The Paddle Steamer Marion’s 80-year-old, 1½-tonne slow combustion stove was being moved back on board today following a complete re-conditioning. 

Built in Scotland originally used at the Renmark Hospital, the Esse brand stove has been aboard the 105-year-old, fully-restored Marion, the world’s only original, wood-fired boat with overnight passenger accommodation, since the 1950s. 

Apart from a new set of firebricks in 1962, the double-oven stove had not been touched until it was taken out of the boat in December and moved to Lobethal Sheet Metal. 

‘It’s the biggest stove we’ve ever worked on,’ Lobethal Sheet Metal’s manager, John Stanton said. ‘We had to dissemble it into three sections to be able to move it. And we’re having to built a gantry with a chain block in the galley just to lift the hot-plate back into position because it’s too heavy for the four people who’ll be re-installing it.’ 

The stove now has two new ovens, frame, base support, seals and fire bricks. Its one tonne of cast iron has been sand blasted and checked for cracks. A new stainless steel flue will be installed with the re-furbished stove. 

One of the main current uses of the stove is in the famed Rockford Wines Steam-powered Gourmet Cruises which are run four or five times a year. 

‘The leading chefs who’ve produced the superb meals for these cruises under trying circumstances during the past few years will now be in cooking paradise,’ said Veronica Jones-Ingram, Executive Officer of the Mannum Dock Museum which cares for the Marion. ‘The reconditioned stove will now match the rest of the fully-restored boat.’ 

Media enquiries 

Veronica Jones-Ingram                John Stanton      
Executive Officer                         Manager 
Mannum Dock Museum               Lobethal Sheet Metal 
Tel 08 8569 2733                       Tel 08 8389 6678

Chris Snow, Communication Consultant, Tel 03 9459 5700

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