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GEM under restoration in February 2007
Gem
GEM under restoration in February 2007
GEM under restoration in February 2007
Reproduced courtesy Pioneer Settlement Museum Victoria

Gem

Vessel numberHV000118
Previous Numberhv
Previous NumberHV000118
Previous NumberHV000119
Previous owner
Previous owner
Previous owner (1907 - 1938)
Previous owner
Date1876
DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 40 m x 6.8 m x 1.35 m (131.24 ft x 22.31 ft x 4.43 ft)
DescriptionGEM was built by Air and Westergard in 1876 at Moama on the NSW side of the Murray River. The 27 metre long hull was planked in red gum, which grew along the banks of the Murray River. Oregon was used for the superstructure to keep the craft light and to keep the draft shallow. In 1882 it underwent a major transformation at Goolwa in SA. There it was cut in half through the mid-section. The two halves were then separated by a bullock team which was used to pull the forward part away from the aft section. A new 13 metre long centre-section was then added to rejoin the vessel. At 40 metres long overall, GEM then became the longest paddle steamer on the Murray River.

The legendary Hugh King, known as 'The Grand Old Man of the River’ was GEM's captain for many years, and the vessel went through a number of changes in ownership during its long lifespan. It also went through a variety of uses, in more or less the following succession: barge, towing vessel, passenger vessel, home and then a boarding house.

GEM was towed up from Mildura to Swan Hill in 1962, the longest tow in Murray River paddle steamer history, and became the opening exhibit at the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement Museum. Here it became the entry-exit building, local art gallery, museum office, caretaker's flat and Australia's first bush-tucker restaurant.

It was also the first paddle steamer to be restored and heralded a resurgence in paddle steamer history, leading to the restoration of a number of other Murray River paddle steamers. As part of the display at Swan Hill it is a major part of the Pioneer Settlement Museum's education program where thousands of students have used it as a part of their study of the Murray River's history. GEM has also been on the Victorian Heritage Register for many years.

(Prepared from material supplied by the Pioneer Settlement Museum)
SignificanceGEM isa paddle steamer built in 1876 in NSW. It a very early example of a Murray River paddle steamer and after modifications in 1882 it became the biggest paddle steamer on the Murray River. A number of important figures on the Murray River are associated with GEM, and in the early 1960s it also became the first of its type to be restored and put back into operation.
PS RUBY on the Murray  about 2004 after initial restoration work.
Commander Hugh King
1907
PS OSCAR W at the SA Wooden Boat Festival in Goolwa 2015
Bear Brothers
1908
MAYFLOWER on the Murray River
Wilson and Burkett
1884
LOTUS at the Wentworth Show
c1911
SS PERTH in its early days of operation
AE Brown
1914
HEBE on the Murray River, South Australia in 2007
James Pashley
1888
DART under tow on the Murray River with a 'display' load of wool bales.
1914
PS ADELAIDE  refloated at  ECHUCA in 1984
George Linklater
1866
ENTERPRISE on Lake Burley Griffin
William Keir
1878