A colourised keepsake of the PS Wagga Wagga. Photo: Museum of the Riverina.
This week the team from the Museum of the Riverina is celebrating the arrival of spring and transporting us back 117 years.
In 1905 the PS “Wagga Wagga” made a number of trips from Narrandera to Wagga. In the first instance (in July), carrying a cargo of 32,000 feet of timber consigned to Culcairn, Albury, Carnsdale and Corowa.
The paddle steamer belonged to Messrs. James Roach and Co., saw millers, Narrandera.
This image, a postcard from Wagga’s iconic Hunter Bros. in 1905, captures the first time since 1883 that the steamer had been to Wagga.
The handwritten inscription reads, “This is the steamer that came up from Narrandera twice last year. Do you remember its visits? I have often seen it at Narrandera”.
The grand vessel, which was of 75 tons register, travelled up the river at a steady 3 miles/hour and towed a 100 ton barge.
The arrival created great excitement and she was visited by large crowds, many of whom had not previously seen a river vessel larger than a rowboat.
The crowds were, however, disappointed that they weren’t able to experience sailing on the boat before her return to Narrandera. So, in November that same year, Mr Roach ran his steamer up the river for two pleasure cruises – one on Sunday 5 November and the second on Monday 13 November (the King’s Birthday holiday).
On 5 November, the Wagga Wagga left her moorings at 10 am and returned at 6 pm. The day was fine, and with a good river, the 150 people on board enjoyed the trip. The proceeds of the day, totalling £7 10s were generously donated by Messrs. Roach and Co. to the Wagga District Hospital.
The PS Wagga Wagga was the last of the operational paddle steamers on the Murrumbidgee River, and plied the treacherous waters between Hay and Wagga for more than 40 years.
Sadly, the much-loved steamer was wrecked on 11 November, 1918, and was abandoned on the banks of the Murrumbidgee at Narrandera.
Her remains can still be seen when the river is very low.
The wreck of the PS Wagga Wagga can be seen from the north side of the river when it is below 2 metres. Photo: Narrandera Tourism.
Information and leading image supplied by Michelle Maddison, curator of the Museum of the Riverina.
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