Built as a composite paddle steamer on the yard of F.O. Wallin at Echuca for F.Wallin.
1908 Launched under the name OSCAR W, named for the son of the builder/owner who was killed in the Boer War in South Africa, (the website gives during World War I, and I believe not correct, World War I began in 1914.)
Tonnage 83 gross, 59 net, dim. 103.5 x 20.7 x 5.1ft.
Powered by one 2 cyl. 8hp wood fired steam engine, manufactured by Marshall, U.K.
Registered at Melbourne.
She was built for normal commercial work upon the rivers, and reached Bourke at least once.
Circa 1914 bought by Permewan, Wright & Co. Ltd.
01 June 1919 Sold to Murray Shipping for Au$ 100.
According to the web-site when used by the Murray Shipping she towed mostly a barge.
Circa 1942 G.Ritchie bought her, with the intention to use her in the tourist trade, from Goolwa but due to World War II he had to abandon his plan.
1943 Sold to P.W. Richards, R.Knox and T.C. Coode.
Same year sold and ultimately she became a workboat for the Highway & Local Government Department. Her logbook in this service, gives addition info on her. She was built of red gum, sheating floor beams and angle iron frames; her planking was of red gum. The boiler consumed ½ ton of wood per hour.
1945 She was converted to oil burning.
13 Nov. 1959 she arrived at Morgan with the old “punt” in tow from Narrung and that was most probably her last work for the Highway Department.
Thereafter sold circa 1960 to Capt. P & P Hogg for a proposed passenger/cargo service out of Mildura, but was occasionally working on the tourist trade out of Echuca before she was used for day excursion business at Mildura.
1964 Sold to A&J Mouritz. Allan Mouritz hoped to operate the vessel on the lower river, but he found out that she needed re-planking, and he put her on the slip at Murray Bridge.
He commenced the work but due to short on cash and old age, also his attempts to financial assistance from the State Government and local fundraising were unsuccessful. And the work stopped when he died in 1984.
1986 Bought by the SA Government and is leased to the District Council of Port Elliot and Goolway and managed by Murray River Resources Park at Goolway. Her restoration was completed under direction of Andrew Cook.
She is used as a museum piece, and used for promotion trips.
1994 Her 88-year-old boiler was removed and replaced by a new one.
Australia 2003 50c sg?, scott?
Source: Ships of the Inland Rivers by Ronald Parsons. http://www.sunraysia.vic.edu.au/riverbo ... scarW.html