PS Marion ready to take on passengers
I have visited the Mannum Dock Museum of River history on several occasions now, most recently on a day trip to the All Steamed Up Festival on November 19th 2016. This festival had a good mix of old steam engines, early model petrol and diesel engines on display in Arnold Park between the museum and the ferry ramps, and early model cars and power boats on display at the Mary Ann Reserve. The PS Marion and PS Oscar W were doing alternate trips between these two sites. Myself and a friend who was with me for the day did a paddle steamer trip on the PS Marion from Arnold Park to the Mary Ann Reserve.
PS Captain Proud at dock at Murray Bridge, South Australia
My previous trip to that included the short trip on the PS Captain Proud based at Murray Bridge, and then spending a good part of the afternoon in Mannum. For anyone interested in the early river trade and paddle steamers on the Murray River I can highly recommend a visit to this museum at Mannum in South Australia. I have a keen interest in the old paddle steamers… my great, great step uncle was Captain William Richard Randell who launched the first paddle steamer on the River Murray in February 1853. His steamer, PS Mary Ann, was launched at Noa No, a few kilometres upstream from Mannum.
The original boiler from PS Mary Ann is on display in the museum and a replica of it is also in the Mary Ann Reserve on the river bank alongside the main town wharf.
Randell Dry Dock
The Dry Dock in the museum, was originally built at Milang and when bought by the Randell’s, was moved to it’s present location at Mannum. Much more information about the Randell Dry Dock is available in a separate webpage. A fund raising project has been set up to put a roof over the dock to help preserve the Red Gum timbers.
Randell’s Beam Engine
Also in the museum is the Beam Engine used by Captain Randell to pump the water out of the Dry Dock once the vessel had been stabilised in it. This enabled work to be done on the vessel. During my most recent visit to the museum I was able to see this engine running.
Written and produced by,
David
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