What a great selection. Was the Melbourne & Mayflower locking 13.30? Rothbury would have had the 12.30.
There were more putt-putts and launches. I'd have to count to see if any paddleboats were missed.
I left Melbourne on Wednesday afternoon, then launched at Mildura on Thursday afternoon. On Friday I chased Melbourne to Abbotsford Bridge, then went ahead to the rally site to register by 17.00. I stayed at the site, and didn't book in to the caravan park. I had damaged my back, and didn't take Jessie II in the parades. I rode with friends in their larger paddleboats. Ruby could carry only crew, and joined the Saturday morning parade at the town wharf, then was in the afternoon parade, and overnighted at the rally site. It was in both Sunday parades, then overnighted at its wet dock. I was booked on the Sunday PV
Mayflower Coomealla lunch cruise (with a bus back). On Monday, I was lying in wait for the departure of Ruby and PV Coonawarra in tandem, for an all-day run to Mildura. I shared a 14.30 locking with Ruby; Coonawarra would follow on a 15.30 locking. Overall, the weather was good by day, and not too cold at night. It was a very friendly rally, also with classic cars and trucks, agricultural machinery, food and other stalls. Melbourne and Mayflower were running public cruises: the parade and an extension, also gapfillers.
PS
Melbourne was built in 1912 as Victorian Government desnagging vessel, also used for other works along the river (odd, as the river was NSW responsibility).
It may well have gone to the SA border in that era.
In ~1940 it was sold to an Echuca sawmiller, and was used to haul log barges. My father photographed it there in ~1947.
In 1965, it was sold to Alby Poynton and was relocated to Mildura, where it was rebuilt as a tourist boat. The compound engine was retained.
Normally, it makes two trips per day, down through lock 11 (which is in a side canal), up the main river for a short distance to view the Dethridge weir (the only one surviving of two built on the Murray), then downstream for a short distance, then back through the lock.
See: <
www.paddlesteamers.com.au>
Melbourne's centenary was celebrated in grand style in 2012, with a large range of visiting paddleboats and smaller craft. PS Oscar W voyaged from Goolwa (SA); PS Marion voyaged from Mannum (SA); PS Adelaide voyaged from Echuca (Vic.).
Since 1965, Melbourne had never reached Chaffey Landing or Wentworth. This was a first time, cruising to Wentworth Junction Rally. There it would share passenger cruises with PV Mayflower (voyaging from Mannum). PS Ruby would be in steam, and parading, but could not take passengers until survey slipping later in the month.
The forward move was done in about 8.5 h on Fri.14.7, and was booked out.
The return was a half day to Coomealla on Sun.16.7 afternoon (with a bus back to Wentworth), then another half day to Mildura on Mon.17.7 morning (in by 13.30).
PV Rothbury covered the daily lock cruises (school holidays in Vic. and in NSW).
I chased in Jessie II, sharing the 8.00 locking, leapfrogging to scenic spots, then lying in wait for the 14.30 raising of Abbotsford Bridge (shared with PV Amphibious).
Here is the start of a selection which few obtained. One car-based photographer got the few views with road access.
For convenience, I am sending the full tdu selection to FoE rather than make a separate post.
170714F Murray River:
- Mildura: Melbourne had come from its mooring before sunrise; this was first light.
Jessie II was ready for the ~7.50 departure for the 8.00 locking.
- Mildura: out of lock 11 at 8.21, but still in daily cruise territory.
- 8.54: now venturing into new water (or for the first time since at least 1940).
- 9.10 and 9.36.
- ~874 km - MV
Lazy Life. [I photo classic boats too, not just paddleboats].
- Chaffey Landing (870 km, Merbein).
- A works barge at ~864 km.
- ~863 km following the channel to the south bank, to clear a reef which has a port marker as warning.
- ~861 km sand dredge, 11.24.
- 860 km shallow cutting bypassing Cowanna Bend. It is only 400 m long, and I poked in half way, then chickened out on 30 cm with rock closing in. Later I did the same from the other end. In summer, I could have hoisted the motor and walked over the short gap, provided that the pelicans stand in it weren't aggressive.
- Coomealla, 856km, PS
Melbourne, 12.05. It was early, and had slowed. I called in at the golf club for a quick drink at a riverside bar, and a chat with a friendly houseboat owner.
- ~850 km, stern wheel houseboat. Probably ex the Liba Liba hire fleet. See
http://libaliba.com.au.
- ~850 km, PS
Tarney at its Yelta mooring. 13.09. This vessel is only 7-10 years old, and made its first appearance at Junction Rally two or three back.
- ~848 km. PV
Amphibious, waiting for bridge-opening time. I am not sure how far upstream it had been on this holiday voyage. After the rally, it left for SA.
- ~848 km at 13.25: PS Melbourne an early for the bridge opening. It headed upstream again to kill time.
- ~850 km at 13.51: SL Bunyip, launched at Coomealla, coming downstream to watch the 14.30 bridge opening.
- Abbotsford Bridge (847 km): PS Melbourne passing under. That showed confidence, as currents and wind can make a forwards-facing downstream passage tricky and dangerous. Traditionally, boats would drop through, and so could maintain control to head upstream again if too far to either side. That was essential for boats with barges: drop the barges through, then the paddlesteamer last. Amphibious is circling to pick up its best line to follow through.
- - Abbotsford Bridge (847 km): PV Amphibious coming through at 14.36. Bridge opening is free, but takes place at set times (9.30 and 14.30 for this one), and must be booked 24 h in advance. The flash of lime green is the high-visibility jacket of the bridge operator.
I have hit 20 in this post, with two more for a later one.
Roderick
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