Echuca news

[Roderick Smith]

The flight to SA is unsurprising.  The water is more reliable, and there are no snags.
In the 1960s, the Mildura reach had more boats than the Echuca one.
Today, the whole stretch controlled by NSW is not to have snags removed, and not to have bars dredged; there are also problems obtaining moorings.  Keeping a boat in the Echuca reach gives access to only 110 km of reliable cruising.  Going below Torrumbarry or above Barmah Lake requires good water flows, and a hull which doesn't mind bashing a few snags.
Tamara Rae may yet come home to Wemen: I believe that it is moored with the owner's relatives.

I didn't recognise Ivy May without a sternwheel, and didn't take a photo.
At the abbatoirs, there were about 12 pontoon houseboats in a row, moored bow in to the bank.
My deckie didn't take a photo either.  His camera was damaged when it fell from the kitchen bench after the boat was rocked by a particularly vicious waterski boat at close range.

Enclosed: Echuca early on Mon.31.3.08 morning, with ducks paddling alongside Jessie II, Adelaide being steamed, and workers at the wharf reconstruction site visible.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[ljhall]

Good Photo Roderick ! - Is that a Pelican in the background near the Wharf ?
Yes, your'e definitely right about the limited river levels, snags and general navigation hazards in the VIC./N.S.W. Section and also that the Barmah Lakes - Torrumbarry Weir Section being generally 'cut-off' from long distance cruising.
Actually, it's funny that you mentioned that the Mildura section was home to more boats than the Echuca section, because this is still the case !
I counted them up and I found that between Echuca East & Perricoota Homestead/Station there are approx. 30 boats at the moment, compared with approx. 50 boats on the Colignan - Wentworth section.


They are as follows;

Echuca East:
P.V. Cameron of Lochiel  (Still not yet launched)
P.S. Ivy-May  (Stern Wheel removed last year) - this one was moored near the Abbatoirs.

Wet Dock:
P.S./P.V. Britannia
P.S. Henry Charles 
P.S. Billy Tea
P.V. Tooraloora

Port of Echuca Wharf:
P.S. Pevensey
P.S. Adelaide
P.S. Alexander Arbuthnot

Private Moorings:
P.S. Etona
P.S. Ranger
P.S. James Maiden
P.S. Perricoota

Log Slip Landing:
P.S. Hero

Riverboat Dock:
P.V. Pride of the Murray - Berth 1
P.S. Canberra - Berth 2
M.V. Mary Ann - Berth 3
P.S. Emmylou - Berth 4

Moama Slip Way:
P.S./P.V. Eclipse  (Unfinished Project - Hull & Paddle Boxes)

Private Houseboat Moorings (Rotton Row):
P.V. Amelia Jane

P.S. Barmah - Downstream on the N.S.W. Side and just off Maiden Smith Drive, Moama

P.V. Florence Annie - Deep Creek Marina
P.V. Colonial Lass - VIC. Side - at the end of Point Road, Wharparilla
P.V. Wanganui - (Sitting up on 44 gallon drums on Perricoota Station - used as a house)
P.V. Run Riot - Moored near Perricoota Homestead, just upstream from National Channel

S.W.P.S. Adventurous - Currently being re-built on the owners property just downstream from Moama
P.V. Gemma - Sitting in Bruce Gow's backyard on the edge of Moama
P.V. Babbler - Stored on a Boat Trailer on the owners property, (apparently near Moama)

P.S. Australien - on Private Property at the end of Matheson Road, just south of Echuca
P.S. Edwards - on Private Property on Menzies Road also on the south side of town, but on the eastern side of the Campaspe.

And finally, Michaels's latest project - the P.V. Sundowner, and we all know where she is.


I will post the Colignan - Wentworth Paddle Boats later (probably in the APAM Forum), but I will check Frank Tucker's Website first, as some of them get moved around quite a lot, and there's at least 10 or 12 that probably haven't even been launched yet.

Cheers,

[michael]

Gemma is actually in Melbourne and Babbler is in S.A.
Saturday saw the Marridge to Gary Byfords daughter to a local fella. The wedding was held on board the Hero, while guest viewed from Hero's lower deck, workplatform, Adelaide and Pevensey above the onion patch, before a 3-4hr cruise including a 'race' between Hero and Adelaide! Followed by the reception at Oscar W's resturant. It was great to see all three boats out together.

[thewharfonline]

So the question on everyone's lips now is: who won Adelaide or Hero?

I think we've all been wondering for a very long time.

Beautiful shots Michael. Hero really scrubs up nicely there. Adelaide too. Even D26 is looking good.

Must have been a great day

Sean

[ljhall]

Wow... great pics Michael,

Well, as far as the race is concerned, I think we could safely say that the 'Adelaide' would have won, as she's smaller and a lot lighter !
Does anyone know the approx. horse power and displacement of the 'Hero' ?  - I'm guessing 28 n.h.p. and 120-130 tons, but I could be wrong.

By comparison:

'Pevensey' - 20 n.h.p. / 136 tons
'Adelaide' - 36 n.h.p. / 56 tons
'Alexander Arbuthnot' - 10 n.h.p. / 46 tons

Michael, it looks like the river level is a little higher ! - is that right ?
By the way, has Bruce sold the 'Gemma' ? - you mentioned that she's been moved down to Melbourne !
As for the 'Babbler', has she been sold also, or is she just on an extended S.A. trip ?

Cheers,

[michael]

The way I see it Gemma's morring was sold and she went with it! Not sure what the go it with her, will try and find out. Ivy May is out of the river, she has been for awhile.
PV Babbler was sold to 'Rat' Russel Anderson, who previously owned the Gypsey Ellen, she is currrently in SA, around waikerie, I think. But he's hoping to get her back to Echuca soon.
Attached are some photo's of PS Hero when I was out on PS Adelaide for its 'Heritage Cruise'! Hero cruised alongside us for most of the time. And yes there was a couple of races, embarrasingly Adelaide came 2nd as the engineer wouldn't go over 50psi!! Makes me eager to get my steam ticket!

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's........& yes ....thanks Michael....great snaps....regards Derek


...the lighting on Hero ....does she have steam to generator? or diesel to generator?...or just battery power? or a combination of the latter two?

[michael]

Hi Derek, she has two large Diesel generators in her forward hold, in sound proof boxes. I think Gary was looking at evening put a battery pack in thru inverters.

[michael]

Echuca wharf will be closed from tomorrow Monday 16th and will reopen on Saturday 28th June. The closure will allow the remain part of the wharf have some of the pilons fixed which are broken, or rotted where they go into the ground. the 28th will include an official open of the refurbished section of the wharf.

[Roderick Smith]

From this morning's newspaper (Mon.16.6.08 Melbourne 'Herald Sun'):
The executive director of Heritage Victoria has advertised his intention to add Echuca wharf (40-60 Murray Esplanade, Echuca) to Victorian Heritage Register, as a heritage place (category archaeological place).  I am surprised that it has been included earlier, but better now than never.  AFAIK inclusion in this register confers no financial benefits, or even heritage protection.  It simply provides recognition.  For many other inclusions, it brings an unknown location or object to public attention.
See www.heritage.vic.gov.au.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[michael]

Okay I haven't updated much so here we go:
PS Ranger has been on the slip for two weeks having 7 planks and a floor beam replaced, she is back in the water but still moored at the slip as she is leaking, so may have to go back up for a day or so.
PV Billy Tea had a diesel engine installed last night, its out of a japanese car or something as it has auto gearbox mounted on the side (what you dind in front drive cars).
PV Ivy May is being converted to a sidewheeler and a diesel fitted.
PV Florence Annie has paddled into Echuca, not sure what he is doing with her up here, waiting for a higher river to go down river i presume.
I found PV Gemma, being done up in the backyard of somebodys place in Moama, still keeping the same configuration.

[thewharfonline]

Has Florence Annie changed owners or is she still for sale?

[Roderick Smith]

The dates for the 2008 Heritage Festival do not appear on the website.
I have just had confirmation from the port: Sat.4 & Sun.5.10, clashing with the celebrations in Goolwa for Oscar W's centenary and obtaining of survey for passenger cruising.
I don't know what this year's special features will be at Echuca, or which private-owner paddleboats will be participating.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[paddlesteamerman1]

Saturday 4.10

The festival was quite a good one, though not as good as last years if I remember correctly.
PS Pevensey was doing its usual cruising, along with PS Emmylou and PS Canberra for the day.

6pm saw the boarding of the PS Alexander Arbuthnot and PS Adelaide for the 2 hour cruise, sailpast and fireworks feature. I was on the PS Adelaide, then crossed over to the PS Alexander Arbuthnot to catch up with the crew who I havent seen for a while. PS Adelaide crewed by Jarrod (and I think Frank ... from Mildura), Barry (deckie) and Alan (engineer) + plus a teenage guy, I dont know his name. PS Alexander was captained by Mal Smythe, engineered by Mal White and Deckie was Tony. I dont know who the Pevensey was crewed by, except I caught up with Aaron (who was Pevensey's engineer that night) and I am sure I saw Michael on her decks as the Adelaide left the wharf at 6pm.

?PS Hero seemed to travelling around quite a bit throughout the day (private cruising - yes/no?) and then that night (vision from PS Adelaide up to PS Hero was limited) there was a water skiing event behind the PS Hero. It had a large light rig erected on the lower aft deck.

Sailpast Vessels:

PS Pevensey
PS Adelaide
PS Alexander Arbuthnot
PS Emmylou
PS Canberra
PV Pride of the Murray
MV Mary Ann
PS Hero
PS Ranger
PS Perricoota
PS Billy Tea
PV Amelia Jane

I think that is all of the ones that participated in the evening sailpast.

There were the usual collection of vintage cars and trucks, along with vintage petrol engines and one operating steam traction engine (driven by Jarrod) and a CASE semi-portable steam engine (not fired).

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's ....& thanks James for the  ...looks like everyone was having a good time ......but for the life of me.... ...I cannot figure out the 'AA flare from Adelaide' .jpg........Derek