CANBERRA on the Murray River NSW in 2005

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Canberra

Vessel numberHV000170

Vessel Registration Number17634

Official Number177212

Builder David Milne and Son

Designer David Milne and Son

Previous owner Murray Steamship and Tourist Co

Previous owner Murray River Paddlesteamers

Vessel type Paddle Steamers of the Murray-Darling

Date1913

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 22.55 m x 4.5 m x 1.2 m (73.99 ft x 14.76 ft x 3.94 ft)
Registered Dimensions: 19.17 tons

DescriptionCANBERRA is a side-wheel paddle steamer, built by David Milne and Son in Goolwa, South Australia, launched in 1913. Milne and the first owner John David Conner are credited with the design of the vessel.

CANBERRA was built as a fishing vessel on the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers. Conner was a commercial fisherman and operated a business with his brothers, sisters and mother. For the first 30 years of its working career CANBERRA was used primarily as a fishing boat but undertook a mixed range of tasks including carrying some cargo and passengers. After 1945 it became a tourist excursion boat out of Mildura until 1966 when it was relocated to the port of Echuca. It is quite possibly the first paddle steamer to be involved in this work on the Murray River.

The vessel is 22.5 metres long and has an interesting composite construction of steel and wood. Most of the internal frames and keel are steel, but the floors are red gum. The planking below the waterline was originally jarrah, but repairs have been made in red and spotted gum. The topsides are steel plate. The deck is planked in wood on steel beams, while the superstructure is also a composite of wood planking or plywood panels on steel framing, with some more recent Dynel covering. CANBERRA has an English compound steam engine.

In 2008 CANBERRA was still in operation as an excursion vessel at Echuca, a rare example of these river workhorses which opened up trade and maintained communication in the outback over many years.
SignificanceCANBERRA is a wooden paddle steamer built in Goolwa South Australia in 1913. It is an example of a Murray River paddle steamer that has remained in continuous use from 1913. After 30 years primarily as a fishing vessel it became a tourist excursion boat based on the Murray River at Mildura and then Echuca in Victoria.

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