Century-old paddlesteamer saved despite ‘fire, droughts, floods and pandemic’
A Murray River town drew thousands of paddlesteamer enthusiasts to witness an almost 120-year-old vessel being recommissioned by Governor Frances Adamson.
The Morgan community has celebrated the restoration of the historic PS Canally with the return of a festival that was first run in 2014 by volunteers as an annual fundraiser for the project.
Boating and River Murray enthusiasts from across Australia and local Riverland residents were among those taking part with tourists booking out most of the accommodation in the town, and spending money at local businesses throughout the festival.
The 119-year-old PS Canally was officially recommissioned by the Governor of South Australia, Her Excellency The Honourable Frances Adamson AC, in a ceremony on the Morgan riverfront.
“Today is a proud and significant occasion for Morgan, for the Mid Murray region, and for South Australia,” Adamson told the crowd.
"Today we celebrate not simply the restoration of a vessel but the revival of an important part of our river heritage."
“In particular, I acknowledge the volunteers whose commitment over many years and many thousands of hours has made this day possible.”
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Adamson said despite the setbacks, challenges, pandemic, floods, droughts, and even an onboard fire, the volunteers resolve did not waver.
“Your efforts are a powerful example of what can be achieved when a community comes together to preserve its history for future generations,” she said.
The Governor, Mid Murray Mayor Simone Bailey, and Mid Murray Council CEO Ben Scales were among the invited guests on the PS Canally’s inaugural cruise on Saturday morning.
Federal Barker MP Tony Pasin and Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone were also among those at the festival.
The recommissioning of the historic boat was a culmination of a 16 year-restoration project by hardworking volunteers and funding support from the Mid Murray Council and the Federal Government.
Morgan Community Development and Tourism Association chair and festival co-ordinator Di Hausler said the event was paused in 2019, partially due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2022 to 2023 River Murray flood. It was now hoped it could be held biennially.
The committee won a South Australian Tourism Commission grant towards running this year’s tw0-day festival celebrating River Murray history, maritime industry, and paddle steamers such as the PS Canally.
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Also featured were riverboat cruises, wooden boats, a vintage speed boat, and static and historical displays.
In the late 1800s, Morgan was one of the busiest freight hubs in the southern hemisphere due to the then SA Government’s ambition to secure a much larger slice of the river trade from Victoria and New South Wales.
Hausler said the Morgan Wharf was built in three sections and its capacity increased with the river boat trade during this period.
The commercial use of cargo paddle steamers and barges to carry wool, wheat, and timber ground to a halt by 1939 and the installation of a lock system along the Murray River and World War II, drew manpower away from the river industries.
Minimal passenger and mail services continued until February 1950 when the final scheduled passenger services from the Morgan Wharf ceased.
"A lot of the boats sank through not being used, so there is a lot of underwater history still here – Hausler"
PS Canally volunteer and Mid Murray councillor Kevin Myers said it was exciting to see the boat finally taking bookings for cruises.
Myers said the first cruise for paying passengers on Sunday was sold out about an hour after bookings were opened and the second and third cruises also filled quickly.
One-hour cruises aboard the PS Canally will be on offer in Morgan on the fourth weekend of each month, each Saturday and Sunday.
“The reason for picking the fourth weekend is because the first weekend of the month is when the PS industry at Renmark cruises, and the second of the month, is when the PS Marion at Mannum, and PS Oscar W at Goolwa usually cruise,” Myers said.
“We are all trying to work together to get the tourism dollar and it is not worth fighting over by offering cruises on the same day. Each paddle steamer provides a different experience, and a different stretch of river usually.”
Myers said a shortage of skilled crew also meant that the paddle steamers often had to share their volunteer staff.
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