Canberra (Australian Steamer) for website

[paddlesteamerman1]

I was looking at an older picture of the brand new Canberra, and it looks a lot smaller than it does now! Even taking away the tourist deck away..
Is the hull original now???
The bottom level does look very similar to the Canberra now..
Any photos of the original Canberra are appriciated as I can not find very mmany!!

[thewharfonline]

Canberra was one of the articles I lost from APAM and haven't been able to 'restore' it yet.

Canberra has not changed though. She has had however the front tourist bit (where tourists can sit infront of the wheel) added as well as the upper tourist deck.

The rear of Canberra wouldn't have been so open as it is now either. Any cabins at the rear of her would have most likely been smaller. That could be why you think she looks smaller in older photos...no large front or back cabins that extended to the sponsons and filled up most of the deck.

I'm pretty sure there was no hull extension over her time...I could be wrong though

[derekwarner_decoy]

Sean - I thought I recovered all of the lost APAM  publications but my have mussed one - if you could confirm an approx date I  posting I will go back & recheck the backups - Derek  
 

  ----- Original Message -----
   From:    thewharfonline (preserved@paddleducks.co.uk)
   To: preserved@paddleducks.co.uk (preserved@paddleducks.co.uk)    
   Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 5:02    PM
   Subject: RE: Canberra (Australian    Steamer) for website
   

   
Canberra was one of the articles I lost from APAM and    haven't been able to 'restore' it yet........................

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


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http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9973#9973

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[thewharfonline]

Sorry Derek I have no idea when it would have been, APAM posts have always been so eratic for me.

I have no problem rewriting it. Enterprise is also missing but I have Pyap!

I still don't think Canberra was extended after looking through some books.

[paddlesteamerman1]

I checked a few books and all they have done is cover in the front and back and put a tourist promenade deck on top, the paddle housing and sponson deck superstructure is the same!!
Thanks

[michael]

Here's Canberra in 1963 with a new cabin layout. Mildura. sorry the photo's are bad

[paddlesteamerman1]

Thanks for the photos Michael, so it was 1963 that it was converted.. I thought it was a lot later than that!! Well I am learning all the time!!
Thanks!!

[Roderick Smith]

Parsons states 'converted to pleasure craft 1959-60'.
Is this thread discussing a further modification, 3 years later?  Parsons didn't mention this, but his text is necessarily compressed.
IIRC, PS Canberra was the first paddlesteamer which I rode in my life.  I had been skippering recreational pedalos at Emerald Lake and Lakes Entrance (and eventually at Warrnambool, and on Torrens River, but not until 1964 or 65).

Michael's photos are more likely to be 1964.  The bodywork could have been added over Oct.-Dec.63, but more likely during the off-tourist season, ready for the new winter.  The second vessel in the third photo is PS Rothbury.

I have shifted my two Sept.63 photos to the Research forum, in the APAM director's cut thread.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

PS Canberra has been mentioned, with some photos, in the APAM DC thread (Research forum).
This event, cruising to Torrumbarry, has been mentioned in the Echuca news thread (Preserved forum).
My photos seem to more findable if I place them with this existing PS Canberra thread.
Today, the first three of six which I have resized for Paddleducs.
This trio was taken at Torrumbarry on Sun.22.7 afternoon.  The first two show the 12.30 cruise returning, at about 14.00.  Michael and Mel are amongst the passengers.
The third was taken as my 14.30 cruise entered lock 26.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[ljhall]

Great Pics Roderick,

Unfortunately I don't get down to Echuca very often these days, actually the last time I was there was October last year.

I would like to have done the trip to Torrumbarry and back, but time and money got in the way.
On the trip downstream, did you manage to see the Florence Annie,
Colonial Lass, Run Riot or Wanganui at all ?
Apparently the Lady Rae has travelled further downstream having got through Torrumbarry OK

How cold was it over the weekend ? I'm thinking the lower deck would have been the only place to be. as the Prom. Deck on the Canberra is very open to say the least.

Cheers,

[Roderick Smith]

I saw all but Wanganui (which I have never seen).
I didn't photograph Colonial Lass or Run Riot, as I have photographed them before.  I had cruised this stretch by steam before: aboard replica PS Mary Ann in 2003.  I have also cruised in my own MV Jessie II, in Jan.07 (there is a photo in a different thread showing PV Florence Annie as a backdrop to Jessie II).

For the all-day on Monday, the enclosed lower deck saloon was popular, but as much for social reasons as for warmth.  Two ladies spent much of the time on the foredeck (they were smokers); two younger passengers spent all of their time on the upper deck.  I had my heavy coat off well before 12.00, and wandered from section to section without being chilled.


Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[ljhall]

Thanks Roderick,

Some more good pics from the Torrumbarry Trip, I see the Florence Annie is still in the same spot, last I heard she was up for sale.

Did the Canberra go down to Torrumbarry for the 150th in 2003, because
I remember seeing a photo on the Emmylou (MRPS) website of the Canberra in Lock 26, and I know that it's not common for the commercial boats to travel too far from their home port.

From memory, the Canberra & Emmylou ventured upriver together going as far as Barmah sometime in the last 3 years, that would have been a good trip also, I've been to Barmah twice but both times by road, it's so different taking the trip by river.

Last October when I was in Echuca for the Heritage Steam Fest, I took a drive out to Barmah on the Sunday afternoon, on the drive out there I saw what must have been the only hills on the Riverine Plains.
I drove into Barmah and stopped at the park to have a look at the Old Barmah Punt, supposedly built in the 1880's, there are plains to restore/re-build it, but at that time nothing much had happened.

I then drove towards the Forest and just near the Rices Creek Bridge was the new M.V. Kingfisher, (less than 12 months old), as the original one was torched in September 2005.
I then drove further into the Forest to try and find the P.V. Betsy and P.V. Wanganui, but couldn't find them anywhere so I decided to turn back as the light was fading.
The P.V. Bull Frog was another boat that used to be moored somewhere around Barmah, but I learnt that it was on a private property at Undera, a few miles away from the river.


I often check out 'Echuca Moama.com', as they have river images posted onto their site sometimes daily.
The photographer often takes photos from the Bridge, looking towards the port.

I noticed a photo of the Pride of the Murray, her hull looks slightly different after the damaged planks were replaced, but it still looks a bit unfinished, maybe it's just the red paint !
Also, I came across a website (www.pictureaustralia.org/), just type in 'River Steamer(s)', anyway I was amazed at the amount of old photos that even I haven't seen before - and I have over a dozen books, and have searched the internet regularly since 2000 - this site is well worth a look !

What's the latest on the Hero ? do you know if she is still waiting on survey, or will she only be used privately.

Thanks again,

[Roderick Smith]

The 2003 deployment was not with the Randell Cadell fleet, but perhaps was a week later?  It could have been a week earlier.  The fleet was always hopeful (but not confident) that it would reach Swan Hill.  As the fleet reached Mildura, the river had risen to the point that reaching Swan Hill was guaranteed, and reaching Echuca was now possible (even so, no Echuca boat came to Swan Hill to join the fleet).

On Sat.27.9, the Echuca boats came down river to the Campaspe junction to round up and join the tail end of the fleet.
The fleet passed Echuca wharf headed by PS Mary Ann (the replica of the boat which had reached the site 150 years earlier), then PS Lady Augusta (which had got only as far as Gunbower Creek in 1853), PS William Randell, PS Billy tea, the launches, the private PVs, then the Echuca fleet:
PS Adelaide, PS Pevensey, PS Emmylou (with Michael as engineer), PS Canberra, PV Pride of the Murray, PS Ranger.
The fleet rushed back to Torrumbarry on the Sunday, as boats had to get the whole way back to Mildura before the river fell.

I was back for the heritage festival a couple of weeks later; PS Canberra was in town.  It could have been deployed on the intervening weekend.

PV Florence Annie was still for sale as at January: 0412 401 339.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[michael]

I saw Wanganui out of the water at Deep Creek last year, but it wasn't there this year!
Emmylou and Canberra did go to Barmah think it was 2003 for there own 150th anniversary celebrations, altho they only got as far as the township as the river was not high enough to make the lakes. I've seen Betsy travelling thru Echuca late 2005 heading upstream, but her mooring is not known to me.
Colonel Lass is moored at the end of Point Rd and River Riot is moored upstream of National Channel.
Hero has been surveyed and I think shes licenced to carry 60 passengers, I think she will be running daily excursions but they are still working on her ie, last minute touch ups and finish off electrical etc.
Attached Canberra in the Lock 26

[Roderick Smith]

Another paddlesteamer hits its centenary.  There have been various events through the year, but today and tomorrow are the main ones.
I was heading to Echuca for both days, but RNV went overtime, and I'll be there tomorrow, then continue to SA to collect Jessie II.

Fri.2.8:
9:30 Buster and birds at PS Canberra masthead
10:15 – 10:30 Boarding commences for the PS Canberra, PS Emmylou and the Pride of the Murray (Vessels to fly bunting) Greet guests at masthead
10:30 PS Canberra departs Followed by Pride of the Murray Followed by PS Emmylou       Skippers welcome aboard vessels
Events on board PS Canberra   Special Guest:  Peter Garfield – speech “The History of the PS Canberra”
Cruise up to wharf, round up and cruise downstream, followed by; PS Emmylou, Tooraloora, Billy Tea, Struggler, Ranger and Amelia Jane
Round up to cruise back into port followed by vessels as above
11:30 am Combined blowing of whistles (cue from PS Canberra blowing first) as vessels arrive at Riverboat Dock. PS Canberra, Pride of the Murray and PS Emmylou to tie-up after blowing of whistles.  PS Pevensey/ PS Alexander Arbuthnot to complete their normal cruise at the wharf, all other vessels to continue past wharf to do as they please.
11:30m      Farewell Guests
One hour public cruises Gold coin donation – All proceeds donated to the Salvation Army: 12.30-13.30 & 14.00-15.00.

Sat.3.8
8:30 am       Set up balloons on PS Canberra masthead
9:00 am      TEA Tractor / IH Truck
9:30am -3:00pm Steam Engine
10:00am -3:00pm Pony Rides
10:15am   Events on board PS Canberra   Fly past by Echuca Aero Club
10:20am      Don & Nan McFadden
10:25am      Blessing of the Vessel
Crew to invite guests aboard – Invitation only  Cutting of the Ribbon – Essie Nesbit
10:30am      Cruise departs
Cruise up to wharf, round up and cruise downstream, followed by; PS Emmylou, Tooraloora, Billy Tea, Struggler, Ranger and Amelia Jane
11:30am      Farewell Guests
Buster, Don & Nan McFadden 
12:45pm      Buster, Don & Nan McFadden
2:15pm      Buster, Don & Nan McFadden
PUBLIC CRUISES  as for Friday: 11:45am-12:45pm, 1:15-2:15pm & 2:30-3:30pm
4:00-5:00pm      Conner Family Cruise (descendants of a famous river captain, skippered by Paddleducker Master 4 James McDougall)

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor