National Maritime Museum grant for
children’s paddle steamer exhibition
Its decks have hosted prime ministers, decadent summer cruises and even a boarding house, but
this month historians will be onboard to research a new exhibition about one of Australia’s oldest
operating paddle steamers PS Marion.
With the assistance of $6105 funding from the Australian National Maritime Museum, historians
from the Mannum Dock Museum of River History are designing an upcoming children’s exhibition
entitled “All Steamed Up”.
Reflecting the trend towards interactive displays, the museum intends to pass on the story of PS
Marion using activity sets which will enable children to re-enact the roles of different crew
members.
The vessel is fondly known in maritime circles for its piecemeal and sometimes crude
construction, but its appearance reflects the twists and turns of a long fortune.
PS Marion was built in 1897 to be a pleasure craft and work boat for the prominent Adelaide
businessman George Fowler, but was sold to a river trader when Fowler unexpectedly died.
It plied the Murray River trade for some years until rail took over. The boat was sold to Murray
Shipping Limited who transformed it into an upmarket passenger craft with accommodation.
During this time, PS Marion hosted the ceremony of the ‘locking of the river’, one of the first
unified acts of the states under the Commonwealth and an event attended by Prime Minister
Andrew Fisher and then Attorney General Billy Hughes.
Its golden years were the 1920’s and 30’s when the paddle steamer became famous for decadent
summer cruises between Renmark and Goolwa.
After the war ended, the owners went into liquidation and PS Marion was relegated to a stint as a
floating boarding house in Berri.
In 1963, the National Trust bought the boat and kept it in a dry dock until 1989 when the local
community decided the best way to conserve the craft was to keep it fully operational.
“PS Marion is an important example of a wood fired paddle steamer with accommodation that is
still in operation,” said Australian National Maritime Museum Director, Mary Louise Williams. “We
are pleased to be able to support the education of local children through the Maritime Museums
of Australia Project Support Scheme (MMAPPS).”
The exhibition is due to open next year at the Mannum Dock Museum of River History.
The MMAPPS scheme, which the museum funds with Australian Government’s Distributed
National Collection Program, helps regional museums, community groups and volunteers to
promote and protect Australian maritime heritage. For more information, phone (02) 9298 3777 or
05 February 2010
Australian National Maritime Museum - Bill Richards (02) 9298 3645; 0418 403 472
Images and interviews are available upon request from brichards@anmm.gov.au
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