Paddle Steamer Mary Ann, Mannum
Description
The PS Mary Ann was the first steam-powered vessel on the Murray-Darling, built by William Richard Randell and his brothers and launched from near Mannum on 16 February 1853, seven months before Francis Cadell's Lady Augusta entered the Murray at its mouth near Goolwa. Its first commercial voyage began in August 1853 and the little vessel reached Echuca/Moama on 24 September 1853.
Steam was supplied by a box boiler which proved inadequate for the task because of the thin plates from which it was made. It was replaced and unceremoniously dumped on the river bank. Because of this benign neglect, the old boiler actually survived. It was recovered around 1893 and put on display in the main street of Mannum (which had been named after Randell). The boiler finally found a home under cover on the Mary Ann Reserve. In 2001 the old boiler was moved to the Mannum Dock Museum of River History and replaced with a replica.
The Mary Ann was instrumental in opening up trade on the inland rivers and contributed to early economic development of the associated colonies and particularly of South Australia.
Division
Marker Type
- EHNL: Engineering Heritage National Landmark (from 2009)