Just a quick note: PV Murrundi has made it to Goolwa. Apparently Lake Alexandrina is that empty that she had to travel down the original river! She is currently tied up below OscarW at the wharf

Here is a shot of PV Tooraloora at the end of May, work has paused while the shipwright is doing some work on PS Marion

I've noticed that for the last month or so the Kookaburra River Queen (sidewheeler) hasn't had any covers on its paddleboxes.  Finally took some pics today as I was riding past.  It seems that they're doing a fair amount of maintenance on her at the moment.

Pics were taken on my phone, so sorry about the quality.

On Hawkesbury River is a paddlewheeler based at Windsor. It was previously PV Turrumburra (the aboriginal name for Lane CoveRiver) which did rides in the national park on Lane Cove River at Fullers Bridge.

It is a cruising restaurant at Windsor, which is an outer-urban town on Hawkesbury River, north-west of Sydney, on the the electrified Richmond commuter railway.

It was built in 1976 for Lane Cove River (one of the many branches of Sydney Harbour), as PV Turrumburra.  Steel hull, twin diesel engines driving through the side paddlewheels, licensed to carry 100 passengers.
The present owners have had it for ~8 years, which hints at a ~2000 transfer from Sydney Harbour to Hawkesbury River.
The boat's name now appears to be PV Hawkesbury Paddlewheeler; the owners call it 'The Paddlewheeler'.
It has a busy program of public and charter cruises.  See www.paddlewheeler.com.au, which includes an album of ~300 photos.

The boat was sold by its original owner, and was craned over a weir and a bridge, to be in Sydney Harbour for 18 months.  It was restricted to upstream of Sydney Harbour Bridge.  For the onsale to the current owners, it was towed by tug around the coast, then took 3 days to paddle upriver to its new Windsor base.  A low bridge prevents it from going further upriver; all cruises must be downriver.

Every 2 years, the boat must voyage to and from Brooklyn (19 h each way) for survey slipping.

'Ferries Australia' contained a booking form for an Australian Ferry Society charter on Sat.8.11: 3 hours, with barbecue lunch.


Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Hi

I may be able to help with some information regarding the Paddlewheeler listed with Ensign Ship Brokers (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia) and mentioned in a post on this site (back in March 2008).

The story as told to me by the previous owners is:

1.  The vessel was manufactured by Riviera (Boat Manufacturer) under the supervision of Bill Barry-Cotter (the then owner of Riviera).

2.  The vessel was used as a test-bed for shipwright apprentices and for testing practices during the construction of the Kookaburra Queens (This information is dubious and rumour only) during the mid-late 1980s.

3.  The vessel was used as the floating office for Riviera Sales on the Gold Coast before being sold to a movie producer.

4.  The vessel was unpowered, except for an Outboard Motor (hence the vessel being registered).

5.  Registered Details:
a.  Registration Year - 1990
b.  Make - Riviera
c.  Model - Paddlesteamer
d.  Body Shape - Full Cabin
e.  Hull - Fibreglass (GPR)
f.  Ship Name - "Lady Lillian"
g.  Colour - Cream/Green
h.  Purpose of use - Private

As I am the current owner the intent is to power her with the smallest diesel drive necessary to drive the wheel.  She is Sheltered Waters with waves heights up to 0.50m.  There is a lot of windage with a vessel of this size so she is limited as to where she can actually travel.  I have organised an engineer to redesign the wheel but will take my time with the project over the next couple of years.

At the moment she is being used as a "weekender", but of course is "for sale" if the right price is offered.

Regards,

David Bayliss

Details of this vessel were posted a couple of posts back, in this APAM thread.

On Sat.8.11.08, I was part of a group of about 40 from Australian Ferry Society, on a 3 hour charter downstream from Windsor & return.  I went out with a friend on a 9.36 train from Sydney (~70 min journey), then walked through the town, photographing five hotels and a cinema.  We boarded just on 12.00, for a 12.15 cast off.  The group was upstairs, general public bookings were downstairs.  The owner gave a commentary; his wife was skippering.  There was a crew of about four hospitality staff, serving drinks to tables, and setting up the barbecue buffet.  The engine is amidship.  The port lower deck is the kitchen.  The rest of the lower deck holds fore and aft saloons, with a bar opening to the after saloon and to the starboard walkway.  There are stairs above the paddleboxes on both sides, and a spiral stairway at the stern, continuing to a decked roof (to hold liferafts, not passengers).  The upper deck held tables around a central dance floor.  Unusually, the wheelhouse was cantilevered forwards of the bow, with no flagpole to act as a steering marker.
This was a very convivial trip, and I met all of the committee members, and was sitting beside author Peter Plowman (whose books cover riverboats, coastal shipping, and international shipping).

On the upriver leg, I had the chance to steer.  There was very little wind, and the boat was quite responsive.  In the absence of a flagpole, I had to use the aluminium frame of the front window to provide an aiming reference.
The river looked good: green trees and fields around; the cliff sections are lower down; the gorge section was further up.  This stretch had been cleared of weed: a problem further up.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

I have mentioned this a few times before.  It is a genuine PV, so I gone back and edited out any faulty references.
The boat was designed and built by John Wakeling, at his private slipway on Nepean River (a Hawkesbury tributary), on the upstream side of the motorway bridge, a few kilometres from the heart of Penrith.  It commenced cruising in 1981.
See www.nepeanbelle.com.au
Downstairs, there is a main saloon with piano forwards; a bar and kitchen between the paddles; a small rear saloon and the stairwell aft.  Upstairs there is a rear saloon, two small rear quarterdecks, and a side and foredecks serving the toilets and the wheelhouse.
This reach takes in a gorge section, with high sandstone cliffs.
It is blocked from Windsor by a weir.
Upstream, it is blocked by several weirs from reaching Menangle.  Even the lowest of this set (Warragamba, a major storage for Sydney's water supply) cannot be reached: the river becomes too rocky.
MV Playtpus was obtained from a dolphin-cruise operation, and is the backup vessel.

On Sun.9.11, I went by train to Penrith, then taxi to the park where the pickup would be made.  Nepean Belle arrived at 11.45 from its slipway base, and docked bow on to the wharf.  This was a full cruise.  When I made my booking, the company offered me a spot by placing a table on the open upper deck.  The weather was magnificent, and it was a perfect spot.  I left my laptop charging in the upstairs auxiliary bar and spent my time admiring the scenery, and chatting with the captain.  The passengers were mainly family groups, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries.  Many appeared at the wheelhouse to have their photo taken 'steering' the boat.  The experienced captain dual steered with young kids (I think that you should turn it more to the left...as he did the actual turning).  He was more subtle with a grandmother.  As she veered alarmingly to starboard, he subtly cut all power to the port paddle and brought the boat around while complimenting her on her skill.
There is one very narrow section, with only 2 m clearance either side to major boulders.  With no wind today, getting through was easy.
On the way upstream, we were invited to the buffet to collect our main meals; dessert was brought to tables after we rounded up.  I got to steer while the captain ate his lunch (but not through the narrows section).  The captain then played a few well-known tunes on rolls on the player piano.  We went a bit below the wharf to fill time, but not as far as the railway and older road bridges (sometimes the cruise goes all the way to the weir).
At the end, I was driven back to the station, concluding 3 great days in Sydney, with a different ferry ride each day, two theatre nights in stunning 1920s atmospheric theatres, and photographing a lot of interesting pubs.

The photos show the docking, the narrows section ahead, and two interior views.


Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Responding to a request, I have just added a second photo of PV Black Shag, currently on page 8 of this lengthy thread, with direct entry
www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2566.msg11530#msg11530

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Given that the PV Black Shag is currently For Sale and has been for some time there are some additional photos and details of this boat at the hyper link below.

http://www.murrayriver.com.au/boats-for-sale/pv-black-shag-7/

Regards

Mike Smith

Hi Roderick

i know this is an old posting but how is the restoration of this boat coming along , its great to hear thats she is finally being restored after sitting here for the past 40 yrs or more, i hope she get to stay in this area as well as far as i know beside the Marion there is know other original passenger tourist vessel running out of Mannum but i could be wrong.

love to hear of any news regarding her restoration many thanks 

Ian savage, in Hong Kong...             

I can't find the pm option, so I am replying on list.  Ian, it isn't obvious from your post which of the many vessels you mean.  Please edit your post to give the specific name.
I'll have news of PS Ruby after next weekend.  PV Coonawarra is in the hands of a church group: used for group cruising, not public.  PS Gem is just talk, there are practical difficulties in returning to river cruising.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Quote from: Roderick Smith on April 02, 2007, 09:03:38 AM
This hull was retrieved from the river at Koondrook Barham, and was placed on drums adjacent to a major park.
It is hardly even conserved.
If ever there is a new Banyulla built, how much original fabric would be in  it?  Clearly reconstruction or replica, not renovation or restoration.

I have transferred this photo from the Koondrook - Barham bridge centenary thread, in the Preserved Paddle Ships forum.

To keep the APAM boats manageable, I do go back and edit older posts as I find new facts, rather than add a fresh post remote from the original one.  I tidied PS Wanera a couple of days ago.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Hi Roderick


Just wondering  what has been done on this vessel in the past few years.

i c this  is a old posting but just interested to see what is happening right now with her  and who exactly is trying to restore her and what progress has been made ??

many thanks,   Ian Savage

I was last in Barham for the bridge centenary, and the day was too hectic to go near Banyulla.  I suspect that nothing is being done, and there is very little which could be done.  I might pick up some gossip at Wentworth over the coming weekend.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Hi Roderick

The vessel i was actually talking about was the Tarella near Mannum, ive  heard she has been bought by a syndicate of people and  is to be completely restored.

If you do get to hear anything regarding the Banyulla please post it here im sure there are other people who are interested in hearing  whats  happening to this vessel.

Just by reading the blog here i have got the impression that the Australien  based somewhere near Echuca is also being slowly restored by Peter Byford and team who owns and operates the Hero is that by any means correct ? and is there actually anything happening with the Edwards or is she still just sitting rotting away on a property also close to Echuca ?

Also i saw a pic of the Colonel in Murray Bridge  back in thread 2, are Bob Butrims and Bruce Roberts who own and operate the Cato the main restoration team behind the  Colonel being rebuilt ?? and how is her progress coming along ? i remember as a teenager seeing her up against  the river bank  at Renmark hoping someone or a group would come along and finally restore her..

many thanks

Ian Savage 

 

I have just had a wonderful weekend at Junction Rally (Wentworth, NSW), catching up on all the gossip: will I remember it all for a post in the morning?

Former PS Tarella is owned by either a partnership or solo, the owner(s) of PV Flender Himmel.  The main owner wasn't at Wentworth.  I suspect that any restoration will be very long term: the hull was completely shot.  He did hold his wedding aboard the vessel a year or two back , but that hints that time (and money?) will be more restricted.

Michael is better positioned to post about PS/PV Australien.  AFAIK the only restoration done was Michael removing an accumulation of leaves from the inside, and hence a source of moisture which would cause even more deterioration.

Bob was at Wentworth: we talked only of PS Cato, and didn't mention Colonel.  I understand that Cato is taking all of the time, and Colonel must wait.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor