PS Mary Ann replica [Australia]

[Roderick Smith]

In a response in the Swiss forum, the group's resident Australian paddlesteamer historian (Sean) deduced correctly that my avatar was taken aboard the replica PS Mary Ann.  This was a wonderful project by Rivers and Riverboats Historical and Preservation Society (based at Mildura, a Murray River port).  To mark the 150th anniversary of commercial paddlesteamer operation on Murray River, the society created this replica.  The hull was funded privately, to be converted to a cruising houseboat after the event (we have lots of private-owner cruising paddleboats on the Murray).  The boiler & engine were borrowed from a local Sunraysia steam-preservation group.  The boat appeared at the March 2003 Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival (as a guest: it has a steel hull), then was ready for the major Randell-Cadell cruise later in the year.  Back in 1853, Randell had left Goolwa (SA, where customs clearance was obtained) in March, but had to turn back on low water and return to his Mannum base.  Meanwhile, Cadell had built Lady Augusta, and set out behind Mary Ann.  Somewhere near the Murrumbidgee junction Cadell caught up to Randell: the two raced.  Cadell was first into the site of the future Swan Hill, but Randell got further: to Maiden's punt, at what is now Echuca/Moama.  With a replica Mary Ann completed, R&RH&PS set out to create a Lady Augusta lookalike (not a replica).  If two buyers of a double length hull had been found, the vessel would have been full length.  Instead, one family sponsored a shorter hull, and the vessel was completed (with a boiler & engine borrowed from a private owner) and ready for the ceremonial river voyage from Goolwa to Maiden's punt site, over August and September 2003 (the original dates).  A fleet of private steamers and diesel paddleboats, plus some launches, accompanied the two keynote paddlesteamers.  I visited the fleet at Wentworth - Mildura, Swan Hill, Murrabit, Koondrook/Barham, and Torrumbarry - Moama.
On 17.9, 150 years to the day, the fleet entered Swan Hill (with Lady Augusta leading).
On 27.9 (3 days later than the original), the fleet steamed in triumph into Echuca, met by most of the Echuca vessels joining at the rear for the last hour.  Mary Ann led the procession to the site of Maiden's punt to round up.
Thanks to the generosity of the owner, I had been aboard PV Impulse from Torrumbarry, with the intermediate day spent aboard PS Mary Ann (the avatar photo).
The downriver fleet couldn't linger long in Echuca: with water falling, the boats had to leave promptly for the voyage home before notorious low-water spots would block their passage.

Since then, PS Mary Ann has appeared at various river events, including a second deployment from Mildura to Mannum & Goolwa.  Its final cruise as a steamer was over 21-23.7.06, from Mildura to Wentworth & return to mark the 50th anniversary of the worst floods in a century, when humble small Ferguson grey tractors saved the town by helping to build levees and place sandbags.  The rally attracted 298 Ferguson greys, plus 49 others.   During the floods, paddlesteamers which had been out of use for some time were pressed into service to ferry supplies, fodder and stranded livestock.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[lner]

I to mark the 50th anniversary of the worst floods in a century, when humble small Ferguson grey tractors saved the town by helping to build levees and place sandbags.

Don't know if anyone is at all interested but I have some original COLOUR photos of Mannum (where the original Mary Ann was launched) during those 1956 floods.  I can scan and post if interested.

Regards

Martin

[Roderick Smith]

I am certainly interested in seeing Martin's 1956 flood photos.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

A flood of the 1956 magnitude is unlikely to occur again, with new dams in Queensland, the Menindee Lakes scheme in NSW, enlargement of Lake Hume and Lake Eildon, and the building of Lake Dartmouth.  River communities are marking the 50th anniversary with a range of events:
* 22-23.7: Celebrations in Wentworth.  Shortage of crew prevented one paddle vessel towing barge A11 from Mildura, carrying a tractor and caravan (as barge Vega did for a trip up the Darling during the 1956 flood).
* Barge Dart (based at Goolwa) has been fitted with a historical display.  It will be towed up the SA stretch of the Murray by PS Oscar W (and possibly PS Industry), pausing at all river towns for local inspection.  However, Industry is undergoing some replanking through October.
The exhibition was launched on Sun.27.8 in Renmark.  It contains historic photographs, film footage and memorabilia of the flood, which devastated many South Australian communities over three months from August 1956. The exhibition will be displayed from Renmark to Goolwa with contributions sourced from residents, the State Library of South Australia and newspaper archives. A commemorative book containing personal memories of the event, Recollections Of The 56 Flood, would be launched during the ceremony.
During the flood, the peak daily flow to SA was 341 gigalitres - enough to fill Adelaide’s Mount Bold reservoir seven times a day. The total flow to SA was about 48,000 gigalitres, which at the 1956 rate of consumption, would have been enough to supply Adelaide for 250 years.
By comparison, SA’s minimum entitlement flow from interstate is 1850GL of Murray water a year, but on average, SA usually receives about 4800GL. The Living Murray Initiative First Step is aiming to return 500GL to the river by 2009.
The exhibition will remain at Renmark until September 5 when it begins its journey along the length of the river to eventually close in Goolwa on November 18, making numerous stops along the way. These dates correspond with the progression of the peak floodwaters in 1956.
Here are some of the dates in Berri, Barmera and the surrounding districts:
 - Friday September 2006 - Tuesday 12 September 2006
The 1956 Flood Travelling Display - Marquee and Barge  Berri Riverfront - Open for public viewing.
 - Friday 22 September 2006
Travelling Display and Barge arrive at Kingston-On-Murray, display in Hall.
Sunday 24 September 2006
Activities including rallyand display of Riverland Vintage and Classic Car Club Vehicles
Evening Picture Show on the Riverbank at Kingson-On-Murray.
 - Sunday 1 October 2006
56 Flood Open Day Cobdogla Irrigation Museum.
* Over 14-15.9, PS Marion is cruising from Mannum (SA) to Swan Reach, to run short cruises there on 16 & 17.9 in conjunction with the flood commemoration).  It will also cruise on 14 & 15.10 at Mannum for commemoration events there.  See www.psmarion.com.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[thewharfonline]

I must say I do like the simplicity of the Mary Ann Replica...I think it's a nice looking boat and  a shame that it won't be like that forever! I had no idea that it was still around for the flood commemoration though! The papers reported more on tractors than paddlers in the paper....hmmph once again we were let down! Mind you there was another article in the travel section that featured the Coonawarra during the celebrations of the flood. Interesting read...I kept it too...I tend to keep that kidn of stuff...anything with a paddler on it I keep! I once drew a paddler on a plastic cup and I kept it...I live a sad sad life!  

[Roderick Smith]

Here is the lookalike of PS Lady Augusta, parading at Mildura during the arrival of the Randell Cadell 150th anniversary fleet, on Sat.6.9.03.  Moored on the far bank are PV Mayflower (from Morgan) and PV Akuna Amphibious (from Akuna Homestead).
IIRC Lady Augusta has an 18 m hull.  The first concept was for it to be about 30 m (ie the original length).  At the conclusion of the rally, the hull would be divided, with an extra stern added to the front half, and an extra bow added to the rear half.  There were not two private sponsors available, so only this amount was constructed.  The original had two main-deck cabins; this look alike has preserved the concept.
Lady Augusta was the wife of SA colonial governor Sir Henry Fox-Young, a man of energy and vision.  He sponsored the development of river trade for the economic benefits which it would bring to his colony.  He spearheaded the project to link the river at Goolwa to the sea port at Port Elliot with a railway.  That 150th anniversary was celebrated in May 2004, with another river event (future post topic).  Sir Henry went on to govern Tasmania.  Port Augusta (SA) was named after his wife.
The lookalike ran as a steamer for the last time in July 2004, to Junction Rally at Wentworth.  The borrowed boiler and engine were returned to the private owner.  The hull owner has since installed a diesel, remote control, and enclosed the wheelhouse.  The vessel is now PV 'Matthew James'.  The owner has plans for considerable extra work as time permits: enclosing the central section to provide a decent lounge/dining area, and rebuilding the sponsons and paddleboxes.
Matthew James was one of the boats cruising to the recent flood-anniversary rally: I was a grateful guest (my photo of the trio at Wentworth was taken from MJ's wheelhouse).

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Walter Snowdon]

Thanks for all the info- sounds like a good gathering.
The Mary Ann looks fascinating, totaly unlike most Australian paddlers and more like a very early 19th century European paddler, Any chance of some detail photos showing the hull shape, interior layout, power arrangemrnt (is she chain driven)  and if possible a sketch or drawing of her and any pictures of the original. A big request, but she is so different to all the other Aussie paddlers we have covered, she deserves some special coverage of her own. Thanks, Walter.

[thewharfonline]

Walter, that could be because William Randell had never seen a paddle steamer in his life! He built the boat and the engine and she carried a square boiler which was apprently like an accordian when it ran!

The design you see now of our paddle boats was for a simple reason- demand...it came to a period in time where the best possible boat had been created to suit the river- space, protection from elements etc!

However to your other requests I'm sure Roderick can work something out for you, he knows a lot...more than me, actually he finally stumped me on one boat being constructed...mind you I've got all his other questions!

[derekwarner_decoy]

A quote from Sean....

"actually he finally stumped me on one boat being constructed...mind you I've got all his other questions"

Hey Sean.... I speak on behalf of all PD's... & we acknowledge & respect your contributions to our OZ paddler history in our WORLD WIDE PD venue over the past years

I have not spoken with PJ or Eddy yet :gather but feel sure there will not be any contest as your are our OZ representative historian....

I am sure all other PD's from around the globe when reading our OZ PD history as provided by you would agree................regards - Derek

[Roderick Smith]

As Sean mentioned,
William Randell was the son of a flour miller.  His venture was to carry the family flour to Echuca, for conveyance by bullock cart to the burgeoning goldfields of Bendigo.  I don't know how he derived his design.
The wineglass stern for the replica was the result of research by marine historian Dick Bromhead, who runs a boatyard near Mannum, and lives aboard a housebout built from the former PS Decoy.
Notice also the tiller steering.
The original (and replica) also used sail assistance.
Randell built his boat at Gumeracha (eastern flanks of Lofty Ranges), and hauled it behind bullocks to Noa No to be assembled and launched.  There is a commemorative plaque at the site today.

Cadell based his design on contemporary Mississippi River practice.

Sean is too modest: he did beat me with a photo quiz too (I had the correct answer as my third choice of three, following two wrong ones).

When time permits, he will resume his Australian research postings; I will support him with photos of those boats where he doesn't have a photo of his own.

I don't have any working drawings of the replica Mary Ann, but it is possible that they may be obtainable and obtained.

The evolution into the classic Australian style was rapid.

The important feature was shallow draft.  Side paddles were far more common than stern.  Many/most towed barges laden with wool or timber.
The raised stanchion on Lady Augusta is a towing point.  Towing from there rather than the stern maintained manoevrability.  IIRC all were woodburning, and today's are too.

The rivers were highly seasonal, ~6 months per year with navigable water.
There are lots of stories about being stranded, or escaping being stranded by travelling on the depth of the bow wave, or of winching over shallow spots to reach deeper water, or of cruising right up to the shearing shed during floods.

One outcome of federation was the design of a lock & weir system to make the Murray navigable in all seasons from Goolwa to Echuca.  One result of the depression was cutting the scheme back: only 1-11, 18 & 26 were built.  The locks were designed to hold a tow vessel and two barges.  Cruising to Mildura (and Colignan/Nangiloc is possible for most boats all year round, but above there depends on seasonal flows.

The first lock in Australia was built at Bourke (Darling River) in the 1890s.

It isn't just the boats about which river enthusiasts are passionate, but this whole era of Australian history.  This was captured in the film 'River kings' and the tv series 'All the rivers run', both of which used Echuca boats (under false names) for the boating scenes.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's & yes Roderick...... Karina & I were privilaged  to have a cup of tea on board the HULK of PS Decoy with the house boat owner & historian Dick Bromhead back in Y2003....., my stand off scale 1:25 model of PS Decoy continues.... complete with a Scottish built boiler......

Welcome to our paddler [PD] site........... regards Derek

[AlistairD]

So when are we getting some more Murray paddle  steamer biographies, we've more or less finished Echuca, a few weeks ago you  were going to do Enterprise then move on down the river, but there seems to have  been nothing since then
 Â 
 Alistair
 

  ----- Original Message -----
   From:    thewharfonline (preserved@paddleducks.co.uk)
   To: preserved@paddleducks.co.uk (preserved@paddleducks.co.uk)    
   Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 9:14    AM
   Subject: RE: PS Mary Ann replica    [Australia]
   

   
Walter, that could be because William Randell had    never seen a paddle steamer in his life! He built the boat and the engine and    she carried a square boiler which was apprently like an accordian when it    ran!

The design you see now of our paddle boats was for a simple    reason- demand...it came to a period in time where the best possible boat had    been created to suit the river- space, protection from elements    etc!

However to your other requests I'm sure Roderick can work    something out for you, he knows a lot...more than me, actually he finally    stumped me on one boat being constructed...mind you I've got all his other    questions!


     
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[thewharfonline]

Yeh sorry about the delay, I'll write something up now before I go off to work! I've been pretty busy organising my play at the moment, I'm a few weeks off opening night so it's been a bit hectic!

Ok Enterprise...everyone go and check out the APAM board!

And I don't expect to be in competition with Roderick, he's been a great support in me getting out and working on the Grebe again to try and get it ready for the 2007 River Run where Ruby and Canally will be celebrating their 100th birthdays, hopefully my little boat can be part of the flotilla!

Dick Bromhead would have Mary Ann plans wouldn't he Roderick?

[Roderick Smith]

Here is a photo of the PS Mary Ann replica at Mannum during its second SA cruise.
It attended an engineering rally at Murray Bridge.
Here it is at Mannum for the celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the return to service of PS Marion.  The photo is taken from the top deck of Marion, and shows Randell's dry dock, which is part of the maritime museum in which Mannum visitor centre is based.  The dock had been a floating one, then was built into the area here.  When Marion was preserved statically (from the early 1960s), it was in the dock.
Mary Ann stayed at the bottom end to make a guest appearance at the 2005 Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival (in March), then returned to Mildura.

A new Australian play is based on Randell's life and his contribution to river commerce.  However, I have been unable to obtain a ticket.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[steamyacht]

On Mon, 02 Oct 2006 02:05:50 +0100
"Roderick Smith" wrote:

Here is a photo of the PS Mary Ann replica at Mannum
during its second SA cruise.
 It attended an engineering rally at Murray Bridge.
 Here it is at Mannum for the celebrations marking the
10th anniversary of the return to service of PS Marion.
 The photo is taken from the top deck of Marion, and
shows Randell's dry dock, which is part of the maritime
museum in which Mannum visitor centre is based. The dock
had been a floating one, then was built into the area
here. When Marion was preserved statically (from the
early 1960s), it was in the dock.
 Mary Ann stayed at the bottom end to make a guest
appearance at the 2005 Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival (in
March), then returned to Mildura.
 
 A new Australian play is based on Randell's life and his
contribution to river commerce. However, I have been
unable to obtain a ticket.
 
 Regards,
 Roderick B Smith
 Rail News Victoria Editor
 
 
 
 
 
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