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 Information supplied by P.S. Melbourne & Rothbury |
MURRAY
RIVER HISTORY |
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P.V. Rothbury
After several owners the Rothbury was brought to Mildura in 1909, by Permewan Wright & Company Ltd. who had an extensive establishment in Mildura, sharing the trade to the district with the Chaffey owned River Murray Navigation Company. In 1911 the Ruthbury was bought by R.M. Anderson, the major
sawmiller in Mildura. The Rothbury supplied the mill with logs from Redgum forests for
extensive building construction at Mildura. Timber was also towed on barges by the
Rothbury for "stock piles" along the river for various boilers and other passing
steamers. Anderson's Saw Mill was located on the Victorian bank just downstream of the
existing Chaffey Bridge, but was destroyed by fire and attempts to be rebuilt failed.
Still existing on the NSW bank opposite is the original "Anderson's" slipway,
used for boat repairs since the early 1900's/ (Now owned by A.E. & F.O. Pointon). The
Ruthbury was later used for towing Lock building materials.
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The Paddle Steamer
Rothbury was built in 1881 at Gunbower, Victoria on the Murray River. Built as a large and
powerful Tow Boat, employed in towing barges for the Wool and Logging Trade. She was well
known even then, to be one of the fastest Tow Boats on the Murray - Darling River System.
The Rothbury teamed with the "Derrick" Barge
for construction along the river. The Derrick was fitted with a large crane and pile
driving equipment, but had no power of its own. The Rothbury towed this barge to its
destination and also provided its power from the Rothbury's boiler. The most recent and
significant construction of the Rothbury and the Derrick was that of Psyche Pumping
Station in 1957/58. Thus the P.S. Rothbury was still working as she was originally built
for until late 1950's, perhaps the last steamer to do this.
