PADDLE STEAMER MELBOURNE

The Paddle Steamer Melbourne was originally launched at Koondrook on the River Murray in 1912. Built for the Victorian Government as a work boat, the Melbourne was fitted with a huge winch which was used for hauling fallen trees and snags from the river, keeping the main channel open for navigation for other Paddle Steamers. The Melbourne was used for any public works along the river, assisting with bridge, weir and lock construction.

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Later the Melbourne was bought by Evans Brothers Timber Mills at Echuca and was used for logging until road transport became more viable. In 1939 after a sudden flood came down the Goulburn River, tons of logs became jammed against the Torrumbarry weir. The Melbourne was brought back into service to help clear the weir of the massive amount of debris. She was then left permanently moored against the river bank and to the elements.

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It was in 1965 that Captain Ably Pointon purchased the P.S. Melbourne after searching along the Murray River for another Paddle Steamer to restore for his growing business at Mildura (Captain Pointon was at that stage operating the smaller P.S. Mayflower which he had also rebuilt from a wreck).

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After extensive boiler and hull repairs, the Melbourne's boiler was fired again for the first time in 23 years for her long voyage from Echuca to Mildura. Upon arriving at Mildura, and after further careful restoration, the P.S. Melbourne departed Mildura Wharf on her maiden voyage carrying passengers on the 1st January 1966.

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The Paddle Steamer Melbourne has gone on to continuously operate in the Mildura area, with the Pointon family for over 50 years. Making it the longest running paddle steamer cruising within the one family operation. The Pointon/McKenzie family have dedicated many hours to showcasing the local history of the Mildura region, the Murray River and the Paddle boats that are still remaining. 

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It is through the dedication of individuals like Captain Alby Pointon and his wife Freda, that numerous paddle boats, including the Paddle Steamer Melbourne, have survived to remain today. 

In 2024, the Pointon family made the difficult decision to sell the Paddle Steamer Melbourne and we no longer operate her. However, we are still offering Paddle boat cruises on board our two other vessels in our fleet. The Paddle Vessel Rothbury, built in 1881 as a paddle steamer, and the Paddle Boat Mundoo, built in 1987, which was originally a Paddle Steamer too. 

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Why were the Paddle Vessel Rothbury and the Paddle Boat Mundoo converted from Paddle Steamers to Paddle Vessels? 

In this day and age, the safety and comfort of the passengers and crew are paramount, so converting Paddle Steamers to diesels offers just that. It is also much more economical to run these vessels with diesel, as wood for the steam engines is getting harder to source viably.