on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 4:20 AM, paulrjordan wrote
>And turning to Australia...the Murray River was a pretty difficult
>River to navigate (apparently still is in some stretches)...and since
>sternwheelers are more suited to treacherous rivers, have they ever
>been used on that river too...and if not, why not?

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Hi PD's - history records that five only stern wheelers sailed on the Murray [1861>1868] - Settler,
Lady Daly, Lady Darling, Victoria & Captain Sturt with some being knock down assemblies from USA
or some with imported long timbers from Oregon [USA]

Appears the universal failing of the first four was the simple fact that they could not navigate the tight
turns of the Murray or and they must have been built from lighter timbers as snagged far more often
than good old OZ red gum hulled vessels

I quote from 'Ships of the Inland Rivers' - "The only successful American style stern wheller was the
Captain Sturt - built in America and shipped in sections for re-assembly. She was imported to do a
specific job on the lower river [Murray] which she handled competently, she was a pusher vessel"

regards to all for 2004 [& beyond] - Derek [as Brett says 'with the aging Decoy project']

When I was in Goolwa a few years ago, Captain Sturt was there as a houseboat, looking fairly ragged. I assume she's still extant.... She was a US-built knockdown.

Bill Worden

Hi there,
Bill Worden wrote regarding sternwheelers in OZ that he had
seen the "Captain Sturt" as a houseboat (one of the most successful
sternwheelers on the Murray) has any one got pictures of this boat
either old pics as a working boat or as a houseboat (converted no
doubt) any old plans about that would show some details of this
vessel ..............Dai Powell

There is a rather good drawing of the Captain Stuart , in her not so
best state moored at Goolwa , however a 3/4 sized replica operates
from that port today.

I've seen photos of her working on the Murray locks system , in the
1930's I think.

I certainly have a photo or two of her at Goolwa--don't remember how good, as she might have been located such that it was hard to get a good shot. I'll look and I'll be happy to scan one or two.

Bill Worden