An admission-free display of 14 model Murray River paddle boats has opened at the Mannum Dock Museum’s Arnold Gallery.

The models are of paddle steamers and motor vessels built between 1866 and 1950, beginning with the Paddle Steamer Adelaide.

They have been made by Mr Rodney Hobbs, of Port Pirie, and are being exhibited at Mannum following a display at the Port Pirie Art Gallery in April which was visited by 1500 people in two weeks.

Mr Hobbs began making the 1:24 scale models 12 years ago, the first, of the PS Alpha, being planned as a present for his late grandmother, Daisy St Clare, who was a governess on the boat for several years, looking after the seven children in the Collins family which owned it. One of the children, now 92-year-old Mrs Pearl Wallace, went on to become Australia’s first female river captain in 1947. It was on Pearl’s life that Nancy Cato’s novel and the subsequent television series All the Rivers Run were based.

Each model, made mainly from balsa wood, takes Mr Hobbs about 17 weeks to complete. He’s now made 23, including eight models of the Alpha for relatives – and one for Mrs Wallace.

The vessels in the display are: MV Coonawarra, PS Alpha, PS Gem, PS Ruby, MV Proud Mary, MV Wanera, PS Marion (two models), PS Captain Sturt, PS Industry, PS Renmark, PS Etona, PS Adelaide and barge, and PS Oscar W.

The exhibition will continue until July 15. Opening hours are 9am-5pm weekdays and 10am-4pm at weekends.

Enquiries to: Arnold Gallery, Mannum Visitor Information Centre

         6 Randell St, Mannum

         Tel 08 8569 1303.