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	Australian Paddle Steamers Murray River Images & Notes ©2011 Ian Greig All images link to larger copies which will open in a new window/tab
	Australia is the home of the largest number of side-wheel paddle driven ships in the world - by a considerable margin. There are between 100 and 150 paddle vessels still in existence. Many were built in the 19th century but some are quite recent. Many have their existing engines whilst some have replacement diesels fitted. Others are new, built around original engines whilst many others have had engines removed completely for use as houseboats. A further large number of derelict vessels remain, usually sunk alongside the riverbanks. Murray River Paddlesteamer Images and Notes by Ian Greig The greatest concentration of Australian paddle vessels is to be found on the Murray River in Australia which, until the advent of railways, was one of the most important inland transport links in the country, and for much of its course forms the border between the states of Victoria and New South Wales. Today it is a significant tourist destination, and several former river ports can boast a preserved paddler amongst their attractions. Echuca stands out for the sheer number now based there; indeed it has the largest collection of paddle steamers in Australia. At the beginning of 2011 I finally achieved an ambition that had been in abeyance for over 30 years and visited Australia. The highlight was undoubtedly being at the Sydney Cricket Ground to see England win the Ashes, but amongst other tremendous experiences was spending three days in Echuca to see and travel on the steamers. The town was founded at the point where a major tributary, the Campaspe, joins the Murray, and in the local aboriginal language (Koori) the name Echuca means 'meeting of the waters'. It is about 120 miles north of Melbourne, the capital of Victoria and an important sea port, to which it is the closest point on the river. The first settlement was in 1850, when a former convict, Henry Hopwood, established a ferry and then in 1853 built a hotel. There is a 'twin' town, Moama, on the opposite (New South Wales) bank, but the main port facilities were always at Echuca. The need for efficient communication with Melbourne was recognised early, and in 1864 the Victoria Railways built a line from Bendigo to Echuca. From then on the river steamers brought the produce of the Murray-Darling Basin (principally wool and timber) to the railhead at Echuca, and by the 1870s it had become the country's largest inland port, from which goods left for destinations within Australia and to be exported worldwide from Melbourne. A large rail-connected wharf was built from the local red gum timber, and this continued to be extended until the 1880s reaching a maximum length of 363 yards (332 metres). Echuca/Moama was also the main centre for boat building on the river, and in the 1870s there were seven sawmills in the area. A depression in the 1890s hit the trade badly. The subsequent extension of the railway system, and later road transport, inevitably took trade away from the river. By the Second World War much of the wharf was out of use, and over three-quarters of it was demolished and taken to Melbourne for use as firewood! The responsibility for the remaining 82½ yards (75.5m) was taken over by the Borough of Echuca from Victoria Railways in 1952. From the 1970s, the old port area of the town has been restored to its 1880s appearance as a tourist attraction by the Port of Echuca Authority, with the paddle steamers as the central theme. Today there are two operators running public cruises and charters: the Port Authority themselves own and run the PS Adelaide, PS Pevensey and PS Alexander Arbuthnot, whilst Murray River Paddlesteamers (MPS) operate the PS Emmylou, PS Canberra and the motor paddler Pride of the Murray. The cruises normally take about an hour. My visit coincided with one of the wettest Australian summers for many years. The Murray was 20 feet above its normal summer level, and the Campaspe had already breached its banks in places. I was a bit concerned that sailings might have been suspended, but this actually provided me with a rare opportunity. On the day of my arrival, the Port Authority were using one of their two regular vessels, PS Pevensey, on the public cruises; the other regular boat is the PS Alexander Arbuthnot. I was too late for the last sailing on that day, but I was advised that because of the state of the river the following day's sailings would be by PS Adelaide, which is normally only used for special sailings and charters. The Authority's steamers usually leave from the wharf, but because the height of the river did not coincide with the available accessible levels they were sharing the MPS floating jetty just beyond the restored port centre. I had two trips on PS Adelaide, on consecutive days (18th & 19th January). It is fascinating, and quite different to European steamers. There are seats, but it certainly hasn't been over-endowed with facilities for the tourist market. The vessel is obviously well maintained but it is not a pristine museum-piece and, as long as it's not crowded, with a bit of imagination it is not too hard to imagine yourself on a working boat. I was intrigued to see that it is controlled entirely by the skipper, with a set of control rods for the engines disappearing through the roof of the engine area into the bridge above. No ringing down to the engineer here! The fuel logs are stored under the foredeck. I don't know how much it consumes, but it didn't appear to use a great amount; no doubt the fireman's job would be a lot harder if he had to maintain the full boiler pressure with a heavy load, instead of the reduced figure used today. The steering chains connecting the wheel to the rudder run along the deck, where it is easy to stand on them by mistake. I don't suppose one person could interfere much with the steering, but I did wonder what would happen if a whole rugby team decided it would be a jolly jape to stand on them! There are no safety rails on the bridge stairs, and a notice makes it clear that passengers should not climb up there. I was toying with the idea of seeing if my PSPS membership would act as a passport to the bridge so I could take a few pictures…at which point my camera batteries packed up, so I didn't. After my second trip on Adelaide I almost decided not to bother with the other steamer operating, the Murray River Paddlesteamer Co.'s PS Emmylou, because although it is steam-powered it is actually a modern boat, built locally between 1980 and 1982 specifically for the tourist market. I thought, in an overly-purist way, that it was bound to be an anti-climax after such a historic vessel as Adelaide. Fortunately I came to my senses – travelling half way round the world and not going on it for that reason would have been daft even by my standards – and am very glad I did. It is a beautifully built and maintained vessel. The hull form, paddleboxes and superstructure are in the traditional style but with additional passenger and catering accommodation, including overnight cabins for longer cruises. It is approximately 98ft (30m) long and 33ft (10m) wide, with a steel hull and timber decking. The engine is a 16hp 2-cylinder simple unit built in England by Marshall's of Gainsborough in 1906, giving a top speed of about 10mph (8.6 knots). And yes, it is named after the country-and-western singer Emmylou Harris, a favourite of the owner. As soon as we were properly under way on an open stretch of river, there was an announcement over the tannoy inviting anyone who was interested to visit the bridge. I waited until the initial rush had died down and then made my way up, where I met the skipper, Peter Garfield. There is a man who knows his paddle steamers. I explained I was a PSPS member from the UK, and he immediately asked me what all the tragic news of the Lincoln Castle was about. He was actually rather enjoying the high level of the river, because it gave a better view over the river banks than is often the case. I was on the bridge for most of the trip, enjoying the company and conversation of Peter and one of his crew who joined us part way through. I stayed in the background while we turned at the half-way point, when I was able to watch the skipper controlling the engines from the bridge, as on the Adelaide. I left the bridge as we approached the jetty at the end of the trip, so that I was not a distraction for the serious work of coming alongside. The company's other steam vessel is the PS Canberra. This was built in South Australia in 1912 as a single-deck steamer for fishing. It was later converted to carry cargo and in the 1940s was refitted as an excursion boat with an added upper deck, operating at Mildura. It has been at Echuca since 1963, and was restored in 2003 at which time the present 2-cylinder Marshall compound engine was installed. A third vessel Pride of the Murray has diesel engines. There are a number of other privately owned paddle steamers at Echuca. PS Etona was built in 1898 as a Church of England missionary steamer with the aid of funding from Eton College (hence the name and the cross over the bridge). Made redundant when churches were built in the river towns, it became a fishing vessel in 1912. It was later bought and moved to Echuca, where restoration commenced in 1962. It still has its original engines. In theory, PS Hero is one of the oldest survivors, originally built in 1874 by the builders of PS Adelaide, Linklater's of Echuca. However, not much of it is original. It sank in 1957 when it caught fire after being left with the engines still hot after being used to rescue cattle from flooding. The hull with the engine was raised in 1998. After extensive repairs, it has been rebuilt with replica engines and totally new superstructure aimed at the luxury charter market. The 2010 draft Murray Shire Mooring Plan (available on line at www.murray.nsw.gov.au) lists these other historic paddle steamers as being based at Echuca: PS Perricoota, PS Henry Charles, PS Ranger, PS James Maiden, plus a modern vessel, PS Britannia and a new one under construction, PS Adventurous; most of these are moored where they can be easily seen. I can thoroughly recommend a visit to Echuca if you get the chance. It is about 2½ hours drive from Melbourne, and there are bus and (limited) train services. The people are all very helpful and friendly, and the paddle steamers make a fascinating contrast to those that can be seen in this country. My thanks go to the ladies staffing the wharf for their assistance, and to the crews of the two steamers I travelled on, in particular Peter Garfield, skipper of PS Emmylou, and Arran Bridge, engineer on PS Adelaide, for putting up with the questions and ramblings of a British tourist.

	Sections on this Page:- Port of Echuca Authority Murray River Paddlesteamers Independent Steamers Books on Australian Paddlesteamers Vessels on this Page PS Adelaide (1866) - Port of Echuca Authority PS Alexander Arbuthnot (1923) - Port of Echuca Authority PS Billy Tea - Billy T - private boat PS Britannia - private boat PS Canberra (1912) - Murray River Paddlesteamers PS Emmylou (1982) - Murray River Paddlesteamers PS Etona (1898) - private boat PS Henry Charles - private boat PS Hero (1874/1998) - private boat PS Perricoota (1999) - private boat PS Pevensey (1911) - Port of Echuca Authority PV Pride of the Murray (1924) - Murray River Paddlesteamers Associated Pages Tramways Header Page Cruise Ships Ocean Liners UK Excursion Vessels World Ferry Fleets Simplon Postcards - Home Page Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates	Simplon Australian Pages:- Australian Paddle Steamers - this page Melbourne Trams P&O Cruises Australia References Murray Darling Paddleboats - Peter Plowman 2005 Publ.Rosenberg Paddleboats of Australia - Peter Plowman 2014 Publ.Rosenberg Paddleboats and Riverboats of the River Murray - Peter Christopher 2001 Publ.Axiom Australian Riverboats - Peter Christopher 2007 Publ.Axiom Murray River Paddlesteamers: www.emmylou.com.au Port of Echuca Authority: www.portofechuca.org.au Simplon Facebook Pages:- - Simplon Ship Postcards facebook page - Simplon Main Line Railways facebook page - Simplon Minor Railways facebook page - Simplon Piers & Lighthouses facebook page - Simplon Tramways facebook page - Simplon Cliff Lifts facebook page
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The Adelaide was built by George Linklater at Echuca in 1866, is claimed to be the second-oldest paddle steamer in the world after the Danish lake-steamer Hjejlen (1861), and the oldest operating on a river. It is smaller than Pevensey, and much older than both it and the Arbuthnot, but has bigger paddle wheels and much more powerful engines than both of them, making it one of the fastest steamers on the river with a maximum of speed of 12 mph (c.10½ knots). This combination makes it easier to control than the two other boats when the river is high and fast, hence its use during my visit.

Adelaide's hull is built of local red gum timber on an iron frame, and its dimensions are: length 76ft (22.8m), beam 17ft (5.1m), draught 2ft 4ins (0.7m), tonnage 58. The paddlewheels are 14ft (4.3m) in diameter. The two-cylinder simple 30hp engine is original, and is by Fulton & Shaw of Melbourne making the vessel entirely Australian – which is actually quite rare as many had British engines. The boiler pressure is 120 psi, although the engineer told me it normally runs at about 70-80 psi which is adequate for present-day use. It burns red gum logs.

The steamer was originally built to carry wool and tow up to four barges. It could also take passengers, although there were few concessions to luxury, or even comfort, on board. After the decline of the wool trade it was used to transport timber, making its last trip in 1957 when road transport took over completely. Helen Coulson's book Paddle Steamer Adelaide (McCabe Prints 1985) gives fascinating details about life on the river in the latter days of the commercial trade. There was a crew of six: skipper, mate, engineer, fireman, deckhand and cook, which contrasts with today when there are only skipper, engineer/fireman and deckhand although the work is, of course, totally different. The men lived on board for most of the week. Conditions were basic, particularly for the men on the towed barges. 'Their cabin was a small covered area at the stern… The only heat came from a fire in a tin in the centre of the barge so that when it rained the men had no way of cooking or boiling the billy. "Frosty" Kelsall fought for better living conditions on the barges and got them – five sheets of corrugated iron to spread over the foc's'le'.

Adelaide was sold for further use in South Australia, and left Echuca in 1958. This proved abortive, and after successful fund-raising the vessel was purchased by the Echuca Historical Society and returned to its original home. It was a static exhibit on dry land from 1963 until, after a restoration completed in 1984 as part of the port restoration project, it once again became a working steamer, albeit carrying tourists rather than cargo.

After my second trip on Adelaide I almost decided not to bother with the other steamer operating, the Murray River Paddlesteamer Co.'s PS Emmylou, because although it is steam-powered it is actually a modern boat, built locally between 1980 and 1982 specifically for the tourist market. I thought, in an overly-purist way, that it was bound to be an anti-climax after such a historic vessel as Adelaide. Fortunately I came to my senses – travelling half way round the world and not going on it for that reason would have been daft even by my standards – and am very glad I did. It is a beautifully built and maintained vessel. The hull form, paddleboxes and superstructure are in the traditional style but with additional passenger and catering accommodation, including overnight cabins for longer cruises. It is approximately 98ft (30m) long and 33ft (10m) wide, with a steel hull and timber decking. The engine is a 16hp 2-cylinder simple unit built in England by Marshall's of Gainsborough in 1906, giving a top speed of about 10mph (8.6 knots). And yes, it is named after the country-and-western singer Emmylou Harris, a favourite of the owner.

As soon as we were properly under way on an open stretch of river, there was an announcement over the tannoy inviting anyone who was interested to visit the bridge. I waited until the initial rush had died down and then made my way up, where I met the skipper, Peter Garfield. There is a man who knows his paddle steamers. I explained I was a PSPS member from the UK, and he immediately asked me what all the tragic news of the Lincoln Castle was about. He was actually rather enjoying the high level of the river, because it gave a better view over the river banks than is often the case. I was on the bridge for most of the trip, enjoying the company and conversation of Peter and one of his crew who joined us part way through. I stayed in the background while we turned at the half-way point, when I was able to watch the skipper controlling the engines from the bridge, as on the Adelaide. I left the bridge as we approached the jetty at the end of the trip, so that I was not a distraction for the serious work of coming alongside.

The company's other steam vessel is the PS Canberra. This was built in South Australia in 1912 as a single-deck steamer for fishing. It was later converted to carry cargo and in the 1940s was refitted as an excursion boat with an added upper deck, operating at Mildura. It has been at Echuca since 1963, and was restored in 2003 at which time the present 2-cylinder Marshall compound engine was installed.