Building of the Mary Ann | The Mary Ann Boiler
The first paddle steamers - Randell & Cadell
History of Murray-Darling Paddle steamers

Murray River today has the largest fleet of operational
river paddle steamers and paddle boats in the world

During the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries the Murray River was a major inland highway for pastoralists, settlers and travellers. Fleets of paddle steamers and their barges carried produce from stations and farms to transit points downriver. There were floating shops bringing goods to the settlers, mail steamers crossing the lakes, mission boats and passenger liners, as well as small fishing boats, ferries, powerful milk launches and boats that helped build the weirs and kept the channels free of snags. Ports, trading companies and shipbuilding facilities were established, and many of the Murray’s settlements developed around the trade brought by the river boats.

The Murray Darling river system paddle steamer’s began in South Australia on the 19th February, 1853 when William Randell and his brother Thomas George launched the PS Mary Ann just a few kilometres upriver of Mannum at Noa No landing.

Sir Henry Young, the Governor of South Australia was convinced that the Murray River was Australia’s Mississippi, and that one day it could be a major trade route for the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. To encourage the river transport, the SA Government offered a prize the first boats to navigate from Goolwa upstream to Victoria (Swan Hill).

William Randell and Captain Francis Cadell in the PS Lady Augusta reached Swan Hill in Victoria on September 17, 1853 and opened up the inland river trading route. Both men went on to develop their commercial interest on the river. Cadell formed the River Murray Navigation Company and Randell eventually secured backing for The Murray River Company.

No later than 20 years following, there were nearly 240 river boats plying the system with hundreds of thousands of tonnes of cargo such as wheat, wool and other produce being shipped. River towns such as Goolwa, Murray Bridge, Morgan, Wentworth, Mildura and Echuca become vital ports for distribution to the capital cities. Revenue raised from Border Tarrifs became a real challenge for river boat captains and the Colonies of South Australia, NSW and Victoria as businesses used the Murray to avoid paying their taxes.

A succession of dry years from 1895, culminating in the record drought of 1902, brought general acceptance that some drought protection was required to allow further development of the Murray. Irrigation was seen as a primary source of growth and South Australia was also keen to protect its river boat trade. Now States, it was agreed in 1915 a series of locks and weirs would be built along the Murray and better utilise water storages on the Murray River. At a similar time modern rail and road networks took over the role of moving goods from region and river boat industry began a rapid declined. Many vessels fell into disrepair and abandoned.

Today's river boats are a mixture of restored original vessels that have been painstakingly brought back to life along with modern boats that have the feel of classic paddle steamers. Some river boats also have had their steam engines replaced with diesel engines during restorations as the demand on trees over a period of time took its toll on the environment.

The important and romantic era of paddle steamers may have passed by yet the experience and love affair remains. The Murray River today has the largest fleet of operational river paddle steamers and paddle boats in the world. It’s a great opportunity to experience what life would have been like over a hundred years ago along the Murray where you can experience the rumbling of genuine steam engines.

For more information on Murray River paddle steamer experiences visit the boat listing at the top of this page and enjoy the a journey on these amazing and historic vessels.

Building of the Mary Ann | The Mary Ann Boiler
The first paddle steamers - Randell & Cadell
History of Murray-Darling Paddle steamers

See Murray River paddle steamer photos