Historical information
The P.S. Alexander Arbuthnot was the last of the paddle steamers built at Koondrook, for the river trade in 1923. Owned by the Arbuthnot Sawmills. She was used to bring timber in from the forest to the sawmills to be processed from logs to timber. She was later owned by Evans Bros and then Barmah Charcoal Ltd. She sank at Yeilima, re-floated in 1973, placed on a low loader and taken to Shepparton for preservation. Echuca city council bought her for the Port of Echuca in April 1989. She was bought to Echuca in December 1991 to complete her restoration by shipwright Kevin Hutchinson. She is now used as a passenger vessel and is licensed to carry 47 passengers. The P.S. Alexander Arbuthnot is a reminder of the past life on the river.
Significance
Being the last paddle steamer built for the river trade in 1923, the Alexander Arbuthnot is a reminder of the past life on the river. Licensed to now carry 47 passengers, she was used by the saw mills to bring timber in from the forests to the sawmills.
Physical description
A timber planked, monohull, side wheeled paddlesteamer with a 8hp horizontal Ruston Hornby steam engine. It has a flat bottom and mutiple decks. Currently painted cream with burgandy trim.
Inscriptions & markings
Alexander Arbuthnot signage on wheelhouse and port and starboard bow
Subjects
References
- Paddlesteamers and Riverboats of the Murray River by Peter Christopher ISBN/ISSN: 9781864 760408 A general guide Significant boats on the Murray River
- Ships of the Inland Rivers by Ronald Parsons ISBN/ISSN: 0 947284 34 6 Details of vessels that have operated on the Murray River from 1853 to the present day
- Australian Register of Historic Vessels
