PSOscar W
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Name | Oscar W |
| Owner |
|
| Operator | Friends of PS Oscar W |
| Port of registry | Melbourne,Victoria[1] |
| Route | River Murray,Australia |
| Ordered | 1908 |
| Builder | Charlie Wallin |
| Commissioned | 1908 |
| Homeport | Goolwa,South Australia |
| Identification | 120751 |
| Nickname(s) | Oscar |
| Status | Tourist vessel |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Composite Paddle Steamer |
| Displacement | 59 tons |
| Tons burthen | 83 tons |
| Length | 103 ft 1 in (31.42 m) |
| Beam | 20 ft 2 in (6.15 m) |
| Propulsion | Steam |
| Notes | Data compiled from three sources[2][3][4] |
ThePSOscar Wis a restoredpaddle steamerlocated atGoolwainSouth Australia.
History[edit]
(Frans) Oscar "Charlie" Wallin (1867 – 16 August 1934), born in Sweden and naturalised as a British subject in Australia in 1897, owned and skippered several steamboats on theMurray–Darling river system.He built the boat atEchucain 1908, and named it for his son Oscar William Wallin (c. July 1897 – 20 September 1917) who fought with the8th BattalioninWorld War I,and was killed in action in Belgium.[5]She was taken over by the shipping firm Permewan, Wright and Co. in 1909; Wallin became owner of the steamerClydeas part of the deal.[6]The Murray Shipping Company was formed in 1919, as a result of the amalgamation of the shipping interests of a number of local riverboat trading companies due to the diminishing trade. This included Permewan Wright, and theOscar Wbecame one of the vessels to transfer to the new company.
By 1942, theMurray Rivershipping industry had begun to dry up, with the tourist passenger trade beginning to take over. Due to wartime shortages of materials and manpower theOscar Wwas unable to become a tourist vessel, and in late 1943 was sold to the South Australian Government Highways Department to service ferries along the river. The SAGHD converted her to an oil burning vessel in 1945, due to the lack of cut wood available along the river. TheOscar Wwas replaced in 1959, and was sold to Paddy Hogg in 1960 for £50.[7]
Hogg took theOscar WtoMildurato commence work as a tourism vessel. Notably, theOscar Wwas responsible for towing thePSGemfrom Mildura toSwan Hillin 1963, where it became a static display within the newPioneer Settlement.The journey was expected to take ten days; however, due to low river levels the journey eventually took eight months.[8]
Hogg sold the vessel in 1964 to Allan Moritz, who began the process of restoration with a series of major hull repairs. Moritz died prior to the project's completion, and as a resulting lack of funds theOscar Wwas sold to the South Australia Tourist Commission in 1985. The boat was returned to the river and steamed back to Goolwa, arriving 31 March 1988. TheOscar Whas since operated as a tourist vessel, as well as completing extended journeys along the Murray River. One such example was the trip from Goolwa to Echuca in 1991, over the course of seven weeks.[7]
Particulars[edit]
TheOscar Wis 31.52 metres in length, with a beam of 6.27 metres and a draft of 68 cm to 155 cm. It weighs 84.3 tonnes gross, 60 tonnes net.
The paddle steamer is of composite construction and was built from steel topsides and three-inchred gumbelow.[4]The engine gives out 16 hp—a wood-burning Marshall Steam engine.
TheOscar Wwas associated with a composite barge known asThe Dart,constructed by D Milne at Goolwa in 1912. Originally buit as a floating work platform, the barge was used as a pile-driving vessel during the construction ofweirsandlocks.In 1971The Dartwas taken toMurray Bridgeand partially restored, then sunk nearby in shallow water to preserve the timber hull. It was raised in 1985 when purchased by the District Council ofPort Elliotand Goolwa, and returned to Goolwa.The Darthas since been used ceremonially, such as being towed behind theOscar Wfrom Goolwa to Mildura in both 1992 and 2001. In 2008,The Dartsunk at its mooring, and was placed on land awaiting restoration.[9]
References[edit]
- ^"P.S. Oscar W. and P.S. Avoca with barges at Mildura".State Library of South Australia.10 May 2001.Retrieved14 June2021.
- ^"P.S. OSCAR-W ~ SPECIFICATIONS".Friends of PS Oscar W.Retrieved22 May2012.
- ^"P.S. OSCAR-W ~ THE HISTORY".Friends of PS Oscar W.Retrieved22 May2012.
- ^ab"SA Memory: Paddle-steamer Oscar W".State Library of South Australia.Retrieved22 May2012.
- ^"ROLL OF HONOR".Riverine Herald(Echuca, Vic.: Moama, NSW: 1869–1954).Echuca, Vic.:National Library of Australia.23 October 1917. p. 2 Edition: Daily.Retrieved18 October2013.
- ^"Advertising".Riverina Recorder(Balranald, Moulamein, NSW: 1887–1944).Balranald, Moulamein, NSW: National Library of Australia. 7 July 1909. p. 2.Retrieved14 February2014.
- ^ab"The History".P.S. Oscar-W.Retrieved14 June2021.
- ^"Attractions".Pioneer Settlement.2015.Retrieved14 June2021.
- ^"Barge Dart".P.S. Oscar-W.2012.Retrieved14 June2021.