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Side-Wheeled Paddle Steamers
Melbourne
Built : 1912
Hull : Wood (redgum) and iron
Engines : Compound
Boiler : Wood-fired - built by Marshall Engineering in the UK
Length : 98 ft : Breadth - 40ft across sponsons : Draught - 2 ft 6 in
(bow), 3 ft (stern)
Built for the Government of the State of Victoria for
clearing fallen trees from the Murray river and also was on hand tohelp with
any contruction work along the river such as bridges and locks. She was later
owned by the Evans family's saw mills and used to transport logs, but was takenout
of service in 1942. Bought in 1965 by Captain Ali Ponton, she was renovated and moved from Echuca to Mildura.
Mildura
Paddlesteamers has been owned and operated by the Pointon family ever
since. Out of service since 2020, in summer 2024 the paddle steamer was
sold by Mildura Paddlesteamers to Mr Adam Auditori of Echuca.
Restoration work was undertaken at Buronga (NSW), on the opposite bank
of the Murray River to Mildura (VIC) in advance of being moved to
Echuca for further service.
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