This is a list of steamboats that have operated on the Murray-Darling–Murrumbidgee river system. It also includes several diesel-powered vessels built in the same tradition.
See also Murray-Darling steamboat people for more information on people mentioned in this article.
| Name | Description ! | width=80 | Murray Service ! | width=150 | Owners ! | width=200 | Captains ! | width=250 | Barges | Fate/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | 106 tons | 1866–now | J. C. Grassey & Partners Grassey & Officer Blair & McCrowther 1879 Murray River Sawmills 1901 R. Evans 1915 | F. Pullar 1867, 1869–1871, 1875 Adams 1872 C. Schmedje sr, jr. 1879–1889 J. Krause 1881 Hoskins 1881 J. Dorey 1881 J. Newman 1883 W. Thomson 1890–1911 C. Anderson 1912–1939 R. Keir 1916 | Echuca 1869 Redgum 1869 Moama 1869 Bendigo 1871 Eclipse 1872–1873 Moira 1873 Heather Bell 1878–1882 Border Chief 1879–1882 Shamrock 1879–1881 Gunbower 1879 Shamrock 1881 Swallow 1881 Pelican 1881 Federation 1881 Alice 1883 | Oldest operable wooden hulled paddle steamer anywhere in the world. She was towing barges for the timber mill in 1947[1] Taken out of service 1960,[2] then re-commissioned in 1985. Moored at Echuca. | ||||
| Advance | 1906–1909 | Shuttled between Bourke and Louth. Was this vessel built from barge Advance? | ||||||||
| Agnes | 110 tons 85 ft × 10 ft. | 1877–1888 | Thos. Laing & Co. 1877–1880 J. Randell & D. Luttet 1880–1887 T. Freeman 1887–1888 | J. Patterson 1877 D. Sinclair 1878, 1880 T. Laing 1879 T. Freeman 1879–1883 J. Symington 1879 F. C. Hansen 1880 M. Cole 1883, 1884 | Rabbie Burns 1878–1881 Native Companion 1879 Darling 1880 Scottish Chief 1880–1883 | Sold 1888 to Nagambie Steam Navigation and Saw-Mill Co. and removed to Nagambie on Goulburn River; replaced by Emma. | ||||
| Albury | iron hull 120' × 16' 60/156 tons 40/50 hp. | 1855– | River Murray Navigation Co. Wallace & Other 1875 Johnston & Murphy 1880 Kirkpatrick & Harris 1879 Kirkpatrick 1881 | E. Robertson 1855 R. Ross 1856 G. B. Johnston 1855–1875 J. Mace 1857 W. Barber 1860 T. Johnston 1864–1866 James Barclay 1870, 1871, :1874, 1875 W. Dickson 1873 Kopp 1875 J. M. Wallace 1875, 1877, 1878, :1880 G. Johnson 1881 J. Tait 1881–1883 | Murrumbidgee 1855 Wakool 1855–1860 Goolwa 1856 Mitta Mitta 1857, 1859, 1860, 1874 Bogan 1866 Unknown 1866 J & M 1869, 1874, 1875 Menindie 1869 Miriam 1870–1875, 1879–1881[3] | Sister ship to Gundagai. First to reach Town of Albury.[4] Iron hull replaced with timber 1881. | ||||
| Alert | 1879–1937 | George Blunt 1882 Blunt & Mason McCulloch & Co. Permewan, Wright & Co. O. Searles 1937 | G. Linklater 1879 C. Cowley 1879, 1880 T. Bynon c. 1880[5] R. Strang 1883–1899 R. F. Lewen 1898 G. Lindqvist 1899 G. Dorward jr. 1901 L. Strom 1905 H. Teschner 1905, 1906 | Advance 1879 Willandra 1879 Canally 1880 Maori 1883–1891 Woorooma 1889 Jessie 1889, 1895, 1905, 1910 Nelson 1889, 1892, 1896, 1899 Paroo 1890, 1891 Horace 1891, 1905 Lancashire Witch 1891, 1896 Namoi 1892–1894, 1896–1898, 1905 Eagle 1892–1894, 1898 Tongo 1895 J.L.Roberts 1895, 1897, 1898, :1905, 1909 Confidence 1895–1896, 1898 Gunbower 1897 Echuca 1905 Moorara 1909 | Involved in railway construction Narrandera 1882. Burnt to the waterline near Morgan 1937. | |||||
| Alexander Arbuthnot | 1923–1947 1990–now | Arbuthnot Sawmills Pty Ltd. | H. Hogg 1942 | Engaged in hauling redgum timber. Restored c. 1990 and serves as tourist vessel based at Echuca. | ||||||
| Alexandra | 1904–1906 | James Bell & Co. 1903 G. Ritchie | G. Ritchie 1904, 1906 | Excursions out of Murray Bridge 1904–1906. Originally steamer Bantam; machinery and boiler incorporated into steamer Venus.[6] | ||||||
| Alfred (see also Prince Alfred) | Iron side-wheeler 116 tons | 1867–1917 | A. Johnson 1869 A. Locke 1869 Risby 1890 Lush Knox & Downs 1916 | Reis 1867 M. Mack 1869–1876 Thomson 1876 J. Dorey 1877, 1880, 1881 J. Lawson 1878, 1879 O. Kenrick 1879 J. Krause 1881–1883 L. Searles 1890 R. Ransom 1912, 1913, 1915 G. M. Mumby 1917 | Alice 1869–1872 Pocahontas 1878 Darling 1878–1879, 1881 Pelican 1878, 1881 Paroo 1879 Swallow 1879, 1884 Willandra 1879 Advance 1880–1881 Border Chief 1881 Pimpampa 1881 Swallow 1884 Uranus 1916, 1917 | Sister ship to J.H.P. but side-wheeler. Had major refit 1890. Sank May 1917; crewman Thorn drowned; Mumby and mate charged with manslaughter, acquitted Later houseboat for W. Dodd. | ||||
| Alma | 1900– | SA Govt. Irrigation Dept. | Originally missionary boat Etona | |||||||
| Alpha "Murray Marvel" | 50 tons | 1899– | A. Francis W. Collins 1908, 1923 H. Brennan −1911 S.A. Import Co. 1911– | A. Francis 1900–1902 H. Brennan 1911 W. Collins 1918–1923 | Annie 1918 Emerald 1919 | Light draught trading steamer[7] with a reputation for sailing when no other could get through,[8] she was largely built from wreck of Nil Desperandum. Mrs. Collins was engineer in 1918[9] In 1950 the Alpha was serving as a family home at Mannum.[10] | ||||
| Amphibious | 60' × 18' iron hull 16 hp. twin screw, 49 tons | 1876–1926 | W. Warren 1876 D. McBeath 1879– Richard Craig 1902 | W. Warren 1876 D. McBeath 1879 J. McBeath 1893 | propelled by large Archimedean screws only part-submerged so they did not protrude below hull. Later converted to ketch.[11] [12] | |||||
| Arbuthnot | 100 hp. | 1912–1913 | Arbuthnot & Sons 1912–1913 | W. F. Bailey C. Johnson 1913 | Koondrook 1913 | Raced Canally 1913. Destroyed by fire.[13] Raised and rebuilt by Capt. Arnold in 1916 and renamed J. G. Arnold.[14] (see below.) | ||||
| Arcadia | 85' × 12' | 1904– | W. Wolter 1904–1917 | W. Wolter 1904–1917 | Served as excursion steamer on lower Murray and lakes Albert and Alexandria. | |||||
| Ariel | 83 tons | 1868[15] –1899? | Hardman & Lester 1876 Herbert Lester 1877 W. R. Randell 1878 | R. Anderson 1868–1875 Parker 1869 Wallace 1876 C. Bock 1876–1879, 1892, 1896 E. H. Randell 1880–1882 F. C. Hansen 1881 Anderson 1893, 1894 W. Porter 1896 | Ariel 1868–1876 Bogan 1873 Goolwa 1874–1875 Hartley 1879–1892 Alice 1882 Rosa 1896 | Trading steamer purchased with barge Ariel by Hardman & Lester 1876; William Frank Hardman became insolvent 1877 and was bought out by Herbert Lester.[16] Rebuilt as steamer Kelvin 1912. | ||||
| Australien | 1897–1926 | W. Wilson 1897–1905 F. O. Wallin 1906–1933 King & Jones 1934–[17] | W. Wilson 1897–1904 W. Carlyon 1901 W. Knight 1902 Fordyce 1905 F. O. Wallin 1905, 1906, 1908 T. Kelly 1910–1912, 1918 | Vega 1911, 1918, 1932 Federal 1920 Zulu 1906, 1918, 1920 J.L. Roberts 1933 | Chinese cook Jimmy Ah Kee drowned 1901.[18] Last served as logging steamer above Yarrawonga weir. (Mudie p. 164) In 1934 she brought construction materials to Yarrawonga, the first boat from South Australia in 20 years.[19] She was there purchased for King Bros. of Mulwala for carrying timber.[20] | |||||
| Avoca | 148 tons | 1877– | Oliver & Thomson 1877 Alec Thomson 1886[21] J. G. Arnold c. 1920–[22] D. Treacy 1939, 1947 Collins Bros. 1950 | W. Miers 1879–1882 D. Treacy 1939, 1948 | Sunk near Wilcannia 1878. Left river for Spencer Gulf trade c. 1890 for J. Darling & Co. Returned to Murray c. 1920 to cart stone (Mudie p. 191) and occasional "rough" tourist trips.[23] Sunk at Mildura in 2014.[24] | |||||
| Bantam | 1883– | R. F. Lewen 1883–1901 G. Ritchie 1903 | R. F. Lewen 1883–1901 | Paragon 1883–1896, 1903 | First on upper Murray to employ electric light. Converted to barge Alexandra 1903 Became steamer Alexandra (see above) | |||||
| Barwon | 1886– | Permewan, Wright and Co. Gem Navigation Co. 1909–[25] | A. De Forest 1886 P. Westergaard 1887–1893 J. Innes c. 1888 (Mudie p. 179) C. Johnson 1888, 1899 W. Carlyon 1897 G. Robson 1898, 1904, 1906 D. Nutchey 1905, 1906 A. Dusting 1908[26] H. Teschner 1908 G. McLean 1909 B. Atkins 1910 W. F. Bailey 1910 P. Sandford 1910 W. R. F. Hanckel 1910 R. Potter 1911 Haines 1912, 1913 Rice 1914 J. Nutchey 1916 H. McLean 1912, 1916 H. Treacy 1924 | Victory 1886, 1894 Sprite 1886–1890, 1892 Horace 1886–1888, 1892, 1897–1898 Jessie 1887–1889, 1891–1894, 1897 Nelson 1888–1892, 1894, 1898 Maori 1889, 1893, 1896, 1901, :1907, 1908 Blue Bell 1890, 1898 Woorooma 1891–1892, 1896 Lancashire Witch 1892, 1897, 1898 Diamantina 1892 Paroo 1893, 1894, 1897, 1898 Confidence 1896 J.L. Roberts 1898 Pimpampa 1901 Sarah Jane 1901 Ormond 1907 Mary 1908 Emily 1909, 1913 Nonpareil 1909 Hartley 1910 Mallara 1910 Alice 1910 Moorara 1913 Florence Annie 1913 Emerald 1912;1914, 1916, 1920 | Barwon was originally barge White Rose (consort of Riverina) sunk in 1884, lengthened and renamed 1886.[27] Barge Blue Bell destroyed by fire January 1898 Barge Maori sunk near Hay 1907 Still in service 1924, carrying gravel. (Barwon was also the name of the interstate coastal freighter[28] at the centre of the 1928 seamen's strike.)[29] | |||||
| Beechworth | 105' 2 × 85 hp | 1865–1867 | Smith & Banks 1865–1867 | Reis 1866 J. Smith 1865–1867 | Wangaratta 1866 | Sunk 1866, destroyed by fire January 1867 while moored at Echuca.[30] Harry Payne bought the wreck and much of her structure was incorporated into the Corowa or Jane Eliza. (Mudie p. 223) Replaced by Jane Eliza. | ||||
| Bejo perhaps "B.J.O." | 1953 | see Eric | ||||||||
| Black Swan | see Nil Desperandum | |||||||||
| Blanche | 48 tons | 1869–1887 | Swannell & Wallace Whyte, Counsell & Co. 1875, 1879 W. Bowring 1908 P. McLaren 1908 | J. Wallace 1869–1875 J. Grundy 1877 W. Stewart 1875–1877 G. Pybus 1880 | Morning Star 1874–1876 Livingstone 1875 Howlong 1876–1877 | mail steamer | ||||
| Bogan | wood hull, 53 tons | 1860–1869 | J. Johnstone D. Bower 1861 J. Wallace 1864 W. R. Randell 1864–1869 R. Anderson possibly 1868, 1869 (Mudie p. 80) | Goolwa 1864, 1866 | Originally barge, converted back to barge c. 1870. | |||||
| Bourke | 110' × 20' 6" 153 tons | 1876–1896 | A. H. Landseer 1876–1881 | J. Wallace G. Pickhills 1876–1878, 1880 J. Grundy 1891–1896 | Empress 1877, 1879, 1881, 1882, :1887, 1893 Hilda 1893 McIntyre 1894 | Raced against rowing four 1880[31] Last used as excursion steamer. Perhaps converted to barge Bourke c. 1898, (there was an earlier barge of that name or perhaps "Burke"), escort of Tarella, then successively a floating cold storage[32] and butcher's shop behind Queen based in Renmark.[33] | ||||
| Brewarrina | 28 tons 50 ft. × 12 ft. | 1877–1908 | Thomson & Ritchie Thompson, Vaughan & Co. 1879 W. M. Fehon G. White 1890 E. Rich & Co. –1907 Permewan, Wright 1907– | J. Gribble 1877–1880, G. White 1890–1897 G. Grundy 1893 C. Cowley 1893 Olsen 1903? H. Payne 1904 | Walgett 1877, 1878, 1885, 1887, :1896, 1897 Darling 1891 Golconda 1896–1897 Trader 1908 | Centre of riot when carrying strike-breakers during shearers' strike 1891.[34] Stuck on the Bundabareena rocks 1903. Reached Mungindi in July 1893 (Mudie). | ||||
| Britannia | 125' × 24' | 1884–1888 | Tonkin, Fuller & Martin | L. Searles 1888 | Converted from barge Britannia with boiler and machinery from steamer Queen. Burnt at Craigie's Creek near Bookmark and Bookpurnong stations.[35] Crewman John McKenny was badly burned. | |||||
| Bunyip (1) | 106' 14 tons | 1858–1863 | W. R. Randell Randell & Scott Robs & Purchas 1879 | J. Lindsay 1858 (Mudie p. 199) W. R. Randell 1858, 1859, :1861–1863 E. H. Randell 1859–1861 | Bunyip originally had twin hulls, with the paddle-wheel amidships, and an auxiliary screw at the bow for steering.[36] The ship's cook[37] and a passenger[38] were lost overboard 1860. Bunyip was converted to a single-hull stern-wheeler around this time, and rated 200 tons.[39] She was destroyed by fire near Chambers's station at Chowilla,[40] Five died in the fire or were drowned.[41] The spot was later named Bunyip Reach. | |||||
| Bunyip (2) | 46' 10 ton | 1877–1889 | H. Dewing 1878 J. Symington 1880 J. Nash 1882, 1883 Davis 1885–1886 S. McBurney 1889 | Reached Seymour, Victoria, on the Upper Goulburn, in 1878. (Mudie p. 90) Stuck in Darling 1885–1886 | ||||||
| Burrabogie | 80/95 tons 110 ft. × 16' 6". | 1874–1885 | Hay Steam Navigation Co. 1874–1878 McCulloch & Co. 1879– | E. Fowler 1874 J. Ritchie 1874–1877 G. Lindqvist 1877–1884 | Pimpampa 1874, 1875, 1882 Willandra 1875–1879, 1882 Tongo 1879–1880 Darling 1880, 1881 Gwydir 1881 Namoi 1881, 1883 Federation 1881 Border Chief 1882 Eagle 1884 Paroo 1885 | Sunk at Hay 1880; left for Gippsland Lakes 1885. Sister ship to Corrong.[42] The name "Burrabogie" was applied to a barge c. 1889. | ||||
| Cadell See also steamer Francis Cadell below. | 126' × 20' | 1876– | G. B. Johnston 1876 G. Johnston & Co. 1883 D. Ritchie 1922 | G. B. Johnston 1878 W. Dickson 1879, 1880, :1883, 1884 R. Johnson 1880 J. Ritchie 1923, 1925 | Isabel 1878 Monarch 1879–1881, 1886, 1887 Granite 1923–1924 | Her hull was launched 1876[43] and she was used as a barge until 1878 when her engine was fitted.[44] Johnston's brother Peter died after falling into paddlebox 1881. Frequently crossed Murray mouth. She lay derelict on a Port Pirie beach until purchased by D. Ritchie[45] and returned to the Murray. (Mudie p. 194) by 1925 she was described as J. Ritchie's "flagship".[46] | ||||
| Canally | 92' 100 hp. | Tinks 1919–1925[47] T. Freeman −1920 (S.A. buyer) 1920– Francis & Tinks 1924 | T. Freeman 1912–1916, 1918 F. Weaver 1924 | T. F. 1918, 1920 | Dubbed "Greyhound of the Rivers", she raced Arbuthnot 1913.[48] Made record time Balranald to Echuca 1915[49] sold 1934[50] then 1941.[51] Converted to barge; carried wood blocks from Yielima. Now undergoing restoration at Mannum Her four-tone steam whistle was later used at the Mildura packing shed.[52] | |||||
| Canberra | 1916– | Refurbished by Hilary Hogg in 1953 as a tourist vessel out of Renmark.[53] Restored in 2003 and serves as tourist vessel out of Echuca, Victoria.[54] | ||||||||
| Captain Sturt | Iron hull | 1916–1938 | G. Johnston 1916, 1919, :1923, 1925 E. Orchard 1926 | Built by Washington Meredith, an American. Unique in pushing barges (four or more, loaded with stone from quarry at Mannum) ahead of her.[55] Used for Lock 8 in 1932. Became houseboat at Goolwa in 1946. In 1997 the upper decks were removed and the hull used at the centre of Goolwa's Captain Sturt Marina, where the paddle wheel is still visible.[56] | ||||||
| Cato | iron hull[57] [58] | 1883– | J. Nash & G. Curson 1883– E. Rich & Co. –1907 Permewan, Wright 1907– | J. Nash 1883–1889 D. Cremer 1896, 1897 E. E. Dodd 1897, 1898 | Albemarle 1896–1908 Livingstone 1897 Trader 1898 | Helped rescue people stranded by floods at Bourke 1890.[59] | ||||
| Charlotte | Henry Butler Rhoda Singh | Hawking steamer[60] | ||||||||
| City of Oxford | 70' × 11' | 1890–1915 | C. Cantwell 1890– T. Goode 1903 R. Singh 1909 H. Mackenzie 1909[61] R. Singh 1910 (again!) | C. Cantwell 1890 C. Johnson 1890, 1894 J. Lyons 1891 D. Sinclair 1894 R. Singh 1909 | Union 1898 Undaunted 1904 | Originally L'Orient, lengthened by 22', she was designed to operate in shallow waters.[62] Became a hawking steamer operating between Morgan and Renmark. Struck cliff and sank 1909 at Qualco,[63] and again in 1911. She struck a snag near the S.A. border in 1915, and though refloated and repaired did little subsequent work. | ||||
| Clara | 79 tons | 1876–1880 | W. Beams & Co. 1879 James Johnston 1880 | L. Searles 1877, 1878 | Collided with Despatch 1878 Burnt to the waterline 1880 while laid up and being advertised for sale; she was insured for more than the asking price. | |||||
| Clyde | Permewan, Wright & Co. W. Wilson F. O. Wallin 1909– | W. Wilson 1888–1895 W. F. Bailey 1897 Johnson 1899 Olson 1901, 1902 Permewan, Wright & Co. –1909 F. O. Wallin 1909– | Annie 1890 Zulu 1890, 1895 | Built from barge Result (Mudie p. 160) Engineer James Quinn died September 1907 from injuries after getting clothing caught by the engine shaft. Acquired by Wallin 1909 in exchange for Oscar W.[64] | ||||||
| Colonel | 1894?– | F. O. Wallin 1918 | J. Innes 1896–1899 H. Teschner 1903–1906 W. F. Bailey 1905 E. Orchard 1923 G. Alexander 1924 A. E. Workman 1924, 1925 C. Cantwell 1924 W. Henderson 1926 L. McLean 1927 C. Haines 1933 | Jessie 1895, 1906, 1908, 1910, 1911 Maori 1895–1899, 1903, 1905 Woorooma 1896 Sarah Jane 1900 T.P. 1901 Lancashire Witch 1905 Gunbower 1906 J.L. Roberts 1906, 1910–1912 Echuca 1907 Namoi 1908, 1912 Vega 1918 Uranus 1920 Emerald 1923 Hartley 1924 Loxton 1924 Ukee 1925 Kulnine 1926–1927 Crowie 1928 Moorabin 1928, 1929 | Barge Maori sunk 1897 near Yarrawonga, blocking the river. | |||||
| Colonel Light | 1922– | Weekly run for Renmark fruit growers | ||||||||
| Colonial | Delivered boiler 1926[65] Perhaps typo for Colonel. | |||||||||
| Coonawarra | 110', 225 ton | 1950– | Murray Valley Coaches Ltd. | H. Hogg 1950[66] L. Telley 1951 R. McGraw 1952 L. Wagner | Conversion by Charles Felshaw from barge J.L. Roberts (built 1911 in Echuca) as Murrumbidgee II.[67] Incorporated shaft from Murrumbidgee and paddlewheels from Excelsior.[68] Subject of Judith Crossley song Coonawarra has three shadows. | |||||
| Corio | 83 tons | 1857 | River Murray Steam Navigation Ltd. | B. Germein 1857 | "The screw steamer Corio was bought for £4,200, to run from Port Adelaide to Goolwa, but after a number of trips she was stranded inside the mouth, and was abandoned."[69] | |||||
| Corowa | composite hull stern-wheeler, 98' × 19' 8" 182 tons | 1868– | Smith & Banks 1868 Murray & Jackson E. H. Randell 1871– Chaffey Brothers J. Tait 1892– Gem Navigation Co. 1909– | A. Peirce 1868, 1869 J. Thompson 1870 E. H. Randell 1871 E. C. Randell 1873–1876, 1880 W. R. Randell 1876 A. E. Randell 1885, 1886 J. Tait 1890–1895 Hart 1895[70] H. W. King 1897 J. Nutchey 1899, 1907, 1909, 1912 Tinks 1905, 1908 G. McLean 1907 G. Alexander 1911–1913, 1919 E. Orchard 1912, 1921 G. A. Thamm 1913 S. Rossiter 1914 W. Freeman 1923 L. Mewett 1923, 1924 | Paika 1871, 1912 Eclipse 1875 Mary Ann 1884 Emerald 1901, 1907, 1921 Paragon 1905 Susan 1907 Empress 1907, 1910, 1912 Isabel 1907 Pearl 1907 Nonpareil 1907, 1908 Myee 1910 Alice 1910 Radia 1912 Emily 1914 Moorara 1914 Crowie 1919 Ukee 1919 Hartley 1919 Loxton 1921 Wollara 1921 Uranus 1922 | Replacement for Lady Darling, and using some of her materials.(Mudie p. 73) Randell disposed of her in Adelaide 1876[71] Stuck in upper reaches of Darling 1880, 1881.[72] and 1885, 1886[73] | ||||
| Corrong | 30 hp 60/87 tons | 1874[74] | Hay Steam Navigation Co. 1874–1879 McCulloch & Co. 1879– | J. W. Ritchie 1874, 1876 H. Theisz 1875–1879 W. Pullar 1880–1882 Johnson 1882, 1883 M. Cole 1883, 1884 T. Freeman 1884–1886 J. Page 1885 J. Patterson 1887 G. Lindqvist 1887–1888, :1890–1892, J. Dickson 1888, 1889 J. Innes 1888 A. Dusting 1896 H. Teschner 1897, 1898 | Moira 1870, 1874 Willandra 1875 Pimpampa 1875, 1876, 1878, 1879 Swallow 1879–1881 Pelican 1879 Federation 1880–1881 Namoi 1881, 1889, 1890 Advance 1882 Shamrock 1882 Horace 1882, 1885–1886, 1891 Jessie 1883–1884, 1897 Victory 1886, 1887 Nelson 1886 Paroo 1888, 1891 Confidence 1888, 1891, 1897 Gunbower 1890 Eagle 1891 | Perhaps named for Corrong station on the Lachlan; she was sister ship to the Burrabogie. Bargehand William England lost overboard 1874. | ||||
| Culgoa | composite stern-wheeler 30 hp, 79 tons | 1865–1868 :1871–1872 | Acraman, Main, Lindsay, & Co.[75] Murray & Jackson | A. Sunman 1865–1871 W. Parker 1870, 1871 W. Barber 1872 | Darling 1865–1866 Hume 1869, 1871–1872, 1878 | Snagged and sunk 1865. A. Sunman and Culgoa also worked between Gulf St Vincent ports out of Port Wakefield 1869–1871. | ||||
| Cumberoona (1) | 108' × 20' 142 tons 60 hp. | 1866– | J. Whyte 1866 Whyte, Counsell & Co. 1879 | J. Mace 1866–1869 C. Hill 1869 Adamson 1870 E. Barnes 1870–1872, 1876 W. Barber 1873–1875 G. Pybus 1881, 1883–1887 Adams 1879 | Howlong 1868–1874, 1883 Livingstone 1874, 1879 Stanley 1876, 1881 Morning Star 1876 Goolwa 1879 | Snagged and sunk on maiden voyage.[76] Stuck in Darling 1885–1886 Collided with Wahgunyah 1869; Mace was found culpable and had his master's certificate suspended for 12 months. | ||||
| Cumberoona (2) | steel hull side-paddles 25m. | 1986– | 3/4 replica built at Albury 1985 as Bicentennial project[77] designed by Warwick Hood. | |||||||
| Daisy | 52' × 11' 20 tons | 1896–1906 | R. S. McLeod 1905 | Wilson 1904 T. Edwards 1912 Mine Family 1945 1948 when sunk.[78] | Hawking steamer, still afloat in 1942.[79] | |||||
| Davis | W. O. Searles 1926 | |||||||||
| Decoy | 93' × 18' | 1878–1902 :1911– | H. B. Hughes 1878– G. Ritchie J. Whyte Murray Shipping Ltd. John Darling & Son 1902 Gem Navigation Co. 1909– | E. Fowler 1878 E. Baron 1878, 1881, 1885, 1886 T. Johnston 1881 J. Kerr 1889, 1898 W. Sandey 1892–1894 G. Grundy 1900 R. Potter 1912 E. Orchard 1923 V. Byrne 1924 W. Henderson 1924 L. Mewett 1924–1927 A. Price 1926 W. H. Drage 1928 | Reliance 1879–1881, 1883, :1890–1893, 1897, 1902 Croupier 1881, 1884, 1889, 1895, 1899 Uranus 1890, 1896 Bourke 1898 Mallara 1910, 1911, 1927 Murchison 1911 Hartley 1911 Nonpareil 1911 Ukee 1912 Cobar 1918 Emerald 1921 Moorabin 1921, 1923 Loxton 1924 Crowie 1924, 1925, 1927 Kulnine 1926 | Brought out from Scotland in sections and built in Melbourne,[80] originally designed to burn coal, modified for wood 1878. Later owned by John Whyte[81] Purchased by John Darling 1902 to work Gulf St Vincent with barge Reliance.[82] then served as passenger vessel on Swan River 1905–1909[83] then purchased by George Ritchie and returned to the Murray.[84] In 1925 the barge Crowie towed by Decoy carried a record 2,493 bales of wool. Became a houseboat. | ||||
| Dione | 1894, 1895 | W. C. Butler | Twin screw steamer built for N.S.W. Government and bought by Rev. Butler for missionary work among Village Settlements;[85] renamed Glad Tidings. | |||||||
| Dispatch[86] | 117 tons 111' long | 1877– | A. H. Landseer 1877 T. C. Goode –1909[87] | J. Tait 1877 J. Wallace 1879, 1882, 1885 T. C. Goode 1908 | Built as mail steamer on the Lower Lakes. Snagging duties 1910 | |||||
| Despatch | G. Grundy 1910 W. R. F. Hanckel 1911 | |||||||||
| Dora | 29' × 10', 5.6 tons, 2 hp. | 1884– | J. Wrench & Macpherson 1884 Matthews 1886 John Ware 1890 | Hawking vessel | ||||||
| Duke of Edinburgh | 1868– | Tonkin & Fuller | B. M. Fuller 1868–1874 Bruce 1870–1872 | Light draught steamer worked between Milang and Wentworth. | ||||||
| E.R.O. | Renmark Irrigation Trust Cuttle & Ogilvy 1918 W. Collins 1923 | Randell 1917 J. Nutchey 1917–1921 | Alice 1917–1925 | named for E. R. Olorenshaw, founding chairman of the Renmark Irrigation Trust. Delivered Renmark punt (Captains Randell and Nutchey) 1917. | ||||||
| Echuca | iron hull | 1865– | ||||||||
| Edwards | 85' × 16', 78 tons | 1875 | J. Laing 1875–1879 J. Lawrence & Son 1888– J. Webb 1903 R. J. Evans (Evans Brothers) 1907 | S. Williams 1875–1883 J. Laing 1875–1879 W. Sugden 1881 A. Dusting 1882 J. Newman 1882 A. Ebery 1882, 1883 C. Morton 1886 J. Lyons 1887 G. Cole 1888, 1889 J. Webb 1903, 1905 R. Keir 1911 P. Evans 1918 Dean 1932 J. Foster 1939 R. McGraw 1950 | Rabbie Burns 1875–1877 Federation 1876 Blue Bells 1878–1883, 1887 Benduck 1879 Whaler 1921 Impulse 1950 | Barge sunk 1883 Converted for irrigation purposes 1888[88] Idle 1902, then restored for general cargo 1903 Associated with Barmah sawmill, 80 km upstream from Echuca, carrying logs and sawn timber from 1907. | ||||
| Elfie | 1880– | Perry 1892 Gribble 1892 L. Searles 1894 C. Payne 1896 F. Wolter 1897, 1898 | Cutty Sark 1896–1897 | Originally a barge behind Kelpie, then set up for scouring wool. Deckhand Alfred Salmon burned to death when deck caught fire 1892 Captain Perry mysteriously disappeared 1892, found dead. Chinese cook murdered deckhand 1894[89] | ||||||
| Elizabeth | 90 tons | 1872– | J. Mackintosh Mackintosh Sawmill Co. 1888 Murray River Sawmill Co. | E. Fowler 1873, 1874 D. Bower 1874–1876 C. Hill 1878, 1879 C. King 1879 L. Strom 1883, 1885, 1886, 1888, :1892, 1893, 1899–1901, 1908 W. Carlyon 1893 | John Campbell 1878, 1885 Tongo 1878 Scottish Chief 1876, 1878–1879 Premier 1886 Confidence 1893 | |||||
| Ellen | 134 tons 125 ft. × 19' 6 in. | 1877–1930 | Shetliff & Co. H. King & Co. 1909 Gem Navigation Co. 1909– Murray Shipping Ltd. 1919, 1923 | S. Shetliff jr. 1883–1886 A. Matulick 1885 W. Miers 1890, 1891 Hart 1895, 1896 H. W. King 1905 W. Tinks 1906, 1909 C. Payne c. 1910 Bob Smith 1910, 1911 G. McLean 1911 G. Alexander 1912 E. Orchard 1913 V. Byrne 1920 C. Cantwell 1921 J. Haynes 1923 L. McLean 1923 | Paragon 1905, 1906 Pearl 1906 Isabel 1906, 1909, 1912 Empress 1909, 1910 Queen 1910 Hartley 1910 Susan 1917 Albemarle 1917 Ukee 1917 Paika 1917 Cobar 1918 | Originally barge Ellen, launched 1876.[90] Stuck in Darling 1885–1886 Sold to Joseph Johnson of Port Wakefield in 1887, but returned to Mildura with George Chaffey's pumps in December 1888. Sank near Euston in 1923 Destroyed by fire 1930.[91] | ||||
| Emily Jane (1) | 58 tons 70' 9" × 13' 2" | 1875–1882 | T. Buzza 1875–1882 | E. Fowler 1875, 1876 T. Buzza 1877, 1880 S. Fowler 1878 (Mudie p. 91) J. Dickson 1878–1880 J. Lyons 1881 C. Evans 1881 F. C. Hansen 1881 E. Barnes 1882 | Energetic 1876 Wyuna 1878–1882, 1886, 1887 Goulburn 1879–1882 Gunbower 1881 Native Companion 1883 | Named for Buzza's daughter. First steamer to reach Shepparton, Murchison;[92] and Seymour[93] In 1882 Buzza announced his intention to convert her to log barge and her engine to be installed in White Swan.[94] | ||||
| Emily Jane (2) | 1882–1899 | T. Buzza 1882–1893 W. Bowring −1899 | T. Buzza 1882–1887 S. Williams 1891 W. Bowring 1894, 1899 | Wyuna 1887 Paika 1899 | Possibly the White Swan renamed (see below). Destroyed by fire with huge losses Christmas 1899 then broken up. | |||||
| Emma | iron hull, 25 hp. | 1885– | T. Freeman 1885– W. Keir 1887, 1888 Davie, Price & Co. | T. Freeman 1885, 1886 A. De Forest 1886 W. Keir 1887, 1888 F. Kerridge 1890–1892 | Sarah Francis 1886 Union 1899 Eagle 1930 Chime 1912 Annie 1903, 1906, 1912–1913, :1916, 1918 | Light draught steamer built after style of Ferret. (Mudie p. 159) | ||||
| Emu (1) | 19/41 tons orig. stern-wheeler | H. Williams 1879 | Sheridan 1867, 1872 W. Smith 1871–1873 F. Gurney 1872–1874 Wilkes (Wilks ?) 1874 Freeherne 1876 | Converted to side-wheeler 1872 | ||||||
| Emu (2) | 1888– | Sleigh & Coombes 1891[95] –1896[96] | E. Fowler 1893 Duffy 1893, 1894 T. Davis 1895 | Diamentina 1891 | H. C. Sleigh later shipping and "Golden Fleece" petroleum magnate | |||||
| 1908– | Murray River Paddlesteamers | Built as tourist vessel. Featured in TV series All the Rivers Run as "PS Providence". | ||||||||
| Endeavour | iron hull | 1866–1879 | J. Egge 1868 | J. Egge 1868–1874 J. S. Upton 1876 E. W. Randell (when?) | Hawking steamer | |||||
| Endeavour | M. Gabb 1908[97] | Missionary steamer | ||||||||
| Enterprise (1) | 1868–1874 | J. Mackintosh 1868 J. Maultby 1871– | R. Davey 1869 C. Berthon 1875 Church 1876 E. Cremer 1877 W. Keir 1873 | Moama 1870 | Built specifically to cart redgum timber from Bamah forest.[98] Became trading steamer for Joseph Maultby, purchased by S.A. Government c. 1874 and fitted with (coal-burning) boiler; sent to Top End for construction phase of the Australian Overland Telegraph Line. Returned to Murray 1878. Later renamed Rita | |||||
| Enterprise (2) | 1878– | R. Keir 1878–1889 C. Hunt 1889 T. H. Freeman 1894 Gem Navigation Co. 1909– | W. Keir 1878–1889 R. Keir 1887–1889 Johnson 1882 M.Cole 1882 A. De Forest 1887 F. Toomer 1891 D. Sinclair 1892 L. Strom 1894 J. Newman 1908, 1909 W. F. Bailey 1910 | Energetic 1878–1879 Border Chief 1879 Reliance 1879 Belubla 1879–1882, 1887–1889 Gunbower 1882 Benduck 1882 Annie 1884–1889 Maori 1890 | Snagging duties 1887. Barge sank in Lake Alexandrina 1887; Capt. Keir was criticized for lack of judgment. In 1889 the barge was snagged near Balranald and sunk.[99] Barge Annie sunk 1889 Phillips recounts a 1973 race between Enterprise and Etona. Became houseboat at Mannum. In 1988 Enterprise was restored to run on Lake Burley Griffin as a working museum piece.[100] | |||||
| Era | J. Krause 1903 | Columbia 1903 | ||||||||
| Eric | 1913–1918 | later named W.F.B. then Bejo (Mudie p. 183) perhaps "B.J.O." | ||||||||
| Esmeralda | 140' × 32' side-wheeler | 1919 | Murray Shipping Co. 1919 | largest boat on the Murray; built at Arnold's shipyards, Mannum, by Capt. P. J. Sandford. | ||||||
| Ethel Jackson "The Jackson" | 266 tons 115' long, 62 hp. | 1876[101] – | McCulloch & Co. H. C. Sleigh c. 1892–1896 | M. Mack 1876–1879 J. Lawson 1880, 1881 J. Dorey 1880, 1881 | Namoi 1877, 1878–1880 Eagle 1878, 1880 Swallow 1878–1880 Border Chief 1881 | Largest boat on the Murray, flagship of the McCulloch Company.[102] | ||||
| Etona (1) | 1892–1900 | Church of England | Rev. J. F. K. McKenzie 1892 Rev. W. J. Bussell 1894–1900 | Missionary boat, named for Eton school.[103] Purchased by SA Govt. 1900, renamed Alma[104] | ||||||
| Etona (2) | 1900–1912 | Church of England | Rev. W. J. Bussell 1900–1912 Rev. H. F. Severn 1902–1909 Rev. F. W. Wilkinson 1910 | The Etona was originally built in 1898 in Milang, SA by John McLellan, with assistance from his brother James McLellan, who stayed on to become the vessels engineer.[105] Sold 1912, became fishing launch; replaced with motor boat[106] Restored by P & R. Symonds of Echuca Phillips recounts 1973 race between Enterprise and Etona. model, display at Cobdogla Steam Museum. | ||||||
| Eureka | 80' × 25' flat-bottomed | 1881– | J. H. Brown 1881– | A steamer Eureka was built by William Gordon c. 1850[107] | ||||||
| Eva | Govt. marine underwriter surveyor | Earnshaw 1898 | ||||||||
| Eva Millicent | 1894–1903 | E. Diener 1893–1903 | E. Diener 1893–1903 | Hawking steamer and residence; converted to barge behind Merle until replaced by Flo. | ||||||
| Excelsior | 120' × 20' 142 tons 24 hp. | 1873– | T. Brakenridge 1873 W. Anderson 1879 W. Hart 1889 E. Rich & Co. –1907 Permewan, Wright & Co. 1907– Gem Navigation Co. 1912 W. Bowring & Co. 1909–1930 Collins | T. Brakenridge 1873–1876 W. Mathews 1873–1875 Blake 1879 W. Thompson 1882, 1894–1897 W. Hart 1889 J. Newman 1910 G. McLean 1912 J. Hemfield 1912 H. Hart 1913, 1914 E. Orchard 1912–1914 R. Potter 1913, 1917 J. Nutchey 1916 G. Dorward jr. 1916 E. R. Randell 1923, 1925 | Morning Star 1876 Paika 1881 Border Chief 1896–1897 Howlong 1896–1897, 1883 Florence Annie 1909, 1912 | newly converted from steamer--> Annie 1909, 1925 Empress 1912 Maori 1913 Ukee 1913, 1914 Moorara 1913–1914, 1917 Hartley 1914 Emerald 1916 Mallara 1917 | Hawking steamer, sunk near Netley station in 1886 when overloaded with grog for Wilcannia; riot by 150 striking shearers ensued.[108] Her paddlewheels were incorporated into M.V. Coonawarra 1950. | |||
| Express | 17 tons 70' long, 8 hp. | 1868–1878 | T. Dowland snr. 1869–1870 Parker & Hilton 1870– Fallow 1877 F. Payne 1878 E. Dutton 1879 | T. Dowland snr. 1869, 1870 H. Parker 1870, 1871 R. Hilton 1871, 1872 T. Saunier 1871, 1872 W. Kerr 1873, 1874 Fredericks 1878 | Destroyed by fire 1878. | |||||
| Fairy | H. Brennan 1892 Johnson & Dodd 1898 | E. Fowler 1881 W. Collins 1893, 1894 E. H. Dodd jr. 1898 | Sprite 1883, 1884 | Small trading steamer | ||||||
| Federal | Taylor 1903 | J. Gibbs 1905–1908 | Pearl 1902 Emerald 1903 | Light draught steamer like Alpha and Mannum.[109] Served as mail steamer between Morgan and Mannum 1903–1909. Became houseboat, perhaps at Morgan. | ||||||
| Ferret (Ferrett?) | 57' × 14' | 1883– | Wilson & Glew 1883 | D. Sinclair 1884 W. Porter 1884 J. Fyfe 1884 W. Wilson 1884–1888 Pearson 1890 F. Salmon 1892, 1896 | Result 1884, 1886 Annie 1890 | Light draught steamer. Documentation or photograph needed to prove whether her name was "Ferrett" (surname) or "Ferret" (animal). | ||||
| Firefly | 5 tons | 1864–1867 | W. Pullar | First steamer to work from Echuca. Previously on Yarra and later purchased by South Australian government for Cadell's Northern Territory explorations.[110] | ||||||
| Florence Annie | 110' × 25' 100 tons | 1882–1908 | Brown 1882 Goode & Goode 1907 | J. McMillan 1882–1884 D. Cremer (when?) Merton 1891 C. Westin 1892, 1896 T. C. Goode | Cutty Sark 1882 Emily 1885 | Hawking steamer or floating store, based at Bourke then Goolwa. Stuck at Louth during drought 1885–1886 Converted to barge Florence Annie 1909. | ||||
| Forester | stern-wheeler 55' × 12' | 1891–1901 | N.S.W. Govt. Forestry Department | After serving for a few high-level tours of inspection, she was moored at Tocumwal and sank at her moorings 1901, was raised at great expense and promptly sank again. She was advertised for sale that same year and may have been broken up. | ||||||
| Fort Bourke | see Lady Daly | |||||||||
| Francis Cadell See also steamer Cadell above. | iron side-paddles 60 hp., 110 ft × 16 ft. 140 tons. Built by J & W Dudgeon, Cubitt Town and shipped in sections[111] | 1866–1868 | J. King 1866 Murray & Jackson | J. King 1866 Grundy 1892? | Sent to Brisbane; A. T. Saunders suggests she drew too much water for Murray navigation.[112] | |||||
| Fraser | 1873– | Public Works department (Vic. govt.) | snagging steamer named for Alexander Fraser, Public Works commissioner decommissioned before Wardell and Melbourne | |||||||
| Freetrader | side-paddles 93 tons 98' long | 1872[113] –1888 | McCulloch & Co. | F. Toomer 1872, 1874 C. Hill 1873 S. Williams 1874 W. Porter 1875, 1876 J. Lawson 1877 J. Dorey 1878–1881 J. Tait 1881 G. Jolly 1883 W. J. Carlyon 1888 | Advance 1872 Swallow 1874, 1879 Alice 1878 Gwydir 1878–1879, 1882–1886 Paroo 1879 Pelican 1879 Gunbower 1880 Pimpampa 1881 Namoi | Lay idle in Darling with barges 1882–1886 due to low river levels, silted up irretrievably. Purchased by Charles Hunt and her copper sheathing and machinery salvaged. He was subsequently called on to clear the derelict.[114] | ||||
| Gem | 96' × 20' 143 tons | 1876– | Reid & King Sabine 1878 E. Randell 1877–1879 Chaffey Gem Navigation Co. 1909– Murray Shipping Ltd. 1919 Sold 1952[115] | H. W. King 1889–1908 J. Nutchey 1903–1915 Dubois 1915 H. McLean 1917, 1942, 1943 V. Byrne 1921, 1923 G. H. Alexander 1924 W. O. Searles 1925–1928 H. Payne 1939 G. Makin 1948 | Pearl 1907 | Built by Air & Westergaard Lengthened by 40' c. 1882 First to employ electric light.[116] Sank 1948; one frail passenger died. In 1949 described as three-decker passenger boat | ||||
| Gemini | twin hull | 1855–1863 | W. R. Randell | W. R. Randell 1855–1859 C. Stilton 1860 E. Randell 1860, 1861 | Goolwa 1860, 1861 | One hull was originally Mary Ann. Reached Bourke, Brewarrina 1857.(Mudie p. 70) Reached Walgett in floods of 1861.(Mudie p. 78) | ||||
| Gertrude "Gerty" | 34 tons, 60 ft. × 10 ft. | 1873– | J. Wallace 1873, 1874 Swannell 1875 Kopp 1875, 1876 | Replaced Blanche as mail steamer on Lakes Alexandra and Albert. Converted from screw to paddles 1875. | ||||||
| Glad Tidings | 1894, 1895 | Rev. W. C. Butler | Rev. W. C. Butler | see Dione above | ||||||
| Glimpse (1) | 48' long | 1884–1886 | Wilson Brothers, B.R. & C.J. | Master Craik 1884 R. Keir 1884 D. Sinclair 1884 W. Porter 1885 C. P. Johnson 1885 (Mudie p. 121) C. Wilson 1885 | Impulse 1885 | Built on the banks of the Murray River at Koondrook by B. R. Wilson. Light draught steamer with Altlas 10 hp engine, first trialled 21 March 1884 Destroyed by fire at Koondrook 25 January 1886.[117] Raised from 20' of water and slipped at Koondrook for rebuild 24 June 1886 | ||||
| Glimpse (2) | 60' long | 1887– | Wilson Brothers, B.R. & C.J. A. Arbuthnot & Sons 1913– | C. Wilson 1886–1888 A. De Forest 1897 W. Johnson 1899 | Impulse 1887 | Light draught steamer rebuilt from Glimpse (1).[118] Trialled 3 February 1887 | ||||
| Golconda | 78' × 16' 97 tons | 1877– | R.F. Williamson, C. Hansen, J.L. Simpson 1877–[119] J. H. Brown F. E. Schuetze J. G. Arnold | F. C. Hansen 1877–1880 D. Sinclair 1879? A. Dusting 1880, 1881 J. McMillan 1881, 1882 C. Cowley 1882 C. Bock 1887 J. G. Arnold | Leviathan 1877–1883, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1891 Woorooma(?) 1879 | Converted from barge Golconda. Another barge Golconda was owned by W. T. Tutcher in May 1881, at which time steamer Golconda, involved in collision with Moira, was owned by J. H. Brown. Her barge Leviathan sunk 1881, again in 1891. | ||||
| Goldsbrough | 84' × 15' | 1875– | L. McBean 1875 Cramsie, Bowden & Co. 1882 Permewan, Wright & Co. H. Palmer 1910 | Church 1876 J. Christy 1877, 1878 J. Page 1888–1890 John James 1878 J. Innes 1878, 1887 J. Dorey 1878 D. Sinclair 1879 C. Cowley 1880 E. Crowle 1880 W. Bulled 1880 J. Fyfe 1880 W. Sugden 1881 H. Theisz 1881 W. Keir 1882 M. Cole 1882, 1883 P. Westergaard 1883–1886 A. Nutchey 1890–1899, 1901 G. Thomson 1897 W. Knight 1905 J. Gibbs 1910, 1911 Dubois 1915 | Woorooma 1876, 1878, 1880–1881, :1886 Jessie 1883, 1888, 1908 Pimpampa 1883, 1885, 1889 Horace 1883–1886, 1888, 1905 Victory 1886 Tongo 1887–1894, 1898–1900 Paroo 1888, 1891 Namoi 1888 Confidence 1889, 1890, 1897 Eagle 1890, 1892 Sprite 1899 Nelson 1892, 1893, 1896, 1899, 1900, 1905, 1908 Gunbower 1896–1897, 1915 J.L. Roberts 1897, 1898 Lancashire Witch 1897, 1905 Maori 1905, 1915 Uranus 1910 Crowie 1914 | |||||
| Goolwa (1) | Iron hull, twin screw 30 tons | 1866–1872 | Johnston & Murphy | J. Gillon 1867–1871 J. Morris 1870 C. Murphy 1870 W. Dickson 1871 | Very shallow draught, intended to carry small loads in the dry season Sold to J. Becker for use on Gippsland Lakes. | |||||
| Goolwa (2) | Iron hull 31 tons | 1873– | A. Ross & Co. 1875 Johnston & Murphy 1879 | B. Atkins 1874 M. Mack 1875 J. Nash 1875, 1876, 1879 | Bogan 1873 | |||||
| Grappler "The White Elephant" | snag steamer | 1858– | S.A. Government | Williams G. W. Brown 1867–1872 J. Lindsay 1872–1875 | Built in Echuca at Cadell's suggestion, to clear "snags" (underwater obstructions)[120] but was largely ineffective (Mudie p. 46). Other reports were far more favourable.[121] Sent up-stream 1878 for use as police station. Converted to dredge 1880. | |||||
| Gundagai | iron hull 96 tons, 40 hp. | 1855–1866 | E. Robertson 1855 G. B. Johnston 1856 J. Mace 1856 H. Mennie 1856 John Barclay 1857–1864 H. King 1862–1865 W. Barber 1862 | Wakool 1855–1857 Eureka 1856 Murrumbidgee 1855–1857 Darling 1857–1858 | She was sent to New Zealand 1865 and totally wrecked 1866 on the Pātea River.[122] | |||||
| Hero | 92 ft × 17 ft 63/137 tons 45 hp | 1874[123] –1957 2000–now | J. Maultby 1874– W. Keir 1882 D. Stratton & Co. 1890 Donaldson, Coburn & Knox 1901 Permewan, Wright & Co.[124] J. C. Grassey & Partners Collins Bros. c. 1942 Forestry Commission Collins Bros. 1950–1954 | J. Maultby 1874–1890 A. Dusting 1891, 1893–1897 E. Fowler 1892 G. Robson 1905 D. Nutchey 1906 W. Knight 1906 H. Hogg 1942–1944 S. Clarke 1943–1949[125] | Queen 1878–1882 Echuca 1883, 1885, 1887, 1890, 1908 Eagle 1896, 1901 Jessie 1897, 1907, 1908, 1911 Nelson 1905 Ada 1906 J.L. Roberts 1908 Albemarle 1909 Namoi 1910 John Campbell 1943, 1950 Canally 1950 | Restored c. 2000; based at Echuca, used for private charters. | ||||
| Industry (1) | 98' × 11', 15 hp. | 1878– | J. Nutchey 1880 E. Fitzgerald 1887 M. Barber 1885–1905 G. Grundy jr. 1909[126] 1905, 1909 | Mary Ann 1887 | Oniginally barge, built 1876; converted to steamer 1878. | |||||
| Industry (2) | 112' × 19.3' | 1911– | G. Grundy jr. 1912, :1916, 1919, 1920, 1922 H. Brand 1923–1928, 1930 D. Burns 1941 | Snagging operations for SA Government. Delivering pile timber in 1926. | ||||||
| Invincible (1) | 92' × 16' 3", 140 tons | 1878–1889 | F. Payne 1877–1879 Echuca Steamship Co. 1879–1882 C. Hunt Wm. McCulloch W. Carlyon 1886 C. Hunt 1887, 1890 W. Miers & Co. 1899 | J. Innes 1878 J. Morris 1878, 1879 W. Hampson 1879–1881 R. Lewen 1880 A. Manning 1881 C. Johnson 1881 C. Hill 1882 W. Porter 1884 J. Newman 1886 W. Carlyon 1886 C. Hunt 1887–1889 D. Bower 1888 G. Jolly 1887 J. Burgess 1888 | Goolwa 1878 Energetic 1878 Confidence 1878 Gunbower 1878–1879 Reliance 1878–1879, 1881 Eagle 1886 Federation 1887 Pelican 1887, 1890 Nelson 1890 | McCulloch & Co. sold their Echuca fleet 1887 | ||||
| Invincible (2) | 91 ft × 20 ft | 1889[127] – | C. Hunt 1889–1917 Murray Shipping Ltd. Koondrook sawmills 1937 | C. Hunt 1889–1892 W. Miers 1897–1900 H. Kelly 1922, 1925, 1932, 1934 | J.L. Roberts 1934 Vega 1931, 1936, 1949[128] | Fred Agars (a Cudmore descendant) drowned August 1896 after falling from the Invincible 1936 carried last bales of wool handled at Echuca wharf. | ||||
| J. G. Arnold | Sidewheeler | 1916– | J. G. Arnold | W. Bailey 1917, 1918, 1921 L. Mewett 1923 C. Cantwell 1925 L. McLean 1927–1929 | Crowie 1917, 1918, 1922 Ukee 1919–1921, 1932 Loxton 1923 Kulnine 1923, 1928 | Built from wreck of Arbuthnot. Image at State Library of New South Wales In 1917 her barge Crowie carried record 2000 bales of wool; in 1925 the same barge towed by Decoy carried 2,493 bales. Towing barges with stone for construction of Lock 8 in 1932. | ||||
| J. H. P. "The Coffin" "Darning Needle" | steel stern-wheeler, 30 ton[129] | 1866–1872 | Pollard & Saunders 1868 J. Warby 1869–1870 Wallace & Dawson 1871–1872 H. King 1872–1873 | T. Connell 1866–1870 Adamson 1870 J. M. Wallace 1871 Parker 1872 Barrenger 1872 H. King 1872 | Named for J. H. Pollard. Steamer Alfred was sister ship, but side-wheeler.[130] Capsized near Echuca 1869; one man drowned.[131] Dubbed "The Coffin", and the "Darning Needle" on account of her narrow beam,[132] she had more than her share of capsizings. Converted to barge for Princess Royal 1873. | |||||
| Jandra | 1894–1921 | A. Senior &<br />W. & H. Brown 1894– | W. Brown 1912 G. Pickhills | Converted to barge 1921. Subject (as "Yanda") of C. E. W. Bean's book Dreadnought of the Darling | ||||||
| Jane Eliza "Jane" | 98/120 tons | 1867– | Smith & Banks 1867– Davies & Dorward H. King with W.L & H. T. Reid 1875– H. King 1879 Chaffey brothers | G. Smith 1867–1870 J. Banks 1869, 1870, 1872 W. Thompson c. 1871 A. Peirce 1871 F. Foord 1872 G. Dorward 1874 H. King 1875, 1878 T. Saunier 1879 W. Porter 1883 A. Dusting 1883–1886 | Only Son 1869 Wangaratta 1869–1872, Reliance 1876 Goolwa 1878 Isabel 1879–1880, | Built from wreck of Beechworth (Mudie p. 223) Stuck in Darling 1883–1886 with building materials for hotel (Mudie p. 229–233) Sunk after collision with Paringa 1883; may have had more collisions than any other steamer on the Murray.(Mudie p. 228) | ||||
| Jolly Miller | iron hull length 90' 92 tons | 1866– | T. Johnston 1866 J. Wallace 1867 F. Johnstone 1873 W. Collins 1908–[133] Gem Navigation Co. 1914 | J. Wallace 1866–1868 J. Ritchie 1868 W. Barber 1868, 1869 T. Johnston 1870, 1872, :1874, 1875 Waters 1871 J. Johnston 1875 J. Shetliff 1893–1895 W. Collins 1908–1910 | Emily Maid of the Murray 1874, 1875 Murrumbidgee 1872, 1874, 1875 | First iron-hulled vessel to be built in South Australia.[134] | ||||
| Julia "Mayho" | 39 tons | J. Mackintosh 1871–1879 Mackintosh Sawmill Co. 1888 W. Wilson 1894–1899 F. O. Wallin 1899–1906 | Lewen 1870 C. Hill 1871 J. Gribble 1874 G. Jolly 1878 J. Patterson 1882, 1884 F. O. Wallin 1898–1906 | In Renmark nicknamed "Mayho" or "Mayo" (Mudie p. 129) | ||||||
| Jupiter | iron hull, 119 tons | 1868–1933[135] | King & Reid J. King −1875 W & H Dunk 1921, 1928 A. H. Landseer 1929– | J. King 1869–1874 J. Tait 1871, 1875, 1876 T. Saunier 1874, 1875 G. Pickhills 1875 A. Tait 1876 E. Cremer 1876 Ritchie 1892–1893 D. Cremer 1902, 1907, 1908 :1921, 1922, 1928 | Venus 1875, 1893 Isabel 1876 | Jupiter built as a barge from imported sections in 1866; rebuilt and fitted with engine from Lady Augusta in 1868. Barge Venus sunk 1893. | ||||
| Kelpie | 45 tons length 82' | 1864– | J. Symington W. & A. Sugden Cramsie, Bowden, & Co. 1879 Permewan Wright & Co. | J. Symington 1864–1873 H. Dewing 1869 R. Davey 1872 R. G. Lewen 1874, 18875 W. Sugden 1875, 1876 W. Rowlands 1876 G. Dorward jr. 1877, 1878 J. Innes 1879–1893 D. Sinclair 1887 Johnson 1888 G. Lindqvist 1895 | Redgum 1869 Waterwitch 1869, 1871 Lancashire Witch 1876 Horace 1878–1883, 1893 Jessie 1878–1884, 1889, 1891–1894 Belubla 1882 Woorooma 1885, 1886 Pimpampa 1885–1888 Nelson 1886, 1890–1892, 1894 Paroo 1889, 1891–1893 Tongo 1889 Maori 1889 | Originally a stern-wheel boat but rebuilt with side-paddles. Engineer John Ayre lost overboard 1872. | ||||
| Kelvin | 1912– | D. J. Ritchie 1912– S.A. Irrigation Department 1919 R. Reed 1937 | D. J. Ritchie 1912– J. Grundy 1920 C. Payne 1932 R. Reed 1934, 1935 | Built from wreck of steamer Ariel;[136] replaced Dispatch as passenger and mail steamer between Morgan and Murray Bridge 1912. | ||||||
| Kennedy | 109' 114 tons | 1864– | J. Cornish A. Sunman Acraman, Main, & Co. 1875 E. Main 1879 | J. Cornish 1864–1867 W. Parker 1866, 1867, :1871, 1872 J. Lindsay 1869 A. Sunman 1870–1876, :1878, 1880 C. Bock 1883 | Darling 1864–1865, 1872–1873 Hume 1870, 1873, 1875–1876 | |||||
| Kingfisher | −1893 | S. Williams 1877 C. Roberts 1881 | Church 1874 F. C. Hansen 1875–1878 E. Crowle 1878 W. Bulled 1879, 1880 D. Sinclair 1880 W. Stone 1881, 1882 P. Westergaard 1882 A. McPherson 1884 C. Johnson 1884–1886 J. Patterson 1890 G. Lindqvist 1892 E. Golding 1892 | Leviathan 1878 Canally 1878 Reliance 1878, 1879 Benduck 1878–1879 Willandra 1879 Darling 1880 Goulburn 1881–1882 Pimpampa 1888 Horace 1888–1890 Maori 1891 | ||||||
| Kookaburra | 1917 | E. Diener | E. Diener 1917–1923 J. Nutchey 1924–1926 H. Hogg 1952 | E. Diener 1918–1923 | Hawking steamer and residence; converted from Diener's barge Flo.[137] Phillips recounts race between Kookaburra and Coonawarra. Became houseboat at Mildura. Restored by Hilary Hogg 1953, | |||||
| Lady Augusta | wood hull, 105' × 12' 2 × 22 hp. 90 tons[138] | 1853– | River Murray Navigation Co. G. Young 1859 W. Barber 1879 | W. Davidson 1853 F. Cadell 1853 W. Webb 1854 E. Robertson 1854, 1855, :1857–1859 T. Johnstone 1856 H. King 1861 W. Barber 1862–1866 F. Foord 1870 | Murrumbidgee 1853, 1858, 1859, :1864, 1865 Eureka 1853, 1854, 1857, 1858 Wakool 1855 | Named for the wife of Sir Henry Young,[139] but inadvertently registered as "Lady Agusta".[140] She was entirely built in Sydney, winner of S.A. Govt.'s £2,000 prize (and £2,000 bonus) as first commercial steamer on Murray. Samuel Darby (engineer) and Francis Clems (stoker) were scalded to death when a flue ruptured October 1856.[141] Subject of interstate customs squabble.[142] | ||||
| Lady Daly | stern-wheeler 300 tons, 114 ft × 25 ft 6 in. | 1862–1867, 1876–1878 | W. Luxon 1862, 1864, 1865 J. Mace 1864, 1865 Blake 1864, 1868 P. Jackson 1865 J. Lindsay 1866, 1867 A. Peirce G. Pickhills 1869–1875 J. Burgess 1875 F. Toomer 1871–1876 W. Barber 1876 W. Pullar 1878 | Mitta Mitta 1864 Paika 1870 Advance 1872 Waterwitch 1874 Federation 1874, 1876 Vanguard 1874 Empress 1876 Waterwitch 1876 | Provisionally named Fort Bourke,[143] she was at the time one of the largest on the river, second only to Ethel Jackson.[144] Converted to log barge 1878. | |||||
| Lady Darling | stern-wheeler | 1864–1867 | Murray & Jackson 1865 Smith & Banks 1865 G. Smith 1867 | Blake 1864 H. King 1864 J. Mace 1865 Reis 1866 Scott 1867 | Destroyed by fire 1867.[145] She was rebuilt as the Corowa. (Mudie p. 173) Name changed "for good luck"[146] | |||||
| Lady of the Lake | 60' × 20' 6" | 1880[147] – | F. Payne 1880– | R. G. Lewen 1880, 1881 F. Boxall 1882, 1885 F. Payne 1884, 1887, 1896–1898 J. Egge 1896 H. Payne 1896 | Robbie Burns 1880, 1882, 1884, :1890, 1896–1897, 1899 | Leichardt's barge of the same name abandoned off Middleton 1866. Noted for her shallow draught, she sank 1890 after striking submerged barge.|-| Lancashire Lass || 92' × 17' || 1878– || E. Whiteley 1878 J. S. Wilson 1888 B. R. Wilson 1894 Edward Rich 1896 E. Rich & Co. –1907 Permewan, Wright 1907– Knox & Downs 1917– || C. Cowley 1878 J. Christy 1879–1881 E. Barnes 1881 R. Hanson 1881 J. Dickson 1882–1888 D. Sinclair 1887, 1896–1898 C. J. Wilson 1888–1894 B. R. Wilson 1894–1895 A. De Forest 1895 Hart 1905 W. Thompson 1906 D. Nutchey 1908 E. Orchard 1911 || Namoi 1878, 1892 Victory 1879–1883, 1885, 1887–1897, :1906, 1909, 1912 Belubla 1882 Confidence 1886–1887 Jessie 1886 Nelson 1886, 1887, 1911, 1915, 1917 Gwydir 1887 Paragon 1896 J.L. Roberts 1908 Horace 1910–1911, 1917 Gunbower 1911 Loxton 1914 Koondrook 1920 |||-| Leichardt || iron hull, side paddles, 120' × 23' 60 hp. 97 tons || 1856–1858 || Chubb, Hill & Co, Acraman, Main, Lindsay, and Co. || A. McCoy 1856–1858 Davidson 1856, 1857 || Lady of the Lake 1856–1857 || Sister to steamer Sturt. Sailed to Batavia 1859, for use as river transport for troops at Bangor Massam, Borneo during the Banjarmasin War. Leichardt was the name of the steamer,[148] although Ludwig Leichhardt was the name of the explorer for whom, no doubt, she was named.|-| Lioness || Iron hulled paddle steamer || 1853 || H. F. Cadell || R. Kay 1853 || || Sailed from Liverpool jury-rigged as schooner, with Robert Ross mate; George Gibson engineer; Avery was cook and crewed by George Johnston, James Ritchie, John Barclay and William Barber. She was sold to G. W. Cole of Melbourne for £21,000 (cost £5,500 in Scotland).[149] There are reports that she was destined for Murray but somehow proved unsuitable without actually getting there.|-| Little Wonder || 32 tons || 1875– || McCulloch & Co. || J. Patterson 1876 J. Krause 1879, 1880 C. Schmedje sr. 1881, 1882 S. Cowley 1898 || Swan 1876 Alice 1879–1880 Pimpampa 1880 Pocohontas 1882 Confidence |||-| Maggie || 75 ft × 20 ft 4in. || 1881– || R. S. Foley 1881– Paul Fischer 1909– || H. Theisz 1881–1883 Lewis 1883, 1884 J. Burgess 1885 F. C. Hansen 1885–1897 G. Lindqvist 1891, 1898, 1899 W. F. Bailey 1899 R. Strang 1904, 1905 Lewen 1905 W. Knight 1905 H. Teschner 1905 || Energetic 1881–1882 Alice 1881, 1908 Advance 1882–1883, 1886 Native Companion 1884–1886 Tongo 1886–1889, 1895 Jessie 1888–1890, 1892, 1896, :1903, 1905–1906 Confidence 1889–1892, 1894–1896 Paroo 1890 Moira 1890 Maori 1890, 1892, 1895, 1903 Namoi 1893, 1895 Eagle 1894, 1896 Horace 1892, 1895 J.L. Roberts 1895, 1897, 1905 Echuca 1896, 1897, 1939 Lancashire Witch 1898 Nelson 1898, 1906, 1907 Ormond 1899, 1904 Goldsbrough 1901 Sarah Jane 1901 Paragon 1901 Ada 1902 Gunbower 1907 Sprite 1908 || Refurbished as tourist vessel by Fischer.[150] Used for tourist accommodation at Waikerie in 1910.|-| Mannum (1) || 600 tons || || Gem Navigation Co. 1909– || W. Tinks 1902 Smith 1913, 1914 S. Rossiter 1914 E. Orchard 1914, 1924 C. Payne 1920 T. C. Goode 1926 || Emerald 1901, 1906 Susan 1903 Queen 1910 Pearl 1912 Florence Annie 1913 Moorara 1915 || The largest boat on the Murray, she was largely destroyed by fire and scuttled at Mannum in 1920; raised by J. G. Arnold and P. Sandford in 1921.[151] and rebuilt by Arnold.|-| Mannum (2) || || || River Navigation Co. 1920 || J. Payne 1920 || || Possibly largest boat on the Murray[152] |-| Maori || || || || L. Searles 1907, 1908 || || Carrying firewood. Was she converted from barge Maori?|-| Maranoa || stern-wheeler length 117' 89 tons || 1864– || Johnston & Murphy 1864– G. Johnston & Co. 1875 || Peter Johnstone (Johnston?) 1866 T. Johnston 1868–1872 G. B. Johnston 1869–1872, :1874 James Barclay 1870–1875, 1879 J. Gillon 1870, 1872 W. Dickson 1871 C. Murphy 1871 W. Luxon 1871 E. Cremer 1873 || Mitta Mitta 1865 Goolwa 1866 J & M 1867, 1872, 1874 Unknown 1874, 1875 Menindie 1878 Monarch 1879, 1884 || Originally barge Maranoa.|-| Marion || 110' × 23' || 1900– || W. Bowring & Co. 1900– Ben Chaffey Steamboat Co. 1908–1909 Gem Navigation Co. 1909– Murray Shipping Co. 1920 || A. Hart 1900–1908 G. McLean 1909, 1912 B. Atkins 1910 W. Tinks 1910 J. Nutchey 1911 G. Alexander 1911, 1914 C. Payne 1911, 1921–1931 H. Payne 1912 Smith 1913–1917 S. Rossiter 1914 R. Ransom 1916 H. McLean 1917 Morrison 1920, 1921 G. Makin 1924, 1944 W. H. Drage 1928, 1931–1942 L. McLean 1941, 1942, 1949 || Paika 1906, 1914 Queen 1908, 1910 Emerald 1909 Ukee 1909 Pearl 1909 Cobar 1914 Mary Ann 1914 || Originally barge Marion, purchased by George Fowler for conversion to pleasure vessel but after Fowler's death was bought by W. Bowring & Co., of Mildura and Wentworth, to replace their trading vessel Emily Jane.[153] Converted to passenger boat 1914 with superstructure from Pearl. Extensively damaged by fire 1926[154] Operated as tourist vessel between Morgan and Mildura in the 1930s.[155] In 1949 described as three-decker passenger boat|-| Mary Ann || || 1853–1855 || W. R. Randell 1853–1855 || W. R. Randell 1853–1855 || || Named for mother of Wm., Tom, Elliott and Eb. Randell Became one of Geminis twin hulls. The first paddle steamer to successfully traverse the Murray-Darling river system.[156] |-| Mascotte || || 1911 || Permewan, Wright & Co. || A. Nutchey 1911 || || Built as a barge in 1910; converted to steamer 1911.|-| Maude || 300 tons || 1885– || J. Lamby 1885 Sawers & Wilson E. Rich & Co. –1907 Permewan, Wright 1907– || H. Theisz 1885–1887 W. Payne 1896–1898 H. Payne 1896–1898 || || Probably named for the Murrumbidgee town Engineer Wilcox lost both arms 1885.[157] Capt. Theisz fell overboard and drowned 1887[158] Snagging duties 1898|-| Mayflower || 50' × 12' 9" 14 tons || 1884– || D. Alexander 1884–1890 Butterworth & Co. 1890 || D. Alexander 1884–1890 || || Light draught steamer built after style of Ferret. (Mudie p. 159) Repossessed by bank 1890[159] PS Mayflower, stationed at Morgan is the oldest operating paddle steamer in South Australia.[160] |-| Mayho || || || || || || see Julia|-| Melbourne (1) || iron hull, 60 hp. 84 tons || 1855–1859 || River Murray Navigation Co. || F. Cadell G. B. Johnston 1856 E. Robertson 1856 J. King W. Barber 1859 || Eureka 1856, 1859 Kennedy 1859 || Broke up crossing the Murray mouth November 1859. No casualties.[161] |-| Melbourne (2) || || 1872?– || Public Works department (Vic. govt.) Evans Bros. 1950 || R. Shelley 1870, 1872 C. Hill 1872, 1873, 1875, 1878, :1882, 1884, 1887, 1888, 1890 G. Jansen 1902 || || Snagging steamer operations on upper Goulburn 1878.[162] Laid up during 1902–1905 drought. (Mudie p. 234)|-| Menindie || 106' × 16'; 93 tons ||1875– || Heseltine & Reid 1875– R. M. Randell c. 1910– || Adam Johnstone (Mudie p. 116) C. Bock 1875 S. Heseltine 1875, 1876, 1879 R. Grundy 1893 || Bourke 1876, 1877, 1879, 1881 Croupier 1895 Queen 1897 || Almost certainly named for the town now spelled "Menindee".[163] R. M. Randell changed name to Murrundi 1912; it became his houseboat.[164] Frequently misnamed as "Murrurundi" There was an iron barge Mennindie built 1866 for Johnston & Murphy[165] or A.A.Scott & A. Kirkpatrick.|-| Merir || 58 ft × 12 ft 6 in. || 1890– || || || || built for NSW Forest Dept.|-| Merle (1) || stern wheeler 82' 9" × 15' || 1903– || E. Diener 1903–1917 || E. Diener 1903–1917 || Flo 1911–1916 || Hawking steamer, named for Diener's eldest daughter (barge Flo was named for the younger daughter). Sunk in Lake Alexandrina 1917.|-| Merle (2) || twin screw, 110 ton || 1943– || G. H. Griffin 1941–1945 E. Griffin 1945–1952 C. Payne 1946, 1947 W. Bowhey 1952– || G. H. Griffin 1941–1943 E. Griffin C. Payne 1945 V. Byrne 1953[166] || || Two-decker motor vessel[167] |
1. Spelling : Information in this article has mostly been gleaned from newspaper reports. Barbour, Bower, Christie, Davies, Dickson, Hampson, Hansen, Johnston, Lindqvist, Maultby, Miers, Pickhills, Rossiter, Schmedje, Searles, Tait, Theisz, Westergaard (all prominent people) often appeared in print as Barber, Bowers, Christie, Davis, Dixon, Hampton, Hanson, Johnson, Lindquist, Maltby, Myers, Pickels, Rossitter (or Rosseter), Smidgee (or Schmedge), Searle, Tate, Theiz and Westergard. The firm of Johnson and Davies was spelled four different ways in their own advertisements. Boats were given the same treatment. The barge Tongo was often written "Tonga" and Goldsbrough often "Goldsborough". Although the owners should have known better, the vessel generally named Lady Augusta was actually registered as Lady Agusta and Leichardt was presumably (mis)named for the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt (1813 – c. 1848). The barge Rabbie Burns appears to have metamorphosed into Robbie Burns around 1880. The steamer here spelled "Ferret" may have been registered "Ferrett" – more information is needed. The town now (and here) spelled Narrandera was once mostly "Narandera", a spelling tenaciously retained by its newspaper.
2. Bracketed numbers after some boats' names are intended for clarity and have no meaning outside this article.
3. Dates of service alongside names of boats and their owners and captains are from contemporary newspaper reports, which varied greatly in depth of information supplied. They would therefore not necessarily reflect the vessel or person's full period of service. Dates refer to service on the Murray system; some craft and most skippers had earlier or later service elsewhere.
4. In the interests of simplicity, honorifics (S.S., P.S., M.V. etc.) have been omitted from boat names in the first column.
5. Vessels were frequently modified to take advantage of changing trade requirements; hence burdens, dimensions, etc. quoted may appear inconsistent. Location of the paddles in paddle-wheel boats is a major design consideration: stern-wheelers are faster than side-wheelers and can navigate a narrower passage, but are less manoeuvrable, and are less adapted to towing a barge. Stern-wheelers were not uncommon on the Murray, but unsuited to the bends of the Darling. Boats were occasionally converted from one style to the other. A single central paddle-wheel (as in Gemini) had navigation advantages at the expense of load capacity and convenience, especially in maintaining an even keel. A single rear paddle-wheel, as in Mississippi steamers, proved unpractical.
6. Ownership of vessels was not often reported in the press, which accounts for this column being largely incomplete. The major companies (Wm. McCulloch & Co., Cramsie, Bowden & Co., E. Rich & Co., etc.) as well as owning vessels, also acted as agents for private owners, who may have been their captains, or absentee investors.
7. Almost without exception, no master or vessel was employed on the river throughout the year. In non-drought years shipping activity might be expected to run (give or take a month) from around June (with the winter rains) to December (with the snow melt).
8. "Lower Lakes" here refers to Lakes Alexandrina and Albert, between Goolwa and the Lower Murray. Towns on the Lower Lakes include Milang, Wellington and Meningie