Built in 1897 by A.H.Landseer (under the supervision of Peter Westergaard) at Milang, Australia, for G.S.Fowler at Adelaide as a pleasure craft.
Launched under the name MARION
He died before she was completed, and the executors sold her to W.Bowring of Wentworth and Mildura. He moved the hull to Echuca where a supper structure was added and engine fitted in, for hawking (traveling floating shop) steamer for the River Darling. The newspaper Federal Standard of Wentworth told his readers in the edition of 9 July 1900: The MARION has left Wentworth for the last time as a barge, towed by the RUBY to convert her in a two-decked paddle-steamer to replace the burnt EMILY JANE. (The same paper has the barge MARION left Wentworth for Echuca towed by the TRAFALGAR and arrived 25 August 1900.)
Tonnage 157 gross, 99 net, dim. 107.9 x 22.6 x 5.2ft.
Powered by semi-portable non-condensing two cyl. steam engine, rope geared 120 ihp., manufactured by Marshall & Son, Gainsborough. U.K. Steam supplied by a wood fired boiler. Both were fitted in during 1900.
Trials were made at Echuca as a steamer early October and late October 1900.
She sailed between Wentworth and Wilcannia on the River Darling, under command of Capt. Hart.
1900 Her first registered owners were W.Bowring at Sydney.
1903 In an advertisement in the same paper in 1903 that she was sailing between Morgan and Wilcannia every eight weeks.
July 1908 sold to Benjamin Chaffey, at Renmark and it was stated that he used material from the dismantled PEARL to build passenger accommodation, but as no adjustment to tonnages was ever recorded it would seem that if this is true the alterations were internal.
May 1915 sold to Gem Navigation Co. Ltd.
July 1919 sold to Murray Shipping Ltd., and register transferred to Port Adelaide in 1928.
August 1953 sold to L.M.Arnold. October 1958 to A.H.Wilkins. December 1958 bought by Murray Steamers Ltd. Used by them in the Renmark, Goolwa and Morgan service.
06 June 1963 bought by the National Trust of South Australia.
Her last voyage as a cargo steamer was made on 6 June 1963,when she sailed from Berri with a representative cargo and a large quantity of mail, she arrived Mannum on 10 June under a distinguished crew, including the Premier of South Australia, Sir Thomas Playford, and moored alongside the wharf at Mannum, with the intention for preservation till an decision was made for restoration.
1989 It was decided to restore her to operation, and with the help of many volunteers she was restored; in November 1994 she was commissioned again, managed by the Mannum Museum Dock Board.
Mostly she is moored alongside her berth open for the public, but sometimes chartered and used for daytrips or multi-day cruises. She is the only original wood fired paddle steamer with overnight accommodation and still in operation in Australia.
Australia 2003 50c sg?, scott?
Source: Ships of the Inland Rivers by Ronald Parsons. http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/tramways/Marion.htm
http://www.sunraysia.vic.edu.au/riverbo ... arion.html