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Echuca Paddlesteamers
52 Murray Esplanade, , 3564 Phone: 61 03 5482 4248 www.echucapaddlesteamers.net.auAbout
Experience the magic of the mighty Murray River with Echuca Paddlesteamers. Echuca Paddlesteamers operates two authentic, fully operational paddlesteamers, the Paddlesteamer Pevensey and Paddlesteamer Alexander Arbuthnot. The steamers share the load of passengers for cruises departing daily at Echuca Wharf. Although its major commodity has changed from wool to people, the paddlesteamers still operate much the same as they did during the riverboat trade era of the late 1800's. Built in 1923 at Arbuthnot's Koondrook Sawmill the Alexander Arbuthnot was the last steamer built on the Murray during the riverboat trade and was used as a logging boat for some years until she was sold to charcoal producers in the Barmah Forest. During World War Two the Alexander Arbuthnot lay idle and sank at her moorings in 1947 but was raised in 1972 by a group of Shepparton volunteers. The Alexander Arbuthnot was bought by the City of Echuca in 1989 for restoration at the Port. Paddlesteamer Pevensey is capable of carrying 120 tons in giant holds, the Pevensey is powered by a power twin high pressure steam engine. After catching fire in 1932, she was rebuilt, but later fell on hard times and became a floating museum. Brought in for Port restoration in 1973, this great Clydesdale of the river was refloated in 1976 and began carrying passengers three years later.
