APAM- The Directors Cut!

[anth]

It will be good to see the hero up and running as it is certainly getting very crammed for space, when we saw her last she was squeezed between peter  Mcleods new paddle steamer,and his old one the adventurous which had just been sold,there was also the paddle steamer barmah and billytea getting repairs aswell as barge 22 stuck to the side!

[thewharfonline]

It will be good to see the hero up and running as it is certainly getting very crammed for space, when we saw her last she was squeezed between peter  Mcleods new paddle steamer,and his old one the adventurous which had just been sold,there was also the paddle steamer barmah and billytea getting repairs aswell as barge 22 stuck to the side!

Yeh the wet dock has become very busy lately. B:22 was moved there because originally she was blocking the wet dock area. Hero of course with the floating shipwright shed takes up enough room as it is, the little boat such as Billy Tea have crowded aound for a few years now, Barmah has returned to her normal mooring, but the new boat...yeh she's pretty big, currently unnamed!

For those wodering I'll post some images of the frames of this new boat. Mind you another boat has just been launched in Echuca now too!

[thewharfonline]

Quick update:

Hero is now out of wetdock down where she was for ahwile at the end of the Wharf. F05 Peter Mcleods boat now has upper walls (kind of) painted in weather proof pink....why oh why do they make it that colour!

A big thank you to all those that have come back to take a look at APAM. I just noted only 16 posts but 232 views so thank you so so so so very much for supporting me.

Roderick and I are working on a complete register of all Murray boats which we'll try to get up asap, most likely a few weeks after my play is over!

I suppose Roderick and I will also try and add a photo for every boat which would be handy so you can see them all!
Thanks for your support with APAM
Sean

[Eddy Matthews]

Quick update:
A big thank you to all those that have come back to take a look at APAM. I just noted only 16 posts but 232 views so thank you so so so so very much for supporting me.

Sean

You deserve every credit Sean, there's not many people who would have even attempted such a daunting task as outlining the history of all the Aussie paddlers!

Even more so when you consider that you've not only done it once, but TWICE because of my ham fistedness (is there such a word?).

Well done, your efforts are definately appreciated!

[anth]

sean,
         I am trying to find as much information on peter Mcleods second paddle..Murry queen I have heard the vessel was sunk delibarately and later offered for sale......I have been told it sold  but was transported from Echuca to tassy any way of confirming this...?
The other paddle steamer is "roy" I have been trying to get as many pics together as possible on this little fishing boat and it's power plant it is ment to be in the process of being restored at the cobdogla Irrigation and steam museum but I cant get any info on it progress

if you could help I would appreciate it
thanks
p.s did you have a look at gemma!

[Roderick Smith]

I enclose information from this last week, and a photo, from another keen paddleboat enthusiast (Michael, from the Echuca area).  I have posted some of his photos before, and he has appeared in some recent pictures posted to Paddleducks.  Sean and I are convincing him to join and become a regular.

PS Hero was towed to Onion Patch [a stretch on the Victorian bank, just upriver of Echuca port] on Mon.9.10  evening by PS Adelaide.  It had its paddlewheels fitted on Tuesday before returning to its downstream mooring.

Enclosed Michael's photo.

To answer Anth, Murray Queen is in Tasmania, but I don't know the location.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[michael]

Roderick also forgot to mention two other private Paddlers: PV Florence Annie and PV Wanguai both located outside of Echuca.
Hero's Wheels are on and the crank shaft fitted aswell, just needs the boiler connected to the engines. She is rumoured to offer daily excursions PS Emmylou, Canberra PV POTM owners aren't impressed!
PS Murray Queen was taken to Tasmania early 2000ish and is located outside a local boat museum, at Port Hewan, on the Hewan River.
PV Gemma is back at its owner's property where it is slowly being worked on, only had the trash cleaned out of the hull and the roof removed.

[Red_Hamish]

A Warm Welcome to Michael, great that you could join in with us here. Look forward to getting your perspective of the Murray river area too and any other areas that interest you.

cheers

Jim

[anth]

thanks for confirming that guys it's a shame the murry queen didnt stay up on the murry,I have a picture of the queen with gemma or should i say emma when she was only 20 so feet looking a lot different to the gemma  today.
so can anyone help with the last question the roy and it's power plant..?

[Roderick Smith]

Anth,
Could you please post your Roy with Emma photo?
I have some of Michael's of Gemma after the fire: I enclose one with this reply.  I am emailing a friend in Tasmania tonight: he is restoring his tram in a shed adjacent to the location of PV Murray Queen; I am asking him to take a photo which I can post to this forum.
Ferries crossing Bass Strait have been a long-standing tradition (I have written a whole 9-part article for Australian Ferry Society Newsletter).  FPV (fake paddle vessel) Lady Stelfox (mentioned in a different thread) was built for the Launceston excursion trade, and is now on hard stand in Melbourne.  It was conveyed by barge across Bass Strait.
Have you bought the Plowman book yet?  It could answer some of your questions.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[michael]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys. PS Roy: Built 1908 Mildura. Removed from the river in the 1960s and was restored in 1977-8 where in entered the Great Paddle Boat Race with PS Eterprise and PV Florence Annie, Enterprise winning. Sank twice, removed from the river in 1984 and placed in Wilabalangaloo Reserve. Being moved again to Cobdogla in 2003 to be restored, but as far as I know nothing has happened!
My mistake with Murray Queen, its Huon river, and a photo of the two vessels would be terrific.
Hopefully I can attach a photo of Roy in 1977

[michael]

Okay before we get too off track I'd like to add a vessel which we must have not seen when cruising downstream, think we were distracted by Roderick looking for his bottle of plonk!
Barooga, knid of between Yarrawonga and Echuca full of vineyards, orchards and lovels sandbars along the river.
Here we find the paddle boat PV Julie Fay designed and built by Peter James at Filipi's Boatyard, Port Adelaide, once launched it travelled under its own power out of St Vincent Gulf and into the Murray River, not very seen these days! Built 1978 with a 45ft x 11ft steel hull and fitted with a 6cyl diesel engine thru a tractor axle and connect to the paddleshaft via two chains. She operated in South Australian towns of Morgan and Mannum as a excursion boat running short daily cruises. In 1985 she was sold and travelled to Echuca to run as an excursion boat under a new name PV Lady Jane.
Due to competion from more original boats in the town the boat was sold and travelled further upstream to Cobram to run as an excursion boat with another new name PV Lady Joan, running during the warmer periods of the year from 1986.
Still having very little success she was sold again and was back in Echuca by 1990 used as a private houseboat.
Being used very little she eventually ended up lying up on the bank just out of Echuca for a few years. In 2001 she was sold and moved back up to Barooga and was renamed back as her original name PV Julie Fay, also getting a new coat of paint. Her owner operates and orange orchard and use's the boat for entertaining friends during the summer time.
Hopefully Rod can put a photo of her on the site, as my computer is not playing by my rules!

[Roderick Smith]

I enclose two photos of PV Julie Fay, and two of PV Roy.  Michael's has been extracted from a version which he posted, but buried in a Word document.

I visited PV Roy at Cobdogla museum on Sat.9.12.06, with a group of railway enthusiasts.  The museum has a working narrow-gauge railway, with equipment formerly used on the Cobdogla - Loveday tramway (a line serving a plant making concrete channel-sections for irrigation schemes).  It also has a rare Humphrey pump in working order.  Mechanically ingenious, the pump has few moving parts and uses the tube of water as an internal-combustion chamber; the pulsation of the water creates the upward movement.  It also houses PV Roy.  Here are my notes of the day, sent to an Australian paddleboat newsletter:

I climbed onto PS Roy, but couldn't obtain a key to the mesh gates protecting the cabin, and so couldn't view the photo display or the history panel.  It had been owned by National Trust as part of its riverside property Wilabalangaloo (7 km upstream of Berri).  It has since been deeded to Cobdogla, subject to it being restored.  I thought that it looked in poor shape.  I was told that all engine components are there, but I felt that some had been removed (maybe on site, but not on the boat).  To my untrained eye, the hull looked ok, but a lot of the superstructure and sponson timbers have deteriorated.  The metal paddleboxes were quite battered, which is odd: they are inside a wooden cover.  If it does run again, it could be moored in the inlet channel to the Humphrey pump station, with easy access back out into the main river.

I was unable to view the boiler at close range; nobody had a key to the protective mesh barrier.  Parsons doesn't give any specifications, but does have a photo of the engine on p32.  My Plowman is currently inaccessible.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[thewharfonline]

Hey everyone,
This is what I wanted for APAM, for everyone to jump in and write what they know about these boats.

I have images of Roy at Cobdogla, not on this computer though.

Sorry this is only a brief post. Yay Michael and James joined...anyway I must be going to check out all the other info I have lost.

Quick note...I like the burnt colour of the gemma with the deep maroon red...could be a colour scheme for my boat if I match it!

Sean

[paddlesteamerman1]

Sean,
 Â 
 Oki Doki, I will once again, be right on to the paddle ducks  and checking it out... And maybe I could supply some info, who  knows?!?
 Â 
 And yes, go ahead, that would be a superb  colour!!!
 Â 
 Cheers,
 James
 

  ----- Original Message -----
   From:    thewharfonline (research@paddleducks.co.uk)
   To: research@paddleducks.co.uk (research@paddleducks.co.uk)
   Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2006 5:59    PM
   Subject: RE: APAM- The Directors    Cut!
   

   
Hey everyone,
This is what I wanted for APAM, for    everyone to jump in and write what they know about these boats.

I have    images of Roy at Cobdogla, not on this computer though.

Sorry this is    only a brief post. Yay Michael and James joined...anyway I must be going to    check out all the other info I have lost.

Quick note...I like the burnt    colour of the gemma with the deep maroon red...could be a colour scheme for my    boat if I match it!

Sean


     
APAM- Australian Paddler Appreciaiton Month
Show your support for    Aussie Paddlers this month on www.paddleducks.co.uk


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