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From the early 1900s road and rail transport  improved and the unreliability of water levels made river transport less attractive. The paddle-steamers were largely replaced by trucks and trains.

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In drought years, the Darling and Murrumbidgee Rivers often became unnavigable and the steamers could only reach as far as Echuca on the Murray.  The most important cargo was wool, which was transported after the spring shearing, when water levels were most reliable and highest.

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P.S. Alexander Arbuthnot (1923 - built Koondrook)

P.S. Pevensey (1911 - built Moama)

P.S. Adelaide (1866 - built Echuca)

P.S. Emmylou (1980 - built Echuca)

P.S. Canberra (1912 - built Goolwa)

Pride of the Murray (1924 - built Echuca)

P.S. Success (1877 - built Moama - under restoration at Port of Echuca)

P.S. Hero (1874 - built Echuca)

P.S. Etona (1898 - built Milang - The Floating Mission)

P.S. Gem (1876 - built Moama)

P.S. Melbourne (1912 - built Koondrook)

P.S. Ruby (1907 - built Morgan)

P.B. Cumberoona (Replica built 1987 - closed)

P.B. Cobba (2012 - built Yarroweyah)

P.B. Coonawarra (1884 - built Echuca - Private boat

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P.S. Industry (1911 - built Goolwa)

P.S. Canally (1907 - built Koondrook)

Murray River Queen (1974 - built Hindmarsh Island - not cruising)

Murray Princess (1986 - built Goolwa)

P.S. Marion (1897 - built Milang)

Proud Mary (1982 - built Berri)

Captain Proud (formerly Proud Lady) (1977 - built Port Adelaide)

P.S. Oscar W (1908 - built Echuca)

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Born in England, William Richard Randell, came to South Australia as a 13 year old boy with his family in October 1837, only ten months after the Colony of South Australia had been founded. Whilst helping his father, William gained a good knowledge of the lands around the lower end of the Murray River. Exposure to his father’s flour mill at Gumeracha in the Adelaide Hills, gave young William first-hand experience of the enormous power of steam; and formed the resolve that he would be the first man to put a steamboat on the river.For years William nursed his dream, and then in 1851 gold was discovered in New South Wales and the whole of the Australian society fell into turmoil. William Randell talked it over with his younger brothers and excited by the stories filtering through to Adelaide of the fortunes to be made by taking supplied to the goldfields, he decided that the time for action had come.

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In 1862, a rail link was completed between Echuca and Melbourne.  Dubbed “the meeting of the whistles”, this allowed producers in the Murray Darling basin to send their goods by river to Echuca and from there by rail to the Melbourne port. Echuca became the major river port, diverting much of the trade from South Australia. At this time, Echuca was the second-busiest port in Victoria and the fourth busiest in Australia, after Sydney, Melbourne and Newcastle.

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The first paddle steamer to reach Walgett was the Gemini under Captain William Randell in 1861. He pioneered this form of travel on the Murray River and following this he navigated the Darling and Barwon Rivers.

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PS Embassy Paddle steamer footage from the 1960s

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Victoria, Australia. Australian commentary, transcript on file. CU. Stills of old paddle steamer that used to carry goods & people up and down the River Murray. CU. Of pistons working and the paddles moving round. VS. People seated on the deck of the paddle steamers today,they are tourists and take in the scenery.

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The government in Adelaide encouraged the river trade. The transport of goods through the river port of Goolwa and from there to the Adelaide docks, helped boost business in the colony. From 1854 a horse-drawn tramway linked Goolwa to Port Eliot, south of Adelaide, aiding in the transport of goods.

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Australia’s first paddle steamer, the ‘Surprise’, was launched in Sydney in 1831. By the 1840s a number of paddle steamers were operating in Australian coastal waters.

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The first two paddle steamers were soon joined by many more. Ultimately nearly 200 vessels carried wool and produce to the major river ports for transport to Australian cities and overseas. They returned with foodstuffs and other supplies.

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In August 1807 the boat made a trial run up the Hudson from New York to Albany, a distance of 150 miles. It took thirty-two hours for the journey, with forty guests on board, mainly friends and family.