Paddle steamers of Australasia

[djcf]

Hi Pds

I found this old book again recently, it was given to me years ago with a pile of other paddle steamers books, and has been in storage for years.
There are 196 type written pages, stapled together, and a few hand drawn maps, along with a few seperate supplement sheets folded inside.

Have just had a quick look, but it seems to be a fairly comprehensive fleet list/ history of paddlers in Australia and New Zealand.

It was written by R H Parsons, with the main contribution on " River Murray system vessels " by J C Tolley.

Printed and published by R H Parsons, Lobethal, South Australia, 1967.

I wonder if this was ever re-printed in a hard back or soft back book format? It just seems a lot of work/research/information for some sheets stapled together.
Maybe some PDs from Australia or New Zealand have heard of this book?

regards
Clark

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's.....yes Clark....in OZ, this book is commonly refered to our Paddler Bible.... ......Derek

[kiwimodeller]

I had not come across this one Clark but will go searching for it if there is much about NZ paddlers? Does it give dimensions etc and are there any drawings of New Zealand boats? Thanks, Ian.

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's......Ian....essentially the text covers OZ paddlers......the only references to NZ according to Parsons are ......

1. "The Queen of the South" ....wrecked near Cape Campbell NZ 10 May 1919...so we must assume she sailed accross the ditch some time prior to that.......the text also notes she had  'high poop & forecastle decks'

2. "Ruby" a 95 ton lighter sold to NZ owners in 1861 [no photograph] stranded @ Hokitika NZ in July 1865 .......

3. "Waykool" a 66 ton barge transferred to New Zealand & wrecked @ Hokitika 24 May 1865 [no image]

Derek
 

[djcf]

Hi Ian, Derek,

Heres a list from the contents page

Beginnings  page 1

Expansion and intercolonial development  pg. 13

Short sea, estuary and coastal river trades  pg. 22 - 48
 New South Wales
 Tasmania
 Victoria
 South Australia
 Western Australia
 Queensland

New Zealand, Coast, rivers and lakes  pg. 48 - 58

Inland steamers of Australia - Murray/Darling system  pg. 58

tugs  pg. 68

Overseas services  pg. 75

Alphabetical lists of vessels in various trades  pg. 79 - 84
 Intercolonial trade
 Murray/Darling rivers
 New Zealand
 Queensland
 South Australia
 South Pacific other than Australasia
 Tasmania
 Tugs
 Victoria
 Western Australia

Alphabetical list of vessels giving full details of each ship  pg. 84 - 196.

These give dimensions/brief history Ian. Only drawings maps of Australia, New Zealand and another of New South Wales area.

Hope this helps,
Clark

[kiwimodeller]

Thanks for that both. Sounds like, as was usual in those times, any mention of NZ in a book about "Australasia" was just an afterthought. I was hoping for photos or drawings of NZ paddlers so will not waste any effort chasing this book. Cheers, Ian.

[BlackAlex]

It would be very interesting to read this book. Unfortunately find we have it in the paper version of the unreal. If you have taken the trouble to translate it in electronic form, scaning ... With the current development of technology of it and disassemble do not necessarily. Work decent Amateur this topic