APAM- List of Paddlers Part 1 Modern and Restored Vessels

[Roderick Smith]

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

[Roderick Smith]

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

[Roderick Smith]

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

[michael]

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.

[michael]

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.

[derekwarner_decoy]

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 :?:

[michael]

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.

[paddlesteamerman1]

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.

[michael]

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

[Roderick Smith]

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

[ljhall]

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

[michael]

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.

[ljhall]

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,

[Roderick Smith]

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

[paddlesteamerman1]

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