Help! From down-under

[wsnowdon]

A plea for help from our Oz friends. While reading a back-copy of
Paddle Wheels for summer 1987, I came on an excelent article on
Australias first ocean going steamer WILLIAM THE FOURTH launched 1831
on Hunters River. This excelent article covers her history with a
small print of a painting showing a small schooner rigged side
wheeler. The article goes on to cover the construction of a working
REPLICA to be launched on 26th September 1987 and covers the research
involved and the construction of the engine. The paddler would then
be on public display at Raymond Terrace at the junction of the hunter
and williams river. Where is she now? I can find no reference or
trace of this ship on the web or reference books. Do any of you know
of her whereabouts and if she appeers on any web site. Looking
forward to hearing from you! Walter Snowdon.PS- The original paddler
was sailed to China in 1862, where she was sold and all trace is
lost.

[Derek Warner]

Hi all Pd'S - I have forwarded this message to a work colleague Geoff Smith in Newcastle NSW - [the Hunter river
flows through Newcastle] - Geoff is a person of considerable nautical knowledge & interest ranging from being a
sail yacht owner/captain to more humble wind surfing - so if the replica is about I'm sure he will let us know - Derek

[Paulrjordan]

Hi Walter:

Here's a website link to your ship just in case you might have missed
it.

http://www.maritimeworld.net/sn.asp?PageNumber=65

Another brief reference at:
http://www.convicttrail.org/ctp/TravDecline/decline.html

Best regards from Canada and in haste!

PJ

[Derek Warner]

Here is the first response re above
----- Original Message -----
From: Geoff Smith
To: 'Derek Warner'
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 7:06 AM
Subject: RE: [Paddleducks] Help! From Down Under.


Derek, Yes "She" is still about. Without doing any research (which I will
of course) she now belongs, I think, to the Newcastle Council and was
recently in the news because she was in need of repairs and of course there
was the ever present question of where will the money come from?
Will see what I can find out this week. By the way I have been on board
before she had her first run and was tied up in Newcastle harbour.
Happy days.

[Derek Warner]

Here is Geoff's progress report



----- Original Message -----
From: "Geoff Smith" <gsmith@berendsen.com.au>
To: "Derek Warner (E-mail)" <dwarner@berendsen.com.au>
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 7:53 AM
Subject: William IV


> Derek,I have found that it is owned by the Newcastle Council, and is tied
> up at Lee Wharf in the harbour. At present it has boiler, mast and deck
> problems which are to be rectified. However whilst there has been approx
> $100,000.00 raised to start the repairs, a problem has arisen and its name
> is Bureaucracy or to be more correct, fear of the dreaded Workcover. So as
> with all these things it sits and waits. There is someone on board I am
led
> to believe each Wednesday and Friday from noon till 4pm. I will attempt to
> go down this Friday afternoon with a digital camera and get some shots, at
> least of the externals, and find out just what the story is.
> Happy days
> Geoff Smith
> Phone: (02)4955 0660
> Fax: (02)4955 0664
> E-mail: gsmith@berendsen.com.au
>