PS Pevensey

PS Pevensey is a historic paddle steamer, with its original steam engine, in the fleet of steamers at Echuca Wharf, Victoria, Australia. Built in 1911, it traded on the Murray River until about 1958. In 1973 it was brought Echuca for restoration and now operates as a tourist boat.

PS Pevensey (2021)
History
Australia
Name:	Pevensey
Route:	River Murray, Australia
Builder:	Permewan Wright & Co. Ltd.
Laid down:	1911
Homeport:	Echuca, Victoria (Australia)
Status:	Tourist vessel
General characteristics
Class and type:	Paddle steamer
Tonnage:	130 grt
Length:	111.6 ft (34 m)
Beam:	23.0 ft (7 m)
Depth:	6.9 ft (2 m)

Particulars

Pevensey was of composite construction, with timber on iron frames, built at the Moama slipway in 1911 by Permewan, Wright & Co. Ltd. The hull is 111.6 ft (34 m) in length, 23.0 ft (7 m) beam and 6.9 ft (2 m) in depth, was measured at 130 grt.[1] It still has its original steam engine and boiler, built by Marshall, Sons & Co. of Gainsborough, England. It is a 20 nhp high-pressure two-cylinder engine, No 55721, which gives Pevensey a speed of 8 knots (9.2 mph; 15 km/h).[1][2]

History

The paddle steamer is named after a sheep property on the Murrumbidgee River called Pevensey Station.[2] The paddle steamer was It was first operated by its builder and collected bales of wool from sheep stations and brought them to the Echuca wharf. From the wharf, it was loaded onto trains and taken to Melbourne for export overseas. Pevensey, with a cargo capacity of 120 tons, could carry 815 bales of wool and a total of 2000 bales when barges were towed along behind.[2] Pevensey’s barge, also composite built, was called Ada, and is also preserved at Echuca.[3]

Pevensey was sold to Murray Shipping Ltd in July 1919. In October 1932 it suffered a major fire at Koraleigh Landing, near Swan Hill, but returned to service in 1935 after rebuild at Morgan, South Australia, running between there and Mildura. After the river trade ended around 1958, Pevensey was tied up at Mildura where it was sunk by vandals in 1967, though later raised. In 1973 the steamer was purchased by Echuca City Council and towed there for restoration, with assitance of the Victorian Government.[1]

Pevensey with steam up at Echuca

Pevensey starred in the role of the fictional PS Philadelphia in the Australian television mini-series All the Rivers Run, made in Echuca in 1982–1983, alongside fellow-Echuga steamer Emmylou.[2]

References

1. Parsons, Ronald (1996). Ships of the Inland Rivers (3rd revised ed.). Gumeracha, South Australia: Gould Books. p. 116. ISBN 0-947284-34-6.
2. "P.S. Pevensey". Echuca Paddlesteamers. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
3. "A black and white photograph, Approx.1980s". Victorian Collections. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.

External links

• P.S. Pevensey