Goolwa Wrecks

[stephenf10]

Does anyone know the names of the barge wrecks at Goolwa? There are two (-35.5011, 138.78795 and -35.5003, 138.7888 on Google Earth) at the Captain Sturt Marina acting as jetties for small craft and a third (-35.4994, 138.7902) a little way upstream near the public toilets. I believe that two of them are the Uranus and the Albion. The barge Radia (ex PS Ruby according to Parsons) is becoming more exposed opposite the end of Quebec St. (-35.4947, 138.8064 but not visible on Google Earth) due to the low river level.

The pool level between Blanchetown and Goolwa is the lowest it has been since the barrages were constructed 70 years ago and may present a rare opportunity to see more wrecks that are normally mostly submerged. Does anyone know of other wrecks in the Goolwa/Lower Lakes area that may now be visible?

Stephen.

[ljhall]

Possibly the S.W.P.S. Melbourne C. 1865 near the old Coopers Slipway, and perhaps the P.S. Renmark near the Goolwa Wharf, she caught fire and sunk there on February 2, 1951.
I think the hulk of the P.S. Cadell was removed about 1959 and I'm not sure what happened after that.
The remains of the S.W.P.S. Waradgery may have ended up down at Goolwa also, (either Goolwa or Morgan)

Any idea where the remains of the P.S. Alfred are located these days ?
The remains of the P.S. Invincible are in a yard on the Lake Shore at Milang, along with a few Barges.

Cheers !

[Roderick Smith]

There is one right in front of the main public wharf.  When I had Jessie II at the 2005 wooden boat festival, a neighbouring boat lost its anchor snagged in the wreck.  The portable wharves were rearranged for the 2007 festival, and nobody lost an anchor.  River gossip is that there won't be a 2009 festival: too little water.  I won't be lamenting, after two horrible berths, damage twice to Jessie II and the stuffing up of my entry in the 2007 festival catalog.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[stephenf10]

The one near the Goolwa wharf is the PS Renmark. It's now mentioned, along with the Radia barge, as a hazard on the DTEI website http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/safety/marine/rec_boating/hazard_maps_goolwa.asp

Stephen.

[stephenf10]

The Murray at Goolwa is the lowest I have seen. Breaking the surface probably for the first time in 57 years is the stem of the PS Renmark, which burnt and sank at the Goolwa wharf in 1951.

Stephen.

[Roderick Smith]

I enclose four photos taken at Goolwa on Sun.6.10.08.  The water had been lower, but had come up slightly.  Stephen hints that it has now gone lower again.  I don't recall seeing enough of PS Renmark to make taking a photo worthwhile.
Oscar W was able to cruise in the channel, but adverse wind on Monday afternoon blew so much water away from the channel that cruising was not possible.

I enclose two photos of Captain Sturt, one of the next boat at the marina (IIRC Uranus) and one of the first boat beyond the marina (I can't recall the name).

At Mannum, two wrecks have become exposed just upstream of the caravan park: I walked down to the first, but did not photograph.  There is also a large stem post in a stand of willows there.  The stand was large, and there were too many paths through the trees to explore to find it, and had been warned of active tiger snakes in the thicket.

Jim, part of Oscar's crew, was photographing all the exposed wrecks, but I don't have his email address.

I am still juggling my December cruise.  Probably Loxton to Overland Corner & return, plus Loxton - Berri & return.  Over my January and Februry cruises, I should get Berri - lock 7 covered; I might get Wentworth - lock 7 done in March.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

This wreck is perhaps 3 km downstream of Loxton (c 486-488 km).
I have done no research: all I could do was grab the photo, and I didn't even write a note into my pad (I was skippering solo).
The photo was taken on Sat.20.12.08, about 18.45.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[lner]

I realise this is a relatively old thread, but the water level is still dropping and expected to drop another half a metre at Mannum in the next six months or so.

I might see if I can take a quick stroll around the caravan park at some stage in the near future. 
I might contact you for some additional details first Roderick.

[stephenf10]

For info, the situation at Goolwa is that the government has commenced to build a regulator (barrier) across the river near Milang to cut off the Goolwa channel from the lower lakes. It is hoped that the winter rains will fill the channel via the local streams and bring the level up to about sea level for the first time in several years. Any excess (?) will spill back into the lakes. This will trap the Oscar W, William Randell and the other Goolwa boats in the channel but will give them a bit more room to move. The regulator is temporary and will be removed when (if) enough water eventually comes down the Murray.

The rising water level will once again cover the PS Renmark wreck, which has been slowly revealing itself. The tops of the boiler and paddle boxes as well as a good bit of the bow are now exposed, but covered in tube worm. Below are a couple of pictures taken yesterday.

Stephen.