.jpg) Paddle Steamer Hero - Echuca | |
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg) Australia | |
| Name | Hero |
| Route | River Murray, Australia |
| Launched | 1874 |
| In service | 1874 |
| Out of service | 1957 |
| Reinstated | 2000 |
| Homeport | Echuca,Victoria (Australia) |
| Status | Tourist vessel |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Side paddle steamer |
| Length | 28.1 m |
| Beam | 5.2 m |
| Propulsion | Steam |
| Notes | Data compiled from several sources[1][2] |
TheHero is apaddle steamer that was built atEchuca in 1874 by George Linklater. The working life ofHero first ended in 1957, but it was later restored c2000 as a first class luxury paddle steamer finely fitted-out for private charters.[1]
TheHero traded on theMurrumbidgee River as a hawking vessel until the 1930s when sold to Arbuthnot Sawmills atKoondrook as a logging boat. The company also owned the PSAlexander Arbuthnot.
In 1942, the Hero and two barges (John Campbell and Cannally) were purchased by theForests Commission Victoria from Arbuthnot Sawmills and moved toEchuca.[1] One of the pressing requirements during the War was to organise emergency supplies of firewood for a range of uses including military and civilian heating and cooking, and as a substitute for coal for locomotives because of a miners strike at Wonthaggi. PS Hero, under well known Captain Spencer (Spinny) Clark, was used to transport the much needed redgum logs from nearYielima in the Barmah State forest about 80 upstream to Echuca wharf. The two loaded barges were floated downstream from the forest to Echuca and the logs cut into foot blocks before being taken by rail to Melbourne. At one stage, annual production was upward of half a million tonnes. Most of the labour was provided by Italian internees.[3][4]
In 1950 theHero and barges were sold to the Collins Brothers and moved toMildura.[5] Later, in 1956, theHero sold to Chislett Brothers atBoundary Bend, Victoria, and again worked as a logging boat.
During the 1952 and 1956floods in Australia,Hero was used for various flood mitigation purposes.
In January 1957Hero caught fire at Boundary Bend, nearRobinvale, and sank.[2] Over the years it was stripped and slowly deteriorated. Its paddle wheels were removed and installed on thePV Pride of the Murray.
In 1989, Gary and Irene Byford purchasedHero. They raised it in February 1998 and removed the boiler and engine. The hull was moved to Echuca where it was restored and re-launched on 16 September 2000, the 126th anniversary of its original launch.[2]
Hero is 28 metres long and can carry up to 75 passengers.[1]
Its original steam engines have been refitted.[2]
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