PS 'Adelaide' was later turned into a display in the park surrounded by rose bushes for around 20 years before being restored and returned to the Murray River.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca, paddle steamer, ps adelaide, steam engine

PS 'Adelaide' was later turned into a display in the park surrounded by rose bushes for around 20 years before being restored and returned to the Murray River.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca, paddle steamer, ps adelaide, steam engine

PS 'Adelaide' was later turned into a display in the park surrounded by rose bushes for around 20 years before being restored and returned to the Murray River.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca, paddle steamer, ps adelaide, steam engine

PS 'Adelaide' was later turned into a display in the park surrounded by rose bushes for around 20 years before being restored and returned to the Murray River.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca, paddle steamer, ps adelaide, steam engine

Built in 1866 in Echuca, the PS Adelaide is the oldest wooden hulled paddle steamer still operating as a passenger vessel in the world. Engines made in Melbourne by Fulton and Shaw. JG Grassie was the original owner who was looking for a wool carrying boat as a commercial venture with the arrival of the rail at the Port of Echuca making the future look bright. Seutonius and Charles Officer of Murray Downs Station joined Grassie in financing the venture and they used the boat for 6 years before David Blair and partners (Echuca sawmillers) bought the Adelaide in July of 1872 and she began her long working life as a logging boat providing a shuttle service between the forests around Barmah and the mill, usually towing up to 3 or 4 barges. The paddle boxes were rebuilt from round to a square configuration in approximately 1924 by Charles Felshaw, local Echuca shipwright. The Adelaide had unusual strength for her size. Her career ended in the mid 1950s where she lay idle tied up near the mill at Echuca wharf. For a short time she was sold to Mildura but fortunately the Apex Club raised funds to buy her back to be a reminder of the riverboat days at the Port. She was lifted out for safekeeping into Hopwood Gardens where she remained on show for nearly 25 years. After restoration by Port shipwright Keven Hutchinson OAM, she returned to the waters of the Murray River on Sunday March 4th 1984 at 5.20pm. After further restoration, in 1985 the Prince and Princess of Wales re-commissioned PS ADELAIDE in a ceremony on their tour of the region. The world's oldest wooden hulled paddle steamer still operating as a passenger vessel today built in Echuca in 1866. It is often considered the flagship of the operational fleet of the Port of Echuca given its age and known provenance to Echuca. The Adelaide is an iconic symbol of the riverboat timber and cargo trade that worked on the Murray River from the mid 1800s. Remarkably, PS ADELAIDE still operates with its original Fulton and Shaw engines.Composite hull, side wheeler with two single cylinder steam engines, producing a total of 36hp. Currently cream and burgundy moored at the Echuca Wharf. 49 passenger capacity.P.S. Adelaide signage on wheelhouse and port and starboard bow.p.s. adelaide, paddle steamers, echuca boat builders, charles felshaw

The collection of artefacts formely belonged to the writers father, J.M. Marshall of Sturt Street. He was born and lived in Ballarat most of his life, and was interested in the Ballarat School of Mines Museum during the era of Professor Alfred Mica Smith. The response to this letter foreshadows the closure of the Ballarat School of Mines Museum. Alan Sonsee of the Ballarat Teachers' College was a Field Naturalist and collector of Aboriginal artefacts, and may have been associated with the decision. Handwritten letter from Jessie Marshall of Adelaide offering a collection of Australian "Native Weapons and Curios" to the Ballarat School of Mines Museum. The writer describes the collection as "not a large collection but a very good one - there are also some lovely shells." Ballarat School of Mines Registrar, F.E. Ferguson, declined the offer on behalf of the School Council, suggesting the Ballarat Teachers' College (Dana Street) would like to have the weapons, etc.C/- Collison & Co 32 Waymouth St Adelaide 11/2/54 Sear Sir A am writing this to offer a collection of Native Weapons and Curious - Australian - the Islands and S. Africa - the the Museum as a gift - they originally belonged to my father J.M. Marshall - formerly of Sturt Stree - who was born and lived in Ballarat most of his life and who was always interested i nthe Museum and School of Mines back in Prof. Mica Smith's time. This is not a large collection but a very good one - there are also some lovely shells. They have beenin stroage since his death and I feel he would have liked them to be of some use + give pleasure to someone + I can think of no better plance than your museum. Would you be goodenough to put this offer to your Committee + let me know if that are interested. I am yours Jessie Marshall PS I've made enquiries + there is plenty of motor transport available J.M.ballarat school of mines, aboriginal artefacts, ballarat school of mines museum, jessie marshall, i.m. marshall, ballarat teachers' college, f.e. ferguson, museum closure, alan sonsee, ballarat teachers college, museum, shells, j.m. marshall