DART under tow on the Murray River with a 'display' load of wool bales.

Images(4)

A very clear image of DART with its pile driving machinery set up for work, and moored beside t…

Dart

Vessel numberHV000221

Previous owner Engineering & Water Services Dept S.A.

Vessel type Paddle Steamers of the Murray-Darling

Date1914

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 21.94 m x 5.18 m x 0.61 m (72 ft x 17 ft x 2 ft)

DescriptionThe barge DART was built in 1914 in Goolwa for the Engineering & Water Services Department of South Australia to assist with lock building and other works along the River Murray. DART is 22 m (72 ft) long and 5.2 m (17 ft) wide, with a composite hull featuring red gum planking on the bottom and riveted iron topsides, on angle iron frames. It is believed to be named after William Dart who worked on the vessel's construction, according to Ronald Parsons in his book 'Ships of the Inland'. David Low Milne is also known to have worked as a builder on this barge.

DART was towed by paddle steamers and used by the Department as a pile driving barge, complete with a vertical boiler, steam engine, winch and pile driving derrick. It is quite possible that for some work it was towed by OSCAR W (HV000218) when both were owned by the South Australian Government at the same time. Later it was used to freight cargo but its history from then is largely unknown until the 1990s.

DART was repaired in the 1990s to accompany the paddle steamer OSCAR W on voyages along the Murray River and has taken part in historic re-enactments. The two vessels are a strong reminder of how the river was the highway for commerce for decades before railways and roads. In 1999/2000 DART was transformed into a film set as TINGALLA ROSE and starred in the children's TV series 'Chuck Finn'.

In 2000 a structure was added temporarily, in the form of 'piles' to evoke its past working life. This structure was used to house a photographic display for the Centenary of Federation Celebrations. In 2001 DART was towed by OSCAR W to Mildura taking part in the filming of 'Source to Sea'.

In 2011 DART is stored out of the water beside the Hindmarsh Bridge and adajcent to the Goolwa Wharf where the PS OSCAR operates from. It is waiting on further restooration and repairs before it can be refloated to continue working with PS OSCAR.

Prepared from research material published at www.woodenboatfestival.com.au
SignificanceDART is a barge built in 1914 in South Australia at the port of Goolwa. It is one of the few surviving examples of a typical barge towed by paddle steamers working on the Murray and Darling River system. It now has a close association with the paddle steamer OSCAR W which may well have towed it in the 1920s. Until recently it remained operational and was then probably the last operational barge in the region. It is currently waiting to be restored to go back into operation.

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