its own steam.
The restoration of PS Colonel (up on the slip) seemed to be proceeding very slowly.
I did see the new dock for SWPV Murray Princess, between Cato and the bridge.
At Mannum, MV Expedition was on a morning-tea cruise on Monday morning; SWPV Murray Princess was at its dock. Both had gone by Wednesday morning.
Further up, PV Canally (at its usual mooring, close to PS Marion) was looking distinctly unused in winter.
I didn't call in to Dick Bromhead's marina, but did get a better photo of Tarella (some of the willows have been cleared).
I saw PV Flender Himmel, at a river mooring at Kia Marina (160 km).
Somebody is launching a new twin-deck paddleboat at Mildura this weekend (PV Iraak); this was visible in Michael's photos taken earlier in the year, and presumably it will be cruising to Wentworth in July. There is also a second boat being launched: PV Settler.
Thursday update: I have added a new photo of Tarella to the existing post, earlier in this thread (page 1); I have added new photos of Captain Proud, Cato & Colonel to page 2. I will add some more yet.
Friday update: I have added one of PV Mayflower at its new home, around page 3. This concludes my interleaved coverage from my Mannum - Wellington cruise a few days ago.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
PB Settler was launched yesterday afternoon(Friday 22nd) 2.15pm. And had her maiden voyage without any hiccups. She is tho a little heavy in the stern and lists a little to one side but once she is fully fitted out it should even her up.
-
PV Iraak was launched Sunday afternoon(24th), she still has alot of work to be done before she takes part in the Junction Rally in a couple of weeks.
-
Hi PD's & thanks Michael for the .jpg of PV Iraak - Iraakafloat.jpg - I have seen a number of differing or similar builds & Mannum & the snap appears to show that Iraak has engine is installed.... however......she appears to be at her waterline prior to fitout :?:...what is a fitout :?:....... 460 kg :?:
-
She has a similar layout to PV Impulse, bedrooms and bathrooms downstairs and kitchen/living upstairs. Downstairs I believe is al fitted out so it's mostly upstairs that needs to be worked on, how much wieght I wouldn't know guess I can tell you when I see her at Wentworth!
Engine is fitted, as when she was launched she paddled back to the bank.
-
Is anyone able to shed some light on the PS William Albert... It is for sale, I found it through the River Murray Website.
PV Matilda is for sale now, as well is the Madam Jade, Captain Proud, Samuel Clemmens, Black Shag.
-
Think you will find that its very out of date. Matilda was sold last year, Madam Jade and Black Shag have been on the market for a while. I don't know where you got William Albert from, she's only a couple yrs old
-
I googled to http://www.murrayriver.com.au/trader/sa-results.htm. I don't know how current the site is. It does give excellent detail on the boats for sale. Enough for any UK reader to forsake the bleak weather of Northumberland for a relocation to the sunny skies of Australia?
Black Shag, for sale for AUD270 000
Madam Jade, for sale for AUD200 000. It has been relocated to the town wharf at Murray Bridge because South Farmers wharf (where it had been) has been condemned, and will be demolished. I saw a real-estate agent sign on it, which isn't mentioned on the website.
Matilda has been sold, by the Mildura owner. I understood that this was announced a year ago, and that the boat had gone to SA. However, I didn't see it recently. Either the Paddleducks news is a resale by the new owner, or the 2006 report was a false alarm. Since Michaels list of boats under construction at Mildura did not include the new one for Matilda's former owners, I suspect that the sale has only just been concluded. More news should be obtained while gossiping at Wentworth over 7-8.7.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hi Roderick,
Not sure on the vessel you mentioned before, ie. (the one that was salvaged from the river just downstream from Cobram/Barooga, I just can't think of a contemporary vessel that sunk in that area.
I remember back in the early 1980's there was a boat called the 'Barmah Lass', and I never did get to find out what had happened to it.
It definitley wasn't confused with the 'Lady of Barmah', now the 'PS Barmah', however every book that I have read since 1984 fails to metion it, and there's no mention of it online either.
Does anyone out there know what happened to the 'Sundowner', built about 1981, the last I heard was that it was still for sale in 1988 and sank in shallow water at its mooring at Echuca, it was later raised and possibly moved to dry land on private property somewhere, any ideas ???
Also, do you know the name of the new Steam Powered Stern Wheeler moored at Echuca ? There's a photo of it on this site, and it's referred to as the 'SWPS No Name'. I'm thinking that it may be the 'Tooraloora', built by Adam Auditori down at Strathfieldsaye (outside Bendigo), but I didn't think that vessel had been launched as yet.
Can't wait to get back to Echuca !!!
Regards,
Leith Hall
-
PV Sundowner has been scrapped, there's is nothing left of her. The steam stern wheeler hasn't got a name from what I can see. Tooraloora still hasn't been launched, she's still along way from the water.
-
Thanks Michael,
It's not very often that a Paddleboat is scrapped, however I heard that the Sundowner may have been lying in a paddock for some years before her fate was decided.
Do you know if the Cameron of Lochiel has been launched yet ?
There was a 'mystery vessel' mentioned in a previous post that is apparently being restored somewhere downstream from Cobram/Barooga, - it has a funny name, the only one that I can think of is the 'Bull Frog', which was sitting on a private property near Undera.
I heard that the river levels have risen slightly over the past couple of weeks - good to hear !
Also, what's the story on the Etona - is she actually water tight and operational again, because at Easter I heard that the Boiler was still in pieces, was this the original or has the new one been fitted already ?
I was surprised to hear that the Ranger only went for $ 139,000, I would have estimated a lot more than that, she is technically an original, and has all the plumbing fitted for convenience.
Finally, is the Hero waiting on it's survey or will it be only for private use ?
Thanks,
-
I enclose a photo of another new vessel (not yet named), at Wentworth Junction Rally.
The other two aren't new, but I hadn't photographed them hitherto.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I like the look of the top one from what I can see.. and it looks like quite a fair size as well..
Is there anything that is fuelling the large influx of paddle boats/steamers being built along the river at the minute??
There just seems to be a lot of boats being bulit/restored etc.. at the present than I can remember before
-
As far as I'm aware it's not a Liba Liba Roderick, they all seem to still look the same and I'm pretty sure none are double story like that.
The new one looks interesting.
Hero and "un-named' could almost make a Murray River Warship company with their colourings.
However it's good to see people experimenting with new colours.
Any further details of the 'un-named' at Wentworth Roderick or Michael for that matter, looks interesting.
-
I am looking through the program:
8. PV Miralie
9. PV Chalka
10. PV Kulyne
18. PV Matilda (didn't appear)
25. SWPV Rusty
26. PV Mosquito
27. PV Impulse
28. PV William Albert
29. 52 ft [16 m] PV constructed over 2006-07 at Nichols Point for Robert Ferguson, registration AEV899N.
32. PV Shiralee
33. SWPV Risbey
34. PV Settler
39. Cookies boat, SWPV, 50 ft [15 m]
41. PV Matthew James
The program did not list PS Ruby, or PV Iraak or PV Yarrara, all of which were present.
One surprising non appearance was PS Tarney: It is locally based, was launched for the 2004 rally, and did appear at the 2006 Ferguson tractor rally.
Conclusion: the mystery boat is entrant 29.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hi Roderick,
Is the 'PV Matthew James' a re-built version of the 'Mary Ann Replica' or the 'Lady Augusta Replica' ?
I heard that one of them had been broken up and that the other one was going to be re-constructed and re-named 'Emily Jane'.
Thanks,
-
Hi Leith,
Many of your questions have been answered already, spread over multiple threads.
The two big ones are in Research:
APAM - the director's cut. This was started by Sean B, and was to be a history of every major vessel which survived. It has got from Albury down to Swan Hill, and stalled while Sean completes his year 12 (the final year of secondary schooling). Michael S has added a chapter or two.
APAM - list of modern and preserved paddlers. This was started by Sean B, with an Excel list of all paddleboats viewable to day: historic ones, and modern boats built in old styles. I worked my way from sea to source putting in a photo of each, with with very little history; I also included modern boats built like pontoon houseboats (but not yet the Liba Liba hire fleet). Many others contributed to this thread.
I have posted an index to one of the APAM threads.
As well, there are lots of threads on specific locations (Echuca news), events (Koondrook bridge centenary, Murray River cruise) and boats, sprinkled over the Research and Preserved forums.
There are shots of Matthew James in its current guise, including one of me steering it to a Ferguson tractor rally at Wentworth. It is the former PS Lady Augusta lookalike, named now after the owner's deceased son.
Both replica boats were built on privately-funded hulls; both have had the borrowed steam equipment returned to owners; both been transferred to the hull owner for modification to traditionally-styled paddlevessels.
Matthew James is moored somewhere upstream of Mildura. It has been fitted with a diesel; the wheelhouse has been enclosed. The next two projects (as time permits) are to enclose the centre section to form a day lounge, and to rebuild the paddleboxes with a different shape. About 8 weeks ago, the owner took it up the Darling for 60 km, then brought it back for Junction Rally. I don't know of the progress on conversion of Mary Ann. IIRC, the work is being done at Colignan.
I will try to create a better index to the threads, and the contents of each thread (and then stick it in the files section), but not until after my late-running July issue is printed. Equally, if you are reading the whole lot, you may care to list the contents of each page of each thread (name of boats appearing in text, name of boats appearing as photos).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
It is easier for viewers if I put the photos here initially, on page 13.
After the viewing flurry ends, I will shunt them into sequence over pages 1-12, and leave this message as just a pointer to them.
First three:
Incredible was moored at a private marina (where I was a guest with Jessie II). However, because of thick weeds underwater, I couldn't cruise to the end of the line to get a bow photo. I had cruised into the mooring ok, but to leave I was towed out to clear water by a tinnie.
The barge behind Hebe holds the excavator which the owner uses for his business (excavating moorings).
The SWPV houseboat style is more common than I realised (most have twin outboard motors), and is more practical than I realised: it doesn't get fouled by weeds at moorings or in shallow sections and lakes. The owners of sternwheelers at Wentworth were quite enthusiastic about the manoeuvrability of their boats.
I have six more for this series: three per day.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Nalta Yuki is not a paddleboat, but is associated.
It replaced PS Industry for the job of towing punts from the maintenance yard at Morgan to the sites where they are operated. By having punts instead of low-level bridges, the river remains navigable. Since the 1960s, high-level bridges have replaced punts at Goolwa, Blanchetown, Kingston-on-Murray and Berri. The correct rules for crossing the cables with a boat are to give a long blast at the approach marker (100 m or 200 m in advance), the operator will respond with a flashing red light (wait) or green light (come through at 4 knots, 7 km/h). Some busy punts don't bother: the riverboat skipper has to judge that the punt has just arrived and offloading, hence the cables will be slack.
In 2006, Nalta Yuki hauled barge Dart at the upper end of the voyage marking the 50th anniversary of the 1956 floods (PS Oscar W hauled the barge at the lower end).
North West Bend is one of the significant points on the river, and for the boats travelling on it. Having flowed generally north of west for 2200 km since rising in the highest parts of Great Dividing Range, this is the point where the river turns due south for the final 300 km to the sea. This is also the location of the pump, taking Murray water to serve Eyre Peninsula towns, including Whyalla. The hull was upriver of the bend. The pumping station is half way round the bend; the photograph was taken as I returned downriver.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This PV is moored only a few kilometres upriver of North West Bend,
just below Cadell. This town was named after one of the two pioneering Murray steam-navigation captains.
When the Randell Cadell 150th anniversary fleet passed through, several paddlesteamers called at the bank so that local schoolchildren could inspect them.
The town was an enthusiastic supporter of the planned but cancelled Morgan - Koondrook/Barham cruise earlier this year. It would have been the assembly point for the fleet, which would then form a procession in line astern to enter Morgan.
Having discussed Murray River punts yesterday, I enclose a photo today of the one at Wellington, taken on my June cruise. They come in two sizes, both with two vehicle lanes. Small holds eight cars; large holds 12 cars. This is a large, as the crossing at Wellington is quite busy. It is the most direct route from south-east SA and Victoria to the popular Fleurieu Peninsula holiday zone (which includes Goolwa) and the Langhorne Creek winery area. All punts are named after birds. IIRC this one is 'Swan'. Jessie II is moored at the floating jetty which serves Wellington Hotel. In March, with the boat on the trailer returning from Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival, I lunched at this hotel while waiting for PS Marion to come up the river, returning from the festival to Mannum with an overnight stop at Murray Bridge.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hi PD's......Roderick.....in the snap of SWPV_GypsyEllen,.... she appears to have an outboard - outrigger additional flotation on the PORT side under her beautiful :respect2 corrugated iron out house...or would you call this a bathroom & DunnY on floats :hehe
Is this the case :?: or just an optical illusion :P ....I assume there would be the same on the STDB side which would contain the kitchen & stores area
Anyway with her deck chairs as shown :vacat .....would be a beautiful way to spend a few days :beer or :coffee for Gerald......
-
Gypsy Ellen isn't mentioned in Parsons.
Plowman stated that very little is known until a c2000 refit, when the galvanised side cabins were added.
That book showed a port side photo.
I had a photo up earlier in this thread, then removed it. I might have reinstated it, but here it is again. It came from a magazine article (IIRC 'Walkabout', an Australian travel magazine). Probably pre 2000, on fashions as well as on the lack of a starboard galvanised-iron extension.
Update in the light of Derek's posts: It appears that the sponsons were widened as part of that work, and hence the need for outrigger floats arose.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
PD's & .......Roderick.....if you look back at the ....SWPV Gypsy Ellen. Thurs.11.10.07.....Port 1/4 stern on snap...you can clearly see the corresponding OUTHOUSE angular roof line Stdb side....as viewed through the life buoy :hammer
-
The final three photos from my recent cruise.
Murray River Queen now has a website:
www . murrayriverqueen.com.au
I wish now that I had taken a close up of a paddlewheel: much smaller than the usual Murray-Darling type, and of a different style. They looked like some of the European styles which I have seen on the modelling pages. Perhaps they are feathering?
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Re the Gypsy Ellen: For a while now I've been convinced that she is a boat which was briefly profiled in Brian Marshall's book "Paddleboats of the Murray-Darling River System". In his profile of the HELENA Marshall mentions that she was built from the body of an old railway coal truck, Plowman notes something similar about the Gypsy Ellen. The superstruction has been completely rebuilt, but if you look at pictures of the Gypsy & the Helena you'll note that the section of deckhous directly forward of the sternwheel & the stairs leading to the roof deck are identical. According to Marshall the Helena was built in 1986 at Wemen.
-
I can't find a copy of Marshall in my collection.
Mac's theory sounds plausible. This would make the hull 2.4 to 2.75 m wide.
I was reminded of this one.
I enclose a photo of MV Maranoa in Torrumbarry lock. Although not part of the Randell Cadell fleet, the boat had come up the river on the same rise.
The hull had been a steam loco tender.
I didn't run a tape measure over it; if the owner hadn't told me, I wouldn't have guessed.
He was fuelling the diesel engine on recycled cooking oil from the fast-food industry.
This boat is normally kept near Robinvale or Wemen.
The coincidences are strong: perhaps the same builder?
The distinction between a tender and a coal wagon could pass unnoticed to a paddleboat auther.
I will have to search. In the 1970s two railway tenders were floated at Echuca to provide the buoyancy to salvage a hull. A frame was placed over the two tenders, then the hull was winched up onto the frame. A series of photos was published in a Victorian railway magazine of the era (not mine, which I started in 1989).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Your post on the Maranoa jogged a memory Roderick. So I looked back in Marshall's book & found an entry for a a stern wheeler built at Swan Hill in 1982. Looking at your picture, they are definately the same boat. The picture in the book doesn't clearly show a sternwheel, but below the overhanging deck at the stern there is something that may be a small wheel. So maybe it was removed at some point, or possibly the author was incorrect. Marshall doesn't mention a railway tender, but rather states the vessel "... has incorporated in its design a former steel railway sleeper..." Is this in addition to the tender, or a misunderstanding by the author?
There are some fairly large errors in Marshall's book (ie listing the original decoy still being operational in Perth). Although the intent of the book doesn't seem to be as serious as Parsons, but rather an introduction to the boats. That being said he does have information which Parsons doesn't. A prime example is the Banyula, which we know existed but Parsons doesn't mention at all...
By the way Roderick, your recent photos have been brilliant. Not that your earlier ones weren't, but you seem to have changed your style. Or have you got a new camera?
-
I have scanned the rear view of MV (former SWPV) Maranoa. The railway-tender ancestry shows better in this angle. The dip down is typical of tenders used on lighter steam locos. The raised portion housed the coal bunker, providing gravity feed to the outlet chute, where the fireman could scoop the coal to the firebox door. The boat has been built with a lengthy bow added to the rear of the tender, and just a small amount of stern added to the front. Typical tenders of this style were 6 to 6.5 m long over the body. Maranoa is much longer: so much extra was added, that I wonder what the benefit was in starting with a tender?
I do have the owner's address somewhere, as I was following up that meeting with some research on the origin of the name.
Maranoa River is an upper Darling River tributary.
Maranoa Gardens, in Balwyn (Melbourne), specialises in exclusively Australian and NZ native trees and shrubs.
We may meet again over 8&9.12 at the Canally centenary celebrations. Maranoa is normally based in this area, and will be among the invited guests (every local boat is invited; Paddleduckers could group and hire a locally-based houseboat). I will be there with Jessie II, and will cruise 60 km to the top of the Euston Weir pool.
There are a couple more photos, and a mini history of the boat, on the owner's website: http://members.iinet.net.au/~hoppi/Maranoa.html
The older photo of Gypsy Ellen looks as if the hull is quite narrow, consistent with being converted from a railway tender.
My developing theory is that the tenders used for the hull salvage were the ones used for building the boats: not because such a headstart was essential, but because they were available.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I have found the photos, dated 2.2, 25.5 & 14.6.80, raising PS Edwards.
Interestingly, they are straight-sided tenders, not ones with a raised coal zone.
The photos were printed in Oct.80 Newsrail.
I have scanned them, and posted them to a new thread: PS Edwards.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Coming downstream, the river passes 1138 km on the eastern flank of Robinvale (a town serving an irrigation region), then loops around Bumbang Island, and passes the northern flank of the town at 1125 km.
There is a direct channel, perhaps 500 m long, between the two. However, it is narrow, the navigable channel is narrow, kinks, and passes over a bar with 1.2 m clearance at pool level. When I came through, the water was more than 50 cm below pool level.
Various boats are moored at 1138 km, including MV Maranoa (mentioned a few posts back) and this unidentified sternwheel monohull houseboat.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Michael has posted a photo of it on the hard, page 7 of the Echuca news thread in the Preserved paddlesteamers forum.
Since placing this post, I have visited the site, and spoken with the owner.
The boat was named after its place of construction: part of Shepparton (the fourth- or fifth-largest provincial city in Victoria). Portion of the land had been part of Wanganui station; today there are a suburb, street and secondary school (and paddleboat) all named Wanganui.
The boat is mounted on blocks adjacent to Perricoota shearing shed; the owner lives aboard.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
A photo of this has appeared somewhere in the preceding 14 APAM pages. It was moored at Deep Creek Marina when I was there in Jan.07.
On Sun.30.12.07, the boat moved under its own power to Perricoota Homestead (Murray River 1652 km) for renovation work.
I slowed in the morning of Thurs.3.1 to take a photo, but didn't see anyone onboard (around 8.00). When I returned that afternoon, I still didn't see anyone, but I am sure that the boat had been turned 180 degrees.
I have never been aboard, but I guess that the layout is wheelhouse above kiddie bedroom; kitchen & toilet above engine; gap; master bedroom with rear outlook.
My preceding post in this series referred to PV Wanganui. I will put up a couple of photos there, as an edit, on Sunday.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Thanks Roderick,
Michael had mentioned that he had seen this boat somewhere way out of town, which explains why I have never seen it in person.
There are a feew boats that spend a fair bit of time on dry land, another boat that's on private property is the 'Bull Frog', apparently at Undera, VIC. this boat is a fairly small but much more authentic looking example, I have only ever seen 1 photo of it, - its in the Plowman book of 2005, and I think the photo was taken way back in 88.
Most of these contemporary craft have been looked after fairly well, but a few of them haven't had much TLC in recent years and are languishing.
I suppose, taking some of these boats out of the water is a way of preventing them from sinking and also avoiding expensive mooring costs at the same time.
To my knowlege only about 3 contemporary boats have been scrapped; the PV Sundowner C.1981, the PV Barmah Lass and Peter McLeods very first Paddleboat, apparently built out of plywood - I don't have a name for this one though !
For years I thought that the Murray Queen was his first project but I found out recently that it was actually his 2nd boat.
Come to think of it, does anyone out there have any reasonably current photos of the 'Murray Queen', I can't seem to find any on this site.
All I know is that Buster's Cousin Will, has done her up and that she's based somewhere on the Huon River in Southern Tassie, it's either Huonville or Port Huon, - I can't remember.
Thanks fo keeping us posted on some of these boats which are a bit 'off the beaten track'.
Cheers,
-
Barmah Lass isn't abandonned- she's now the Barmah under new owners and a distinct new refit- although she's looked like that for as long as I've known her.
Meanwhile sinking the boats actually preserves them a little better- that's what happened to Murray Queen for a time- she was sunk to preserve her timbers. B22 Barge is half submerged for that reason too (I believe)
I didn't think Murray Queen had been restored- last thing I knew she was in Tassie.
Sean
-
The boat is at Port Huon.
I have a friend restoring a Hobart tram nearby, and have asked him to obtain a photo, but it hasn't come through yet.
I will ask again.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hi Sean,
The 'PS Barmah' was once the 'PV Lady of Barmah', built by Rowley Mc Graw and a group of friends way back in the 70's and she was one of the first contemporary paddleboats built.
When Roley passed away in 93, the boat was decaying and sunk at its mooring, I think she was sold, rebuilt and re-named about 94/95/96.
I'm certain that the PS/PV Barmah Lass was a seperate vessel altogether.
The boat is mentioned in the book 'Riverboat Days', by Peter J. Phillips C. 1983, but there was no photo of it.
It may have even been Peter Mc Leod's first paddleboat, the one that was built out of plywood and ended up being scrapped.
If Peter is still around working on the PS Britannia, maybe someone could ask him about his first boat.
You were spot on with the Murray Queen, she was sunk upstream in the lagoon, to help keep her hull planks preserved, but she was one of very few contemporary paddleboats to have a wooden hull, as many of them have steel hulls, and at least 3 have ferro concrete hulls.
Anyhow, these all react differently to the elements, the Wanganui looks like she has a steel hull, but submerging a steel hulled vessel may not have the same preserving qualities.
I'm not sure why the Wanganui has been taken out of the water, but I imagine that the hull would need some work, and/or it could be to avoid expensive mooring costs, - (or) - the new owner might just like the idea of living on a boat (on land) instead of on the river.
By having the boat high and dry, you can work on the hull at your leisure, without having to use a Slipway.
Buster told me that Will has done quite a lot of work on the Murray Queen, but not sure about the small stoker steam engine and vertical boiler that it had in it.
Thanks,
-
Barmah Lass was definately a seperate boat. Actually, I'm not even sure it is/was a paddler. Could it have been a houseboat? Or are we just confusing it with Colonial Lass?
The Lady of Barmah was sold shortly after Roly McGraw passed away to, I believe, the son of Mac Carling. This would have been some time in 93. She was brought to Echuca & tied up at the Carling's home (same place she is currently moored). She opened up & sank soon after. I saw her sunk in December 93 & have a couple of photo's of her with only the roof showing above the water.
I think she was salvaged pretty quickly, put up on the Moama slip & spent quite a while being rebuilt. It was a major rebuild. Not only was she converted to steam & a new superstructure built, but the hull was made deeper. I have a couple of pictures Rod Williams gave to me showing her on the slip. The first shows her as a bare hull before any work started & the 2nd shows the hull rebuilt with the frames for the lower deck on. When you look at her now the planks painted dark brown about halfway between the waterline & deck were originally the ones the deck sat on.
I wish I'd paid more attention now, but from what I recall, Peter McLeod's first paddle boat was basically a canoe with paddles. I think it was built in the 60s & I cannot for the life of me remember whether it had a steam engine, or was human powered. The Murray Queen... Her engine was removed by her owners prior to being purchased by Adam Auditori & another young guy from the port (can't remember his name) sometime, I think, in 96. In December 96 she was moored in the wet dock, stripped of superstructure & engines, but with wheels still in place. Rather short sightedly I didn't take any photos. Very early pics of the "queen" show she had square boxes. Her original helm ended up in the Adventurous. A little off topic, but one of my favourite memories of Echuca is from 96, bringing the Adventurous under the bridge in the dark, without any lights. This was before the cabin was built in, but she had the roof on. As I brought her out on the downstream side some kids on the bridge started throwing rocks onto the roof (I'd run up & clobber them now), then I managed to hit something underwater just a bit further downstream... Not so successul I guess, but I'm still proud of bringing her through the bridge in complete darkness.
-
Ahh of course, sorry mistake on my behalf!
Barmah Lass was of course a different boat.
-
Well there's a few things that I didn't know of, one of my many books has a whole section on the PV Lady of Barmah from its construction through to about 93, so your info has filled me in on what happened afterwards a bit more accurately.
I didn't know that the Murray Queen originally had square paddle boxes, I always thought that they were semi-circular and corregated iron.
In the book 'Riverboat Days', by Phillips, the modern day section at the back mentions the Lady of Barmah, the Barmah Lass and the Colonial Lass, but it only has a photo of the latter, so I doubt that these two boats are 'one and the same'.
By the way, I was sent a message today containg an early photo of the PV Bull Frog, taken at Renmark, SA in 1980, I learnt a few new things here too, the boat was originally called the 'Susan Joy', its much older than I thought and converted from an old milk boat, instead of being built new from scratch.
The photo is in Black and White, but I'll see if I can attach it to this forum.
I'm hoping that the Bull Frog is being restored - it's an unusual little boat !
Cheers,
-
If you wade back through this 14 page thread, you will find my notes and photos on both Colonial Lass and Barmah. IRRC, the latter changed appearance greatly after a substantial rebuilding.
The problem with php software is that, the first or last three pages can be jumped; thereafter all advancing has to be page by page. There is no way of diving in at page 7 (and since I worked from sea to source, the information should be around 8 or 9). I haven't tried coming in from a search engine: is there an inbuilt one?
Not yet mentioned in Paddleducks, was the announcement in Frank Tucker's online paddleboat newsletter: 'Well respected and well known Murray skipper Mac Carling passed away on Thursday 27th December 2007. Mac purchased and operated PS Emmylou at Echuca'.
I recall meeting him at Torrumbarry in July, in the gap between two of PS Canberra's cruises there over a weekend with sufficient water to go down through the lock.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Does anyone know what condition the Bullfrog is in? With a wooden hull, if she's been sitting out of the water for several years (especially in drought conditions), chances are she's pretty poor. But, looking closely at the picture in Plowman's book, she's bigger than I originally thought & she has quite a nice hull shape.
-
Not sure what condition the 'Bull Frog' is in, I could ask Michael to try and find out what he can from Adam Auditori.
Michael lives at Merrigum, which is not all that far from Undera, so he may even be able to visit the Bull Frog' current owners at some stage.
Cheers,
-
Gotta see Adam this week so I'll chase up some details from him.
-
I called some friends in Echuca today to catch up. I took the opportunity to ask about the Bull Frog. Apparently she was originally built as a cabin cruiser, was purchased by Paddy Hogg & then lengthened and rebuilt. In the early 80s Paddy used the boat to ferry an english journalist down river for a BBC series. I have the book of the series "River Journies". The section on the Murray was written by Russell Braddon. He travels on several vessels for the length of the river, including a boat he describes as being like the African Queen with Paddy Hogg. The boat's name was Merrilinda. So, I'm assuming that she was renamed sometime after then. There's also a photo of the Murray Queen tied up to the remains of the original Moama wharf. She has no deckhousing except for 2, very new looking, round style paddle boxes. This must have been the time that she was rebuilt. I've seen several of early photos of the Queen with square style wooden boxes & the stern cabin wasn't built in like later in life. By the way, I'm told that the Queen is again operational, but whether in steam or diesel is not known.
-
Yeah, I remember the Great River Journies series quite well, I taped it when it was on TV, and nearly drove my family mad watching it all the time, it was made in 1983, I don't have the book though, but I actually saw the MV Merrilinda and her Captain - (the late Paddy Hogg) at Swan Hill sometime in the late 80's.
I lived at Swan Hill for a while as a kid, and I remember throwing the mooring line out to the boat as they were casting off.
Unfortunately, the MV Merrilinda is a different vessel altogether to the PV Bull Frog, the Merrilinda is much bigger, and the Bull Frog wouldn't even be 50ft in length.
Also, I have been sent a photo of the Bull Frog taken back in 1980, and she looks very similar 8 years later when Peter Plowman photographed her near Barmah, and as Russell Braddon's tour of the Murray was in 1983, it's just not possible that these 2 boats are the same.
The photo of the Murray Queen that you described sounds like the one in Riverboat Days, the Phillips book of 1983.
I wonder how she looks now ?
I guess we'll find out soon, as Roderick mentioned that he has a friend in Hobart, who may be able to take a photo of it - to be posted onto this site.
Talk to you soon,
-
I went out on a limb... And got it wrong. I guess there is always a first time lol
It didn't seem quite right to me either, but in research it's par for the course. Since my last post I have spoken to someone who's seen her in the paddock. She's apparently stuffed.
-
Just when I was hoping that the 'Bull Frog' might have been the boat with the 'funny name' that was being restored somewhere near Tocumwal / Cobram/Barooga.
-
Wasn't Paddle Hogg operating the showboat trix out of Echuca around that time? Apparently she's wrecked on that bend opposite the wharf, same as Lady Augusta
-
Here are shots of Murray Queen I've collected out of books. I never got the chance to see her when she was in Echuca, I was to young at the time and didn't know the river that well, oh well. Popped in to see Adam today but he was out will try tomorrow
-
Wasn't Paddle Hogg operating the showboat trix out of Echuca around that time? Apparently she's wrecked on that bend opposite the wharf, same as Lady Augusta
So that's where she ended up... I've often wondered. It's interesting that a boat that was around as late as the Trix hasn't survived. Especially as she wasn't huge & wasn't a paddler.
-
From memory, I think the 'Trix' ex. 'Riverina', was operating until about 1967, there is an article on her in the Echuca Historical Society Museum, the Museum also has a photo of the Trix, but it's been a while and I actually forget what she looked like.
Maybe one of the older Echuca residents could fill us in on the Trix.
I was at a book fair recently and came across an old Australian pictorial book, I think it was published in the late 70's or very early 80's, and it had a riverscape photo in it that would have been taken from the present day Oscar W's site, anyhow you could clearly see the bow of a small paddlesteamer, which I believe was the 'Despatch' ex. 'Tassie'.
I read somewhere, (but can't remember where...), that this boat was only broken-up in the early 80's, - an unusual period for an original to be scrapped !
The Despatch looked very much like the 'P.S. Eva' C. 1891.
Can anyone confirm any of these details ?
Cheers,
-
The moment I saw the reference to nonpaddler showboat Trix, I thought 'Riverina'? Then Leith raised the name.
I have a photo of MV Riverina at Mildura on Mon.5.9.66.
My earlier enquiries about its disposition got nowhere.
AFAIK, it was an old boat. I know nothing of its history, and doubt that it was a Lakes Entrance boat. Generally, boats of this character in Victoria were built for Sydney Harbour or the Hawkesbury, and were then onsold to Victoria. Derwent River (Tasmania) was another source.
Photographs will prove a lot more.
Perhaps the top deck could be added only when it reached the safety of permanent river operation (there is a famous Australian disaster when a two-deck Sydney ferry, one of the R... fleet, capsized during a regatta or ceremonial fleet on Sydney Harbour).
Wednesday afternoon, second update. Parsons has an entry under Trix:
Built 1898 at Birkenhead (ie Adelaide, SA). To the Murray, early 1940s, as a showboat operating from Renmark (SA). To Echuca as Riverina, operated by Paddy Hogg. To Murray Bridge c1967 for a brief spell, then to Mildura and to Echuca.
This is consistent with my photo and the earlier report.
My photo must show the boat staging at Mildura en route from Echuca to Murray Bridge. Why was it rafted off Avoca? Was that Hogg boat at that stage, or was it owned by the rival Collins? Parsons hints that Avoca returned to Mildura in 1976. Had it returned a decade earlier? Was this an occasion when Avoca had come to Mildura for survey slipping, but would return to Murray Bridge? More mysteries.
In the history of postwar riverboat tourism, Mildura was more important than Echuca until Echuca reinvented itself.
This potted summary is top of head; I'd have to check the dates from the books.
c1948: PS Murrumbidgee converted for tourism (mainly weekend rather than day); short life and destroyed by fire. PV Coonawarra built as a replacement (mainly weekend rather than day). It has only a few seasons and then was relocated because of unreliable water on its main Echuca - Swan Hill route. AFAIK there was now nothing tourist at Echuca.
Meanwhile, Mildura had PS Canberra and PS Avoca on day tourism (and had had so since the late 1930s or 1940s?). PV Wanera was converted for overnight cruising.
The paddleboat world which I discovered in 1962-63: static everywhere except Mildura, now with Canberra, Mayflower, Wanera and Riverina. IIRC Coonawarra and Avoca were at Murray Bridge in this era. There were various private boats static along the river: Australien at Yarrawonga, Etona at Echuca (having arrived only a couple of years earlier), Gem at Swan Hill folk museum (having arrived only weeks earlier), Pyap & Rothbury at Mildura, Ruby just below Mildura.
The big change came c1965: PS Melbourne went from Echuca to Melbourne and was converted to showboat layout. Subsequently Canberra went from Mildura to Echuca and got tourist cruising underway there. I don't know how long it lasted as steam before going to diesel.
1970s: the start of big modern boats on the lower Murray. Avoca and Coonawarra were transferred back to Mildura. PV Pyap went to Swan Hill.
And now for someone to pick up this thread: Riverina transferred to Echuca, and the establishment of the Port of Echuca tourist precinct and operation as we know it today, with the restoration of PS Adelaide and PS Pevensey, and the construction of PS Emmylou; subsequently obtaining PS Alexander Arbuthnot from its Shepparton lake operation, and constructing Pride of the Murray (also 1970s?).
In Mildura: the conversion of Rothbury, the loss of Wanera by fire; obtaining Mundoo.
A couple of others to throw in: Use of MV Loyalty at Wentworth, MV Kookaburra going to Swan Hill.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hope this article answers some questions
i've resized it
-
When you look at the jpeg it becomes totally illegible when you blow it up. The only word I make out is "Riverina"
Alistair
----- Original Message -----
From: michael (research@paddleducks.co.uk)
To: research@paddleducks.co.uk (research@paddleducks.co.uk)
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 6:02 AM
Subject: Re: APAM- List of Paddlers Part 1 Modern and Restored Vessels
Hope this article answers some questions
Michael
Post generated using Mail2Forum
-
Michael's resized photos are interesting.
Presumably they were taken at Echuca, and before PS Melbourne was sent downriver (Aug.65) to Mildura for conversion to a showboat.
My father's photo of MV Riverina at Mildura was taken in Aug.66.
The interpretive sign is a repeat of Parsons's text, back in Echuca by 67.
Why was it in Mildura in 66?
If it was based in Murray Bridge, Mildura was a long way to come just for slipping.
Conclusion: it was on its way downriver, or it was on its way back (and got delayed by low water?).
Or, it was based at Renmark again (as it had been before its Echuca stay), and could well have been at Mildura for slipping.
Conceivably there will be items in Riverine Herald regarding the arrival back in Echuca and the sinking.
They may be viewable at the office or library in Echuca (as original papers). Michael doesn't have the time; I don't have the time; my former regular Echuca-base scanner of this paper was killed several years ago when a car hit his pushbike.
They may be viewable on microfilm at La Trobe library (Melbourne). I don't have the time.
Even the interpretive panel is hedging its bets. It isn't sure which Riverina sank at the location. Presumably the archive of the relevant licencing authority will reveal something, but which authority, and where would they be housed?
Mac may be able to help; he must have done some research on sunken vessels.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hi PD's,
Have been pretty busy lately also, but in regards to the Riverina or 'Trix', I can tell you that she most likely ended her days at Echuca, somewhere between the 'Lady Augusta' wreck site and the E-M Bridge.
I have never seen any trace of wreckage at low river along that reach, however she was probably broken up and what was left over is probably buried deep in silt, (possibly may have been removed altogether.) For example, the wreck of the 'PS Mundoo' C. 1875, was broken up and removed by Toby Henson when he was dredging out a channel for the 'PV Pyap' at Swan Hill way back in 1970.
The 'PS Riverina' C. 1866 was 'definitely' re-built and re-named 'Wandering Jew' in Nov. 1890, this boat ended up wrecked in the Darling River sometime in the early 1930's, she is located just outside Brewarinna, NSW.
There is a pdf on Darling River Wrecks, it's a really good resource, but it's a big file and takes a while to open, I will see if I can find it, and type in the URL in my next post.
The photos of the 'Trix', posted by Michael look very much like the ones I have seen in the Historical Society Museum.
Cheers,
-
Well done on Roderick finding Betsy, and a nice photo too- I'm glad he got one. Just proves sometimes you need to be on the river to find exactly what you're after.
Michael also has some exciting news, but I'll wait for him to break it.
Sean
-
Oh yeah ruin the suprise Sean!!! Haha yeas I've been around and I've found the Bullfrog, just posting one shot for now as I'm short on time, have to engineer Emmylou tomorrow then head to Melbourne for a week of school.
I've also bought the hull of PV Sundowner, so will have that home in a few weeks.
More detail and photo's in a week time.
And Hero had a warming fire in her tonight so she will be out for a cruise/s tomorrow.
-
I have an answer back from my Tasmanian contact.
He reminds me that Port Huon and Huonville are two separate places, about 20 km apart.
He had a pleasant day with his wife at Port Huon, but found no trace of MQ, and nobody associated with wharves or water to whom he spoke had any recollection.
He is now seeking a better lead: where in Tasmania do people think that the boat went? Any idea Leith?
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Can't help much on this one ! - it was definitely either Huonville or Port Huon, my only guess is that perhaps Will has sold her and she's simply 'slipped under the radar'.
Buster may know if Will has sold the boat ?
Have just seen Michael's photo of the 'Bull Frog', - she's in worse shape than I thought, I wish I could figure out how to post the photo that I received in a 'private message', onto this forum.
The photo was taken back in 1980, and shows the 'Bull Frog' as the 'Susan Joy' and in much better shape.
Finally, the hull of the 'Sundowner' has turned up !, just when I thought that the whole boat had been scrapped, from memory the hull is made of ferro concrete, like the 'Colonial Lass' and 'Florence Annie'.
-
Looks more metal to me in the photo.
The bikes in Bull Frogs photos look like they stand a better chance of moving than Bull Frog- Would the wheels be any good for Sundowner Michael?
What are your plans for Sundowner?
Slowly boat by boat we can start to replace the images and fill in the missing information in Peter Plowman's book keeping what we know updated. Isn't it a shame to see a few of these boats now wrecked or with very little left.
Meanwhile do we have any news on Adventurous or the Cameron?
Sean
Sean
-
Congratulations on the purchase Michael! Have you got any plans for her yet? She's built from aluminium, right? How will she be, sitting in the water near steel hulled boats?
Nice picture of the Bullfrog... She's definately stuffed. I wonder what wood was used for the planking. Doesn't look like redgum.
-
I have driven past PV 'Cameron of Lochiel' a few times in the last month.
It is in an engineering yard to the east of the Kyabram - Echuca road, between the airport and the railway crossing.
It looks much the same as it did on my inspection (only a year ago?).
At that stage the hull and superstructure seemed to be complete; the owner was working on the fitout.
This is very ornate, almost bordello style, with carved panels and mouldings, and a pressed-metal ceiling.
He had started with the bar, to sustain the workers while doing the rest.
He was designing the main saloon (lower deck) to be convertible to a home cinema during evenings.
I didn't visit the bedrooms (upper deck).
The upper-deck cabins are demountable, and this will be necessary for the transport from the construction site to the launching site (probably Echuca East ramp).
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Bullfrog was built of jarah? so her timber is as thick as weatherboards..... not very thick. SHe was originally a milk ferry at Murray Bridge being built 1910, then went to Mildura, was converted to a paddler by Norm Collins went to Barmah and sank in the 1993 floods. She is buggered the wheels would be re-usable but i don't think the owner is would be willing to let them go, doesn't hurt to ask.
Sundowner is 5mm alumninum, had timber framing but that has all rotted and has been removed. No plans yet, I'm not sure whether to go to the original design, ideas are always appreciated.
-
The milkboats weren't paddlers, but have a fanatical following. There were not many. AFAIK all have survived with private owners. One of the paddleboat books does cover them (they are honorary paddleboats). Hence, even if Bullfrog looks hopeless, someone will have the passion and the money to revive it, current owner willing. From what I could see in a documentary cd, it is no worse than Hebe was, and may not even be much worse than Roy. Duck Flats teaches a technique for stitching together ply-plank hulls: that should work with jarrah planks too.
I'll chat with Michael offlist (or in the fullsize forum) about design ideas for Sundowner. I looked at the photo in Plowman: rather overbodied for the hull, but there isn't much choice with a short hull. There are several four-berth boats in the 13 m class; this is only 10.5 m (cf Jessie II 9 m). Many of the ideas which we discussed for Gemma or Eclipse would work. Perhaps Michael could assemble his hulls in a stack like the Russian dolls: small inside large inside larger...? Or use the current two as outrigger canoes for stability of the main hull?
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Don't know if this has been mentioned here, but three oz paddlewheelers from the APAM list and that all have some history attached to them are for sale currently. PB Paddlecat (?$60,000); PV Mayflower (P.O.A.); and PV Akuna Amphibious (offers @ + 1 MIL) are listed on various websites.
-
Also, just adding to the post above me.. PV Florence Annie is for sale currently for about $60,000 IIRC on that.
-
I have found the website advertising PV 'Mayflower':
www.murrayriver.com.au/trader/private/mayflower/default.htm
When I saw it in 2007, it was at Wellington marina (SA).
The same site is still advertising PV 'Black Shag'
www.murrayriver.com.au/trader/private/blackshag/default.htm
That one has been sold; as at Dec.07 it was at Euston Weir waiting for sufficient water to continue to its new owners, in SA.
I cannot find the url for the Paddlecat sale, and I haven't tried for the Akuna Amphibious one.
'Stempost', could you please post these urls?
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
More Great Pics Michael !
I don't know which boat is the most nackered - the 'Bull Frog' or the 'Edwards' !
I remember last year when I asked about the PV Sundowner and you had found out that there was nothing much left - and then a few months later her hull turns up ! - I could have sworn that her hull was made from ferro concrete.
I remember speaking to one of the owners back in Dec. 87, when she was moored amongst the private house boats along 'Rotton Row' and level with the Echuca City Caravan Park, she was For Sale at the time and they wanted $ 50,000 for her.
Roderick - I'm going to have to update a few things, my new email address is: leithhall@yahoo.com.au
and Iv'e been based in up in Brisbane since last April, - I live on Southside and Mac (Excelsior) lives in Fortitude Valley - small world eh !
Thanks for your feedback, however I now have a new problem, the photo of the 'Bull Frog' C. 1980 that was sent to me in a private message is no longer attached to that message, I can't find it anywhere !
I had other photos in my private message section and I can't locate them either - any suggestions ?
I don't suppose that it has anything to do with new format of this website, because I could access them before it was modified.
By the way, here are some interesting sites to have a look at:
http://maritime.heritage.nsw.gov.au/public/documents/DarlingRiverSurvey.pdf
(or alternatively, go to Google and type in 'Darling River Wrecks' and click on the 2nd Site down the page.
another good one is;
http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/archaeology/department/publications/PDF%20Theses/Amanda%20Hale%202006.pdf
(N.B. whats looks like a '96' in the URL above is actually the percentage symbol)
both of these are big files and take a while to view, the latter is about the 'PS Melbourne'.
-
Florence Annie is made with a Ferro Concrete hull I believe, and is for sale for about $60,000 at Deep Creek Marina- just in case we're mixing a few boats up (not saying you are though).
Lately from the news I've been hearing with boats selling here there and everywhere we may end up with a rotten row again (here's hoping not)
The images that most stand out to me are some on the 'Riverboats Remembered' video- where they pass a rotten row containing Gem and a number of others, and I mean a lot of others, and these are big named hard working boats of the era, and just to see them all sitting there, lifeless, crowded, is so sad. And then many of them just sank....
That's why now it's so good to see Hero up and Running. That's been a project that has been going for a lot of my visits to Echuca over the years, and I wondered if I would ever see her complete, and though I am yet to see her running personally, it is very exciting to see Hero back on the water.
Sean
-
Yeah I know what you mean Sean !
In fact it's 10 years to the month since the 'Hero' was salvaged from Boundary Bend, I just can't remember the date though.
Secondly, I'd also hate to see the Newbies form a new 'Rotton Row',- they sure are changing hands quite regularly which may not be a good thing.
-
And with inflation and prices going up here there and everywhere, who's going to be able to afford a steamer these days- I am worried. I know we've casually looked at a few that are for sale, but simply don't have the money.
Still wouldn't mind owning one....
Sean
-
yes, i know what you mean. we have been looking at a few paddlers (not steam, mum n dad are not real keen on that idea just yet) and they are much to expensive. We have also been looking at berths for them in south aus and they are much to expensive as well. It is a little worrying too..
-
It's not really that worrying. Just think, if there are a lot of boats for sale, and with the global economy going the way it is, the value of these boats will go down. So, if you're in an ok position financially, they may become affordable. With oil prices going the way they are, they'll be very expensive to run though.
I'd love the Mayflower. Would strip her back, put in a small portable & rebuild her the way she was as a one deck fishing boat.
-
G'day Roderick and others, Akuna was listed on the 'boat-brokers.com.au' (South Australian site). The direct link doesn't appear to work, but she will come up under this site if you just google her. There are some great internal and external photos of her on that site, but the price???
Paddle Cat (listed @ $85,000 not $65,000 as I said) is on the murray river trader section of the murrayriver.com.au site, but the site is not working either.
If I may buy into the discussion, I think boats naturally come up for sale due to owners getting older and wanting to move on, or to trade up into bigger boats etc, but the local council doesn't help. You can't buy a new river berth (even if you could afford it) due to the current moritorium and there will be no new berths on the river until all the eco studies are completed.
There is no encouragement to buy these boats when council considers them (eg:Henry Charles) not to be a historic vessel and that they are also illegally berthed by being in the port area. There are disputes over renovated vs replica boats, between Port Authority and tourist operators, etc etc. The falling river levels continue to be of grave concern.
I hope they can manage to sort it all out and just get along together.
Trevor.
-
Thanks Trevor,
my problem had been not navigating the site correctly.
Some boats have individual ads on the home page, including Madam Jade (which I didn't mention yesterday).
The others are listed by clicking on state.
http://www.murrayriver.com.au/trader/vic-results.htm
It seems that all Murray ones are listed under Victoria, not NSW.
I found Matilda (sold a year ago, now in lower SA), Florence Annie and Paddlecat.
Moorings at Deep Creek come at 100 000 to 120 000, but I believe that the marina has a policy of no paddleboats, just boxes on pontoons.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Well, I knew that moorings were expensive, but I didn't think that they were that high !
At the Heritage Steam Festival at Echuca in 06, I was chatting with the owners of the 'Bessie Ann', not quite sure what you would call this one, but their friends used to call it an aquatic toolshed (or words to that effect.)
I have seen some other photos of it taken during the 2003 Sesquincentary flotilla near Echuca, at that stage it had 4 tiny paddles fitted to it.
The 2 wheels in the middle of the stern had covers over them and were next to 2 outboard motors, not sure if these wheels were just for show or not but the other 2 wheels were, they were located at the outer edges of the stern and looked a bit like Dethridge Wheels, - the kind of wheels that are used in irrigationchannels/canals.
Anyhow, back to the mooring issue, basically the couple that own it had a mooring for it somewhere, - can't remember how much it cost them though, and they later decided to ditch the idea and take the boat out of the river and keep it on a large boat trailer on their property at Dingwall, VIC. (near Kerang).
The couple were hoping to take it further downriver to the Boundary Bend & Robinvale/Euston district for a fishing trip.
They decided to take the 4 small paddle wheels off, but for some reason they left the 2 covers in place.
-
New member Mike Smith located the vessel in Nov.06. Extracted from his message:
...Wooden Boat Centre at Franklin, 48km south of Hobart on Huon River...hull of a boat (30-35 ft long)...had the classic lines of a Murray River paddle boat...in a yard next to the centre. The hull was not in the best of shape as it was missing some timbers and the angle iron frames the timbers were bolted to were fairly corroded.
He has sent me five photos. I enclose the first one today, and will place the other four when I get back from chasing Spirit II from Yarrawonga to Albury.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Thanks Roderick,
I was beginning to think that the old girl had vanished into thin air !
Just looked up Franklin, TAS. on 'Google Maps', as I'm not familiar with Tassie.
She's in worse shape than I thought, but hopefully salvageable, - I reckon she's in slightly better nick than the 'Bull Frog'.
Hopefully the other photos will reveal more about the level of deterioration etc.
-
Mike Smith (no relation) has sent this scan of PS Roy history.
I am attaching it here as a pdf. If the method works (and you will have to click on it to view), I will shift it to an earlier APAM lop page, where the rest of the Roy material sits.
If the technique doesn't work, I will convert it to jpg and place it back with the rest.
We now have bits on PS Murray Queen on pages 15, 16 & 17.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
yet we still have no images of roy's powerplant..... :'(
can only hope
Anthony
-
Hey Anthony,
From what Iv'e heard the Roy's machinery has been in pieces for a while, it's a pretty tiny unit, I think it's only a 1 or 2 n.h.p. engine.
There's an old black & white photo of it in 'Ships of the Inland Rivers', by Parsons, - it's in the 1st part of the book before the alphabetical listings start.
I have the 2nd & 3rd editions and I'm pretty certain it's in both of these.
Cheers,
-
I found some photos of a few wrecks which haven't already been covered on our site !!!
These photos are a few years old, - taken during the Sesquincentenary in the Spring of 2003.
They are of the Hulks of the 'P.S. Sapphire' located on Moorna Station, downstream from Wentworth,
The 'P.S. Wardell', which is sitting in a Creek just over the S.A. Border, and of the 'Emerald Barge' possibly located near Chowilla Woolshed.
-
Have spent a couple of hours doing some searching and have pics of assorted Paddleboats from the Eastern States, most of which haven't already been featured on this site !
Queensland:
The 'Captain Sturt' Paddle Wheeler, owned and operated by Dreamworld at Coomera, built in 1980/81, and commissioned on Dec 15, 1981. She operates on a man-made Moat inside the theme park.
The Captain Sturt is a smaller, diesel powered replica of the 'Mark Twain' at Disneyland in California.
She isn't actually a fake Paddleboat, the Stern Wheel does actually propell the boat, but she runs on rails under the water line, just like her sister ships overseas.
She used to look like a floating wedding cake, but has since been repainted in 'bright' colours, - I think I prefer the white with black trim.
The old 'Maid of Sker' C. 1884/85 is still sitting in Bischoff Park in Nerang, I saw her recently, but I didn't have a camera or the time and I can't find any up to date pics of her either.
Since late 2003, she has been re-furbished, re-painted and re-located a few hundred yards closer to the road way, acting as a gateway to the Nerang Township.
She now has replica paddles fitted, don't know why, as there was nothing wrong with the originals, and the current ones look a bit tacky, with very thin rims and very few floats.
Local Service Clubs have built a ramp up to near the Deck Level, but that's as far as you can go, as there is no entry permitted onboard.
Not that there's much to her, she's basically an iron hull with Paddle Boxes similar in size and shape to the ones on the 'Adelaide'.
The boat also has her Boiler and quite a tall Funnel, and as I said before...(new wheels), but no Steam Engine, and very little Super-Structure, so basically you can see the whole boat from the outside anyway.
I was out on a job down on the Gold Coast earlier this month when I noticed a very presentable and very American looking Stern Wheeler, called the 'Riviera', it turns out that she's for sale, and is decked out just like a modernised Queenslander House internally, (with a slight Mississippi influence).
The 'Riviera' is about 60' in length, triple decked and painted out in Green and Cream, I don't know any more about this Vessel as yet.
Slightly further north in Brisbane, the 'Kookaburra River Queens' (already featured), still ply the Brisbane River, but not as often as the owners would like, they were both recently sold yet again, and have been suffering from a lack of patronage, apparently too many people are opting to go on the City Cat Ferries instead, but I'm at a loss to understand this as they are 'completely different' vessels.
The 'Brisbane Paddle Wheeler', with the Fake Red Stern Wheel is now owned by Bris Vegas Cruises and is moored downstream from the City near Brett's Wharf, the Vessel is 31 years old and recently under went a re-furbishment which included new diesel engines.
The Steam Tug 'Forceful' is still moored at the Maritime Museum, nothing much has happened to her in a while, the Museum is currently still trying to raise enough funds to bring the Vessel back to Survey standard.
I haven't included 'Thomson Belle' out at Longreach as she features in a thread of her own, I'm not sure on whether she's been operating lately though as the Thomson River flooded and would still be quite high.
There are 2 Paddleboats way up North, at Cairns, the 'P.V. Louisa' operates on Trinity Inlet and the Cairns Harbour, and at Port Douglas, the 'P.V. Lady Douglas' operates from Marina Mirage and cruises up Dickson Inlet, this Vessel is newer than the 'Louisa'.
New South Wales:
The 'P.V. Nepean Belle' and 'P.V. Jandra'still operate at Penrith and Bourke respectively and the 'P.V. Hawkesbury Paddle Wheeler' operates from the Old Windsor Wharf at Windsor just west of Sydney.
This Vessel was re-furbished, re-located and re-named some years back, it was previously the 'Lane Cove Paddle Wheeler', and operated on the Lane Cove River nearby. the National Parks and Wildlife Service banished her from the River, due to the fact that her wash was degrading the river banks.
The Hawkesbury Paddle Wheeler now operates in a similar way to the Nepean Belle.
Victoria:
The 'P.V.Begonia Princess' is on Lake Wendouree and is the sister vessel to the former 'Golden City', gutted by fire almoost 2 years ago, actually work has already started on the 'Golden City' Replica, the photo of her hull being rotated by a Crane was taken in Nov. 07, so things are definitely happenning.
-
OK, I'm hoping to be able to post a few photos this time !
-
Just a few at a time !
-
Here is part of the Brisbane Fleet, hopefully !!!
-
See www.riverlandboatsales.com.au/william.html
2 deck, 2 yo, 20 m x 8 m
Open plan design - Upstairs Bedroom B/I/R
Diesel motorised 96Hp Inter Neauz
Mooring available
I saw this one at the 2006 Wentworth Junction Rally.
The same site reveals that SWPV Samuel Clemens has been sold.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hi PD's & thanks Roderick.......that is a very well presented weekend paddler :gift just the thing for a :vacation...
The vessel appears to have river water to fresh water engine cooling heat exchanger + engine water to domestic water heat exchanger...
Engine brand may be a TYPO... try DEUTZ....but not sure??
The Honda gen sets are of the HUSH :shhh power range & wouldn't interupt a converstaion whilst having a :beer or two
I would reposition that aft ladder away from the solar panels :crash :darn :sorry :sobbing :shoot
-
Well, I started posting some info. and pics. of 'Non-Murray Paddleboats' located throughout the Country, a couple of weeks back, and now I have the time to finish this off.
I will post the pic. of the 'Steam Tug Forceful' seperately as it's a bigger photo than the others, for those who don't know, the 'S.T. Forceful' C. 1925 is Brisbane's version of the 'S.T. Wattle' in Melbourne & the 'S.T. Waratah' in Sydney.
The 'Forceful' is owned by the Queensland Maritime Museum and usually runs Brisbane River - Moreton Bay Trips every weekend from April through to November, after then it's just too stifling below decks.
Unfortunately, she has been laying idle for some time, her Iron Hull has been sandblasted many times over the decades and is now very thin and deteriorated in places, the Museum is still trying to raise funds to have her Hull worked on & ultimately brought back into Survey, - I can't wait...
The 'P.V. Louisa' & 'P.V. Lady Douglas' operate out of Cairns & Port Douglas respectively, and are the only 2 operational Paddleboats in the Far North.
Further South in N.S.W. and in Sydney's outer west are the 'P.V. Nepean Belle' & 'P.V. Hawkesbury Paddle Wheeler' located at Penrith & Windsor respectively, the Nepean Belle operates from a Jetty on Tench Av. in Penrith and has done so since about 1982, she is a Side-Wheeler with the Wheels located way back near the stern.
The Hawkesbury Paddle Wheeler used to be the Lane Cove Paddle Wheeler and operated on the Lane Cover River in the National Park, which she was later banished from apparently for envioronmental reasons.
She now operates from the Old Windsor Wharf in Windsor.
The 'P.V. Jandra' still operates on the Darling from Kidman's Camp near the North Bourke Bridge, and will be 10 years old next year.
I still can't find an official Website for her, but there are several listings and photos on Bourke related tourism links.
She is diesel-electric and the word is that her Paddles came from the 'P.S. Nile' C. 1885, which was destroyed by fire at/near Bourke in 1926.
She obviously has a very shallow draught and can apparently operated for most of the year on a 'Weir Controlled' 14 km stretch of the Darling.
Down in VIC. there are currnently 2 Replica Paddleboats under construction, the 'Golden City' and the 'Curlip'
A November 07 photo shows the Hull & Frames of the Golden City being lifted and rotated by Crane, so things are definitley happening, I think the only salvageable parts from the original are the Paddles & maybe the Shafting.
The way things are going she will be finished before there is any significant water back in Lake Wendouree.
The other Paddleboat on the Lake is the 'P.V. Begonia Princess' she is a Newbie, but I still don't know exactly when she was built, she is described as a Paddlewheel Ferry, obviously she hasn't been used much lately because of the extremely low water level in Lake Wendouree.
I haven't heard much on the 'P.V. Lady Stelfox', but apparently she is still moored in Docklands and in Survey, but still no Website, just listings with a contact Ph. No.
The 'P.S. Curlip Replica' now has a beaut new Website, I forget the URL, but you can find it on Google under 'P.S. Curlip', it's now confirmed that she will be 'steam powered', not diesel like I first thought.
There is a photo of her Engine on the Website, - can't wait to see the finished product !!!
Now over to W.A. - a in late 2003 I was searching the 'Steamboats of Australia' Website and found a new Paddle Steamer located on the Swan River in Fremantle, - the 'P.S. Rodney', Unfortunately I haven't been able to find anything on this Vessel since then.
She is a very elaborate Private Vessel and used stricltly for Outings by her owners, from memory a Dennis Baker and Family, she took quite a few years to build, and is powered by an Aveling Barford/Porter Steam Engine, she is a Side Wheeler and has a Fold-Down Funnel to allow her to get under the low slung bridges over the Swan River.
She mostly operates on the salty section of the River and has a unique Boiler/Feed Pump setup, which I can't remember the specifics of.
Are there any WA Paddleduckers out there who can supply a photo and/or more details ?
Here are some pics of some of the Boats from the Eastern States;
-
Here is a fairly current photo of the 'S.T. Forceful' - Brisbane & and also of the 'P.V. Lady Douglas' - Port Douglas, Q.L.D.
-
OK, I have had to pick out smaller pics. of each.
-
Hi folks,
The 'P.S. Curlip Replica' Website is;
http://www.paddlesteamercurlip.com.au/index.htm
By the way, I have found out some more info. on the 'S.W.P.V. Riviera', it appears that she is more of a fake Paddle Wheeler, as she has no engine, just the Sternwheel, I must have overlooked this when I saw her.
The boat is listed as For Sale on the Ensign Boat Sales Website, her build date is 1990.
Peter Plowmans book from about 1990/91 called 'The Wheels Still Turn', is a hard cover, it covers all States, and has the 'Emmylou' on the front cover, it's in this book that Peter mentions a boat called the 'Riviera Queen' on the Gold Coast Broadwater Canal System near Surfers Paradise.
He describes the boat as simply a Houseboat on a Pontoon/Barge, with 'Empty Paddle Boxes' - no wheels.
So the 'S.W.P.V. Riviera' could be a re-building of this Vessel.
I was on the Brisbane River on Friday night, took a 3 hr trip on the S.W.P.V. Kookaburra River Queen II, a very good trip, despite the cold winds, lots of river traffic, even the candy-striped Bris Vegas Cruises Paddle Wheeler, which I don't think I have ever seen in operation before.
Cheers,
-
Does anyone know anything about the PS Decoy operating on the Swan River in Perth? The website gives some info about the original Decoy which is now a fixed houseboat near Mannum but nothing about the vessel now operating under that name in Perth.
Stephen.
-
Hi Stephen,
The 'P.S. Decoy' over in Perth is a 'Newbie' except for the Steam Engine.
She was built in 1986/87, she has a Steel Hull and is powered by a 16 n.h.p. Ransome, Simms & Jeffries Steam Engine C. 1905, I think the Boiler was built espescially back in the 1980's.
The Boiler is oil fired and also in-keeping with American tradition, the Decoy is equipped with a custom-built Calliope, which I believe is smaller and more automated than the U.S. versions.
On January 14, 2007 the Decoy struck the Applecross Bridge over the Swan River and was slightly damaged, but was repaired and back in service a short time after.
She operates lunch, dinner and jazz cruises from the Mends Street Jetty in South Perth.
AFAIK the 'P.S. Decoy' is the only Commercial Paddle Steamer / Paddle Boat in W.A.
Her Website is; http://www.psdecoy.com.au/
Hope this helps.
-
Hi PD's......Stephen...here is a link to the PS Decoy operating in Perth WA ....http://www.psdecoy.com/feedback.htm...this second PS Decoy was built 1909 & retained the name, although as you know the original 1878 'build' came back to Murray & is home as a house boat HULK of Dick Bromhead at Mannum
I have had the pleasure of afternoon :coffee tea on board with the owners a few years back..I am into my eighth year with my stand of 1:24 scale verson of the vessel......
-
Thanks Leith. I thought it was a bit strange that the website went on about the original Decoy but not a word about the current vessel it was supposed to be advertising.
Stephen.
-
I have just had a frustrating hour trying to find my own post and photo.
Searching on PS Decoy, Decoy Perth or Decoy Swan didn't bring it up.
It is on page 3 of this thread, and I got there only by scrolling through from page 1.
A checked in Alastair's book 'Directory of the world's steamships', published by Tempus in 2007.
He has no extra knowledge there than Leith has just posted.
He did give the two Decoys nearly a whole page, with a photo of the replica one (which still steams for public cruising, which was the criterion for entry in the book).
I may be in Perth later this year for a combination of event, and a cruise and interview will be a priority.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hi folks,
I thought I would clear up part of a previous post on the 'PS Decoy', where I mentioned a slight American theme, however for the benefit of those who may not know much about this Vessel, I was only referring to the Boiler being Oil Fired, and to the addition of the Calliope.
The 'PS Decoy' is not based on an American Steamer, she is actually of Scottish design, the original 'PS Decoy' C. 1878 was built in Scotland and shipped out in sections, it should also be noted that the modern version is not an exact replica of the original, and is slightly smaller also.
B
-
Hi folks,
By the way, I don't think I included anything on the Wreck of the 'P.S. Shannon' - an ex. Murray River Steamer built C. 1877 and wrecked on King Island in the middle of Bass Strait in September, 1906.
Another Wreck that I have never come across on this site is that of the 'P.S. Young Australian', built C. 1853 and wrecked sometime in the 1870s on the Roper River near Roper Bar, N.T.
This Vessel played a vital role in the development of the Overland Telegraph, she was 94' in length, single decked and fitted with masts and a 40 n.h.p. Steam Engine.
The 'Young Australian' is the 'only known' Paddle Steamer Wreck in the Northern Territory, and is located about 20 klms downstream from Roper Bar.
Apparently bits of her Machinery can still be seen above the water line, but not sure what condition the rest of her is in, anyhow the Roper River is infested with Crocs so I don't think anyone will ever take a dive down to find out.
Photos of the Wreck are limited, and are under Copyright by the N.T. Government, but you can google search under 'Young Australian Wreck, Roper River' to get some idea.
There are sure are some Wrecks in unlikely places !
-
Hi folks,
I noticed that the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney have a collection of Model Paddle Steamers - mostly very early coastal style vessels, one in particular that drew my attention is the 'P.S. Wallaby' which is different to the others as it's a definite Murray River Design, but the name 'Wallaby' completely escapes me - never heard of it before.
She's almost a cross between the 'Ruby' and the 'Hero' - having the approximate dimensions and shape of the Ruby mixed in with the classic art-deco style wheel house of the Hero.
The same style was also used on the 'P.S. Resolute' C. 1877.
Cheers,
-
Any chance of getting some photos of the models in the museum next time your there Leith?
-
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=211456&search=paddle+steamer&images=&c=&s=
This working 1:24 scale model represents the usual Murray River paddle steamer of the 1890s. Some 300 full size paddle boats were built over a seventy year period to cater for the Murray trade. They were constructed from local timber, especially red gum and the shallowness of the rivers dictated the shape and form of the vessels, flat bottomed with a broad beam for greater stability. They usually had two or more decks, and were propelled by steam engines driving paddles, either at the rear or more often the sides of the boat. Their carrying capacity was increased by towing barges, which were sometimes lashed to the side instead. This model was made by Trevor Watson in 1975. Although it is called Wallaby, no Murray River paddle steamer was ever given this name.
-
Just a quick note: PV Murrundi has made it to Goolwa. Apparently Lake Alexandrina is that empty that she had to travel down the original river! She is currently tied up below OscarW at the wharf
-
Here is a shot of PV Tooraloora at the end of May, work has paused while the shipwright is doing some work on PS Marion
-
I've noticed that for the last month or so the Kookaburra River Queen (sidewheeler) hasn't had any covers on its paddleboxes. Finally took some pics today as I was riding past. It seems that they're doing a fair amount of maintenance on her at the moment.
Pics were taken on my phone, so sorry about the quality.
-
On Hawkesbury River is a paddlewheeler based at Windsor. It was previously PV Turrumburra (the aboriginal name for Lane CoveRiver) which did rides in the national park on Lane Cove River at Fullers Bridge.
It is a cruising restaurant at Windsor, which is an outer-urban town on Hawkesbury River, north-west of Sydney, on the the electrified Richmond commuter railway.
It was built in 1976 for Lane Cove River (one of the many branches of Sydney Harbour), as PV Turrumburra. Steel hull, twin diesel engines driving through the side paddlewheels, licensed to carry 100 passengers.
The present owners have had it for ~8 years, which hints at a ~2000 transfer from Sydney Harbour to Hawkesbury River.
The boat's name now appears to be PV Hawkesbury Paddlewheeler; the owners call it 'The Paddlewheeler'.
It has a busy program of public and charter cruises. See www.paddlewheeler.com.au, which includes an album of ~300 photos.
The boat was sold by its original owner, and was craned over a weir and a bridge, to be in Sydney Harbour for 18 months. It was restricted to upstream of Sydney Harbour Bridge. For the onsale to the current owners, it was towed by tug around the coast, then took 3 days to paddle upriver to its new Windsor base. A low bridge prevents it from going further upriver; all cruises must be downriver.
Every 2 years, the boat must voyage to and from Brooklyn (19 h each way) for survey slipping.
'Ferries Australia' contained a booking form for an Australian Ferry Society charter on Sat.8.11: 3 hours, with barbecue lunch.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hi
I may be able to help with some information regarding the Paddlewheeler listed with Ensign Ship Brokers (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia) and mentioned in a post on this site (back in March 2008).
The story as told to me by the previous owners is:
1. The vessel was manufactured by Riviera (Boat Manufacturer) under the supervision of Bill Barry-Cotter (the then owner of Riviera).
2. The vessel was used as a test-bed for shipwright apprentices and for testing practices during the construction of the Kookaburra Queens (This information is dubious and rumour only) during the mid-late 1980s.
3. The vessel was used as the floating office for Riviera Sales on the Gold Coast before being sold to a movie producer.
4. The vessel was unpowered, except for an Outboard Motor (hence the vessel being registered).
5. Registered Details:
a. Registration Year - 1990
b. Make - Riviera
c. Model - Paddlesteamer
d. Body Shape - Full Cabin
e. Hull - Fibreglass (GPR)
f. Ship Name - "Lady Lillian"
g. Colour - Cream/Green
h. Purpose of use - Private
As I am the current owner the intent is to power her with the smallest diesel drive necessary to drive the wheel. She is Sheltered Waters with waves heights up to 0.50m. There is a lot of windage with a vessel of this size so she is limited as to where she can actually travel. I have organised an engineer to redesign the wheel but will take my time with the project over the next couple of years.
At the moment she is being used as a "weekender", but of course is "for sale" if the right price is offered.
Regards,
David Bayliss
-
Details of this vessel were posted a couple of posts back, in this APAM thread.
On Sat.8.11.08, I was part of a group of about 40 from Australian Ferry Society, on a 3 hour charter downstream from Windsor & return. I went out with a friend on a 9.36 train from Sydney (~70 min journey), then walked through the town, photographing five hotels and a cinema. We boarded just on 12.00, for a 12.15 cast off. The group was upstairs, general public bookings were downstairs. The owner gave a commentary; his wife was skippering. There was a crew of about four hospitality staff, serving drinks to tables, and setting up the barbecue buffet. The engine is amidship. The port lower deck is the kitchen. The rest of the lower deck holds fore and aft saloons, with a bar opening to the after saloon and to the starboard walkway. There are stairs above the paddleboxes on both sides, and a spiral stairway at the stern, continuing to a decked roof (to hold liferafts, not passengers). The upper deck held tables around a central dance floor. Unusually, the wheelhouse was cantilevered forwards of the bow, with no flagpole to act as a steering marker.
This was a very convivial trip, and I met all of the committee members, and was sitting beside author Peter Plowman (whose books cover riverboats, coastal shipping, and international shipping).
On the upriver leg, I had the chance to steer. There was very little wind, and the boat was quite responsive. In the absence of a flagpole, I had to use the aluminium frame of the front window to provide an aiming reference.
The river looked good: green trees and fields around; the cliff sections are lower down; the gorge section was further up. This stretch had been cleared of weed: a problem further up.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
I have mentioned this a few times before. It is a genuine PV, so I gone back and edited out any faulty references.
The boat was designed and built by John Wakeling, at his private slipway on Nepean River (a Hawkesbury tributary), on the upstream side of the motorway bridge, a few kilometres from the heart of Penrith. It commenced cruising in 1981.
See www.nepeanbelle.com.au
Downstairs, there is a main saloon with piano forwards; a bar and kitchen between the paddles; a small rear saloon and the stairwell aft. Upstairs there is a rear saloon, two small rear quarterdecks, and a side and foredecks serving the toilets and the wheelhouse.
This reach takes in a gorge section, with high sandstone cliffs.
It is blocked from Windsor by a weir.
Upstream, it is blocked by several weirs from reaching Menangle. Even the lowest of this set (Warragamba, a major storage for Sydney's water supply) cannot be reached: the river becomes too rocky.
MV Playtpus was obtained from a dolphin-cruise operation, and is the backup vessel.
On Sun.9.11, I went by train to Penrith, then taxi to the park where the pickup would be made. Nepean Belle arrived at 11.45 from its slipway base, and docked bow on to the wharf. This was a full cruise. When I made my booking, the company offered me a spot by placing a table on the open upper deck. The weather was magnificent, and it was a perfect spot. I left my laptop charging in the upstairs auxiliary bar and spent my time admiring the scenery, and chatting with the captain. The passengers were mainly family groups, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. Many appeared at the wheelhouse to have their photo taken 'steering' the boat. The experienced captain dual steered with young kids (I think that you should turn it more to the left...as he did the actual turning). He was more subtle with a grandmother. As she veered alarmingly to starboard, he subtly cut all power to the port paddle and brought the boat around while complimenting her on her skill.
There is one very narrow section, with only 2 m clearance either side to major boulders. With no wind today, getting through was easy.
On the way upstream, we were invited to the buffet to collect our main meals; dessert was brought to tables after we rounded up. I got to steer while the captain ate his lunch (but not through the narrows section). The captain then played a few well-known tunes on rolls on the player piano. We went a bit below the wharf to fill time, but not as far as the railway and older road bridges (sometimes the cruise goes all the way to the weir).
At the end, I was driven back to the station, concluding 3 great days in Sydney, with a different ferry ride each day, two theatre nights in stunning 1920s atmospheric theatres, and photographing a lot of interesting pubs.
The photos show the docking, the narrows section ahead, and two interior views.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Responding to a request, I have just added a second photo of PV Black Shag, currently on page 8 of this lengthy thread, with direct entry
www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2566.msg11530#msg11530
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Given that the PV Black Shag is currently For Sale and has been for some time there are some additional photos and details of this boat at the hyper link below.
http://www.murrayriver.com.au/boats-for-sale/pv-black-shag-7/
Regards
Mike Smith
-
Hi Roderick
i know this is an old posting but how is the restoration of this boat coming along , its great to hear thats she is finally being restored after sitting here for the past 40 yrs or more, i hope she get to stay in this area as well as far as i know beside the Marion there is know other original passenger tourist vessel running out of Mannum but i could be wrong.
love to hear of any news regarding her restoration many thanks
Ian savage, in Hong Kong...
-
I can't find the pm option, so I am replying on list. Ian, it isn't obvious from your post which of the many vessels you mean. Please edit your post to give the specific name.
I'll have news of PS Ruby after next weekend. PV Coonawarra is in the hands of a church group: used for group cruising, not public. PS Gem is just talk, there are practical difficulties in returning to river cruising.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
This hull was retrieved from the river at Koondrook Barham, and was placed on drums adjacent to a major park.
It is hardly even conserved.
If ever there is a new Banyulla built, how much original fabric would be in it? Clearly reconstruction or replica, not renovation or restoration.
I have transferred this photo from the Koondrook - Barham bridge centenary thread, in the Preserved Paddle Ships forum.
To keep the APAM boats manageable, I do go back and edit older posts as I find new facts, rather than add a fresh post remote from the original one. I tidied PS Wanera a couple of days ago.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
Hi Roderick
Just wondering what has been done on this vessel in the past few years.
i c this is a old posting but just interested to see what is happening right now with her and who exactly is trying to restore her and what progress has been made ??
many thanks, Ian Savage
-
I was last in Barham for the bridge centenary, and the day was too hectic to go near Banyulla. I suspect that nothing is being done, and there is very little which could be done. I might pick up some gossip at Wentworth over the coming weekend.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hi Roderick
The vessel i was actually talking about was the Tarella near Mannum, ive heard she has been bought by a syndicate of people and is to be completely restored.
If you do get to hear anything regarding the Banyulla please post it here im sure there are other people who are interested in hearing whats happening to this vessel.
Just by reading the blog here i have got the impression that the Australien based somewhere near Echuca is also being slowly restored by Peter Byford and team who owns and operates the Hero is that by any means correct ? and is there actually anything happening with the Edwards or is she still just sitting rotting away on a property also close to Echuca ?
Also i saw a pic of the Colonel in Murray Bridge back in thread 2, are Bob Butrims and Bruce Roberts who own and operate the Cato the main restoration team behind the Colonel being rebuilt ?? and how is her progress coming along ? i remember as a teenager seeing her up against the river bank at Renmark hoping someone or a group would come along and finally restore her..
many thanks
Ian Savage
-
I have just had a wonderful weekend at Junction Rally (Wentworth, NSW), catching up on all the gossip: will I remember it all for a post in the morning?
Former PS Tarella is owned by either a partnership or solo, the owner(s) of PV Flender Himmel. The main owner wasn't at Wentworth. I suspect that any restoration will be very long term: the hull was completely shot. He did hold his wedding aboard the vessel a year or two back , but that hints that time (and money?) will be more restricted.
Michael is better positioned to post about PS/PV Australien. AFAIK the only restoration done was Michael removing an accumulation of leaves from the inside, and hence a source of moisture which would cause even more deterioration.
Bob was at Wentworth: we talked only of PS Cato, and didn't mention Colonel. I understand that Cato is taking all of the time, and Colonel must wait.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hi all... My understanding is that the Colonel is a very long term project. Steve Moritz (the owner) is very busy with his business & other projects. He has an in depth knowledge of the rivers & the boats & is very interesting to chat with.
-
I didn't think to call by Mildura and see how much of PS Excelsior is revealed while lock 11 is undergoing maintenance, and hence the pool is dropped.
Hopefully, the owner can post a photo (or a radar view).
What is PS Melbourne doing for its daily cruising? Enough depth through the river channel with the weir removed? Or has the weir not been removed, just drop the pool?
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
Hi Roderick. I'd be very surprised if the Ex was showing. She sits in deep water in the middle of the river (near the bowling club I think). I have also been led to believe that over the past 2 decades she's been almost completely covered by silt. Although I haven't spoken to anyone in Mildura for a few years I might send off an email & ask the question though. It would be interesting if she was showing. If you hear anything in your travels, I'd love to know. Hopefully if she does show somebody will get some photos.
It was asked in the Invincible thread whether there are any plans to restore the Ex. At this point I'd say it's extremely unlikely that will ever occur. The difficulties with funding & the shipwreck act probably put the task beyond my abilities. Also, there's no evidence as to her current condition. There are two people that I've spoken to who have dived on her. One of whom says 10 foot of the bow is missing (not a huge worry), the other seemed to think she was in good condition with even the sponsons intact. Seeing how the Daisy was when she came up makes me wonder how good the Ex could possibly be. Never say never though.
-
Giday Excelsior..
Just enquiring regards to the shipwrecks act , you mentioned that after ex amount of time you cannot shift or raise a wreck, does this apply Aust wide or is it just say in S.A for example ?? or is this something that just applies to the Murray river.
May i ask how did you come to aquire the wreck of the Excelsior did you buy it from someone and with the intention of raising and restoring her
?? are you a Mildura person yourself ?? it seems strange that if people do have the time and money to actually restore a vessel, and go to so much work why then have these laws come into place.
I was watching online here an interview with the group that were formally restoring the success in the Mildura area and they were lamenting the loss of yet another paddle steamer to the Echuca area, i was wondering also why the local council and local interest groups could not have shown more interest in keeping the Success in the Mildura area.
Do you know anything about the Alpha being raised in july ?? someone else here mentioned it in a previous thread ??
many thanks
Ian Savage...
-
We must wait for 'Excelsior' for a full answer. AFAIK the shipwreck legislation is national, and was intended to apply for coastal waters. Perhaps rivers became included by oversight? Perhaps deliberately by Pollyanna types, who haven't a clue? This is the same sort which has caused a ban on desnagging, and is pleased to announce that new snags are being planted.
On the other front, AFAIK the groups was not oversaddened by the relocation of 'Success': the task had been beyond the group's ability, and the new home offers a much brighter future. Still in the area is the restoration of 'Canally', at Robinvale. That project has stretched for over 10 years, and the small core of workers is also 10 years older. Merging two volunteer pools could bring that project to fruition while the team is still sufficiently agile to go aboard and enjoy a cruise. Canally's hull had been replanked with professional advice and help. The sinking was a setback, but it is in safe terrain now. Chatting with the team: a priority now is having a local slipway, and that seems to be an achievable goal. Robinvale is only 80 km from Mildura by road, and has at least 60 km of permanent pool cruising available above the weir, with extended voyaging available season to season / flush to flush.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
-
My understanding, re shipwreck act, is that there is national legislation & state based legislation. The Ex is certainly protected under NSW state legislation. The act covers all shipwrecks over 50 years in age, however the Ex sank 49 years ago (50 next march). I believe that there is provision for shipwrecks under 50 years in age to be nominated as historic wrecks, thus the Ex is now protected. I've also been lead to believe that the legislation has some holes in it which make it possible for the owner of a wrecked vessel to salvage the wreck. Not being a solicitor I have no idea how true this is. That being said, it's no use salvaging a vessel if you can't immediately start work on restoration, the material would deteriorate too badly... You end up with a situation like the Edwards.
As for the Alpha being salvaged, I think that's a misunderstanding. I believe the poster was talking about the levels in the Mildura weir being lowered in July while maintenance is being done. During this time it's likely that the wreck of the Alpha will show. From the pics I've seen of the wreck she looks pretty stuffed, although I think there are others who's opinion on this would be a better guide.
As for living in Mildura... Sadly no, I don't. Currently I live in central Sydney.
Mac Murray
-
Oh yeah... I acquired the Ex just before my 19th birthday. Through a tip from Rod Williams & some further investigation I managed to track down the owners & acquired it from them. My intention was to restore the boat... I was much younger then (obviously) & had no real idea of what that involved. It's still a pipe dream, I'd love for it to happen someday, but I'm a little more realistic these days.
-
G day Mac..
Just wondering why u took the remains of the Excelsior on at such a young age ?? and also when the vessel first sunk, why wasn't it raised at that particular time around 1961 i think u said ! i have seen pics of it sunk in the SA godson collection with the vessel superstructure protruding from the water, surely it would have been much easier in 1961 to have raised it, than too leave it sunk for so long in the Murray ?? and i get the impression that the boat is now out in deeper water did it move there from the current or was it moved out to deeper waters for safety reasons ?? there r some fine pics of her in that collection and of course i have seen her pictured in many books on the Murray and surrounds.
Did u ever manage to see the vessel when it was afloat or have u ever dived on her over the years ? when i m back in oz at Xmas, I'm going to spend a couple of weeks traveling along the Murray from Albury to mildura just to catch up on seeing all the PS and taking as many pics as possible.
if u have any interesting fact about the Excelsior or stories to tell, please post them in here I'm sure we would all love to hear more about her history and her later life on the Murray. i guess if u ever win the lotto down there, u may be able to do something 2 her if that is still possible ! is it true though i hear many conflicting reports, that if a vessel is kept sunk its better for them to stay perserved over a long period of time, as boats i have seen on land seem to dry up and rot quicker, what ya view on this ?? or knowledge on this, for example the Edwards and the Australian near Echuca a few yrs back i was out on the Pride of the Murray and the captain at that time told me that the worst thing they ever did was take the Edwards out of the river and leave her to rot on land !!
i guess people have all the best intentions to help and perserve these relics of our past but sometime i think they get a bit way layed if there not up for instant perservation !! time and money r factors to consider as well..
Hope to hear from you soon.
Ian Savage .. in HK ...