# List of Murray–Darling steamboats

This is a list of steamboats that have operated on the Murray-Darling–Murrumbidgee river system. It also includes several diesel-powered vessels built in the same tradition.
See also Murray-Darling steamboat people for more information on people mentioned in this article.

## Riverboats

| Name | Description | Murray Service | Owners | Captains | Barges | Fate/Notes |
| Adelaide | 106 tons | 1866–now | J. C. Grassey & Partners Grassey & Officer Blair & McCrowther 1879 Murray River Sawmills 1901 R. Evans 1915 | F. Pullar 1867, 1869–1871, 1875 Adams 1872 C. Schmedje sr, jr. 1879–1889 J. Krause 1881 Hoskins 1881 J. Dorey 1881 J. Newman 1883 W. Thomson 1890–1911 C. Anderson 1912–1939 R. Keir 1916 | Echuca 1869 Redgum 1869 Moama 1869 Bendigo 1871 Eclipse 1872–1873 Moira 1873 Heather Bell 1878–1882 Border Chief 1879–1882 Shamrock 1879–1881 Gunbower 1879 Shamrock 1881 Swallow 1881 Pelican 1881 Federation 1881 Alice 1883 | Oldest operable wooden hulled paddle steamer anywhere in the world. She was towing barges for the timber mill in 1947 Taken out of service 1960, then re-commissioned in 1985. Moored at Echuca. |
| Advance | | 1906–1909 | | | | Shuttled between Bourke and Louth. Was this vessel built from barge Advance? |
| Agnes | 110 tons 85 ft × 10 ft. | 1877–1888 | Thos. Laing & Co. 1877–1880 J. Randell & D. Luttet 1880–1887 T. Freeman 1887–1888 | J. Patterson 1877 D. Sinclair 1878, 1880 T. Laing 1879 T. Freeman 1879–1883 J. Symington 1879 F. C. Hansen 1880 M. Cole 1883, 1884 | Rabbie Burns 1878–1881 Native Companion 1879 Darling 1880 Scottish Chief 1880–1883 | Sold 1888 to Nagambie Steam Navigation and Saw-Mill Co. and removed to Nagambie on Goulburn River; replaced by Emma. |
| Albury | iron hull 120' × 16' 60/156 tons 40/50 hp. | 1855– | River Murray Navigation Co. Wallace & Other 1875 Johnston & Murphy 1880 Kirkpatrick & Harris 1879 Kirkpatrick 1881 | E. Robertson 1855 R. Ross 1856 G. B. Johnston 1855–1875 J. Mace 1857 W. Barber 1860 T. Johnston 1864–1866 James Barclay 1870, 1871, :1874, 1875 W. Dickson 1873 Kopp 1875 J. M. Wallace 1875, 1877, 1878, :1880 G. Johnson 1881 J. Tait 1881–1883 | Murrumbidgee 1855 Wakool 1855–1860 Goolwa 1856 Mitta Mitta 1857, 1859, 1860, 1874 Bogan 1866 Unknown 1866 J & M 1869, 1874, 1875 Menindie 1869 Miriam 1870–1875, 1879–1881 | Sister ship to Gundagai. First to reach Town of Albury. Iron hull replaced with timber 1881. |
| Alert | | 1879–1937 | George Blunt 1882 Blunt & Mason McCulloch & Co. Permewan, Wright & Co. O. Searles 1937 | G. Linklater 1879 C. Cowley 1879, 1880 T. Bynon c. 1880 R. Strang 1883–1899 R. F. Lewen 1898 G. Lindqvist 1899 G. Dorward jr. 1901 L. Strom 1905 H. Teschner 1905, 1906 | Advance 1879 Willandra 1879 Canally 1880 Maori 1883–1891 Woorooma 1889 Jessie 1889, 1895, 1905, 1910 Nelson 1889, 1892, 1896, 1899 Paroo 1890, 1891 Horace 1891, 1905 Lancashire Witch 1891, 1896 Namoi 1892–1894, 1896–1898, 1905 Eagle 1892–1894, 1898 Tongo 1895 J.L.Roberts 1895, 1897, 1898, :1905, 1909 Confidence 1895–1896, 1898 Gunbower 1897 Echuca 1905 Moorara 1909 | Involved in railway construction Narrandera 1882. Burnt to the waterline near Morgan 1937. |
| Alexander Arbuthnot | | 1923–1947 1990–now | Arbuthnot Sawmills Pty Ltd. | H. Hogg 1942 | | Engaged in hauling redgum timber. Restored c. 1990 and serves as tourist vessel based at Echuca. |
| Alexandra | | 1904–1906 | James Bell & Co. 1903 G. Ritchie | G. Ritchie 1904, 1906 | | Excursions out of Murray Bridge 1904–1906. Originally steamer Bantam; machinery and boiler incorporated into steamer Venus. |
| Alfred (see also Prince Alfred) | Iron side-wheeler 116 tons | 1867–1917 | A. Johnson 1869 A. Locke 1869 Risby 1890 Lush Knox & Downs 1916 | Reis 1867 M. Mack 1869–1876 Thomson 1876 J. Dorey 1877, 1880, 1881 J. Lawson 1878, 1879 O. Kenrick 1879 J. Krause 1881–1883 L. Searles 1890 R. Ransom 1912, 1913, 1915 G. M. Mumby 1917 | Alice 1869–1872 Pocahontas 1878 Darling 1878–1879, 1881 Pelican 1878, 1881 Paroo 1879 Swallow 1879, 1884 Willandra 1879 Advance 1880–1881 Border Chief 1881 Pimpampa 1881 Swallow 1884 Uranus 1916, 1917 | Sister ship to J.H.P. but side-wheeler. Had major refit 1890. Sank May 1917; crewman Thorn drowned; Mumby and mate charged with manslaughter, acquitted Later houseboat for W. Dodd. |
| Alma | | 1900– | SA Govt. Irrigation Dept. | | | Originally missionary boat Etona |
| Alpha "Murray Marvel" | 50 tons | 1899– | A. Francis W. Collins 1908, 1923 H. Brennan −1911 S.A. Import Co. 1911– | A. Francis 1900–1902 H. Brennan 1911 W. Collins 1918–1923 | Annie 1918 Emerald 1919 | Light draught trading steamer with a reputation for sailing when no other could get through, she was largely built from wreck of Nil Desperandum. Mrs. Collins was engineer in 1918 In 1950 the Alpha was serving as a family home at Mannum. |
| Amphibious | 60' × 18' iron hull 16 hp. twin screw, 49 tons | 1876–1926 | W. Warren 1876 D. McBeath 1879– Richard Craig 1902 | W. Warren 1876 D. McBeath 1879 J. McBeath 1893 | | propelled by large Archimedean screws only part-submerged so they did not protrude below hull. Later converted to ketch. |
| Arbuthnot | 100 hp. | 1912–1913 | Arbuthnot & Sons 1912–1913 | W. F. Bailey C. Johnson 1913 | Koondrook 1913 | Raced Canally 1913. Destroyed by fire. Raised and rebuilt by Capt. Arnold in 1916 and renamed J. G. Arnold. (see below.) |
| Arcadia | 85' × 12' | 1904– | W. Wolter 1904–1917 | W. Wolter 1904–1917 | | Served as excursion steamer on lower Murray and lakes Albert and Alexandria. |
| Ariel | 83 tons | 1868–1899? | Hardman & Lester 1876 Herbert Lester 1877 W. R. Randell 1878 | R. Anderson 1868–1875 Parker 1869 Wallace 1876 C. Bock 1876–1879, 1892, 1896 E. H. Randell 1880–1882 F. C. Hansen 1881 Anderson 1893, 1894 W. Porter 1896 | Ariel 1868–1876 Bogan 1873 Goolwa 1874–1875 Hartley 1879–1892 Alice 1882 Rosa 1896 | Trading steamer purchased with barge Ariel by Hardman & Lester 1876; William Frank Hardman became insolvent 1877 and was bought out by Herbert Lester. Rebuilt as steamer Kelvin 1912. |
| Australien | | 1897–1926 | W. Wilson 1897–1905 F. O. Wallin 1906–1933 King & Jones 1934– | W. Wilson 1897–1904 W. Carlyon 1901 W. Knight 1902 Fordyce 1905 F. O. Wallin 1905, 1906, 1908 T. Kelly 1910–1912, 1918 | Vega 1911, 1918, 1932 Federal 1920 Zulu 1906, 1918, 1920 J.L. Roberts 1933 | Chinese cook Jimmy Ah Kee drowned 1901. Last served as logging steamer above Yarrawonga weir. (Mudie p. 164) In 1934 she brought construction materials to Yarrawonga, the first boat from South Australia in 20 years. She was there purchased for King Bros. of Mulwala for carrying timber. |
| Avoca | 148 tons | 1877– | Oliver & Thomson 1877 Alec Thomson 1886 J. G. Arnold c. 1920– D. Treacy 1939, 1947 Collins Bros. 1950 | W. Miers 1879–1882 D. Treacy 1939, 1948 | | Sunk near Wilcannia 1878. Left river for Spencer Gulf trade c. 1890 for J. Darling & Co. Returned to Murray c. 1920 to cart stone (Mudie p. 191) and occasional "rough" tourist trips. Sunk at Mildura in 2014. |
| Bantam | | 1883– | R. F. Lewen 1883–1901 G. Ritchie 1903 | R. F. Lewen 1883–1901 | Paragon 1883–1896, 1903 | First on upper Murray to employ electric light. Converted to barge Alexandra 1903 Became steamer Alexandra (see above) |
| Barwon | | 1886– | Permewan, Wright and Co. Gem Navigation Co. 1909– | A. De Forest 1886 P. Westergaard 1887–1893 J. Innes c. 1888 (Mudie p. 179) C. Johnson 1888, 1899 W. Carlyon 1897 G. Robson 1898, 1904, 1906 D. Nutchey 1905, 1906 A. Dusting 1908 H. Teschner 1908 G. McLean 1909 B. Atkins 1910 W. F. Bailey 1910 P. Sandford 1910 W. R. F. Hanckel 1910 R. Potter 1911 Haines 1912, 1913 Rice 1914 J. Nutchey 1916 H. McLean 1912, 1916 H. Treacy 1924 | Victory 1886, 1894 Sprite 1886–1890, 1892 Horace 1886–1888, 1892, 1897–1898 Jessie 1887–1889, 1891–1894, 1897 Nelson 1888–1892, 1894, 1898 Maori 1889, 1893, 1896, 1901, :1907, 1908 Blue Bell 1890, 1898 Woorooma 1891–1892, 1896 Lancashire Witch 1892, 1897, 1898 Diamantina 1892 Paroo 1893, 1894, 1897, 1898 Confidence 1896 J.L. Roberts 1898 Pimpampa 1901 Sarah Jane 1901 Ormond 1907 Mary 1908 Emily 1909, 1913 Nonpareil 1909 Hartley 1910 Mallara 1910 Alice 1910 Moorara 1913 Florence Annie 1913 Emerald 1912;1914, 1916, 1920 | Barwon was originally barge White Rose (consort of Riverina) sunk in 1884, lengthened and renamed 1886. Barge Blue Bell destroyed by fire January 1898 Barge Maori sunk near Hay 1907 Still in service 1924, carrying gravel. (Barwon was also the name of the interstate coastal freighter at the centre of the 1928 seamen's strike.) |
| Beechworth | 105' 2 × 85 hp | 1865–1867 | Smith & Banks 1865–1867 | Reis 1866 J. Smith 1865–1867 | Wangaratta 1866 | Sunk 1866, destroyed by fire January 1867 while moored at Echuca. Harry Payne bought the wreck and much of her structure was incorporated into the Corowa or Jane Eliza. (Mudie p. 223) Replaced by Jane Eliza. |
| Bejo perhaps "B.J.O." | | 1953 | | | | see Eric |
| Black Swan | | | | | | see Nil Desperandum |
| Blanche | 48 tons | 1869–1887 | Swannell & Wallace Whyte, Counsell & Co. 1875, 1879 W. Bowring 1908 P. McLaren 1908 | J. Wallace 1869–1875 J. Grundy 1877 W. Stewart 1875–1877 G. Pybus 1880 | Morning Star 1874–1876 Livingstone 1875 Howlong 1876–1877 | mail steamer |
| Bogan | wood hull, 53 tons | 1860–1869 | W. R. Randell | J. Johnstone D. Bower 1861 J. Wallace 1864 W. R. Randell 1864–1869 R. Anderson possibly 1868, 1869 (Mudie p. 80) | Goolwa 1864, 1866 | Originally barge, converted back to barge c. 1870. |
| Bourke | 110' × 20' 6" 153 tons | 1876–1896 | A. H. Landseer 1876–1881 | J. Wallace G. Pickhills 1876–1878, 1880 J. Grundy 1891–1896 | Empress 1877, 1879, 1881, 1882, :1887, 1893 Hilda 1893 McIntyre 1894 | Raced against rowing four 1880 Last used as excursion steamer. Perhaps converted to barge Bourke c. 1898, (there was an earlier barge of that name or perhaps "Burke"), escort of Tarella, then successively a floating cold storage and butcher's shop behind Queen based in Renmark. |
| Brewarrina | 28 tons 50 ft. × 12 ft. | 1877–1908 | Thomson & Ritchie Thompson, Vaughan & Co. 1879 W. M. Fehon G. White 1890 E. Rich & Co. –1907 Permewan, Wright 1907– | J. Gribble 1877–1880,1886 (Mudie p. 92) G. White 1890–1897 G. Grundy 1893 C. Cowley 1893 Olsen 1903? H. Payne 1904 | Walgett 1877, 1878, 1885, 1887, :1896, 1897 Darling 1891 Golconda 1896–1897 Trader 1908 | Centre of riot when carrying strike-breakers during shearers' strike 1891. Stuck on the Bundabareena rocks 1903. Reached Mungindi in July 1893 (Mudie). |
| Britannia | 125' × 24' | 1884–1888 | Tonkin, Fuller & Martin | L. Searles 1888 | | Converted from barge Britannia with boiler and machinery from steamer Queen. Burnt at Craigie's Creek near Bookmark and Bookpurnong stations. Crewman John McKenny was badly burned. |
| Bunyip (1) | 106' 14 tons | 1858–1863 | W. R. Randell Randell & Scott Robs & Purchas 1879 | J. Lindsay 1858 (Mudie p. 199) W. R. Randell 1858, 1859, :1861–1863 E. H. Randell 1859–1861 | | Bunyip originally had twin hulls, with the paddle-wheel amidships, and an auxiliary screw at the bow for steering. The ship's cook and a passenger were lost overboard 1860. Bunyip was converted to a single-hull stern-wheeler around this time, and rated 200 tons. She was destroyed by fire near Chambers's station at Chowilla, Five died in the fire or were drowned. The spot was later named Bunyip Reach. |
| Bunyip (2) | 46' 10 ton | 1877–1889 | | H. Dewing 1878 J. Symington 1880 J. Nash 1882, 1883 Davis 1885–1886 S. McBurney 1889 | | Reached Seymour, Victoria, on the Upper Goulburn, in 1878. (Mudie p. 90) Stuck in Darling 1885–1886 |
| Burrabogie | 80/95 tons 110 ft. × 16' 6". | 1874–1885 | Hay Steam Navigation Co. 1874–1878 McCulloch & Co. 1879– | E. Fowler 1874 J. Ritchie 1874–1877 G. Lindqvist 1877–1884 | Pimpampa 1874, 1875, 1882 Willandra 1875–1879, 1882 Tongo 1879–1880 Darling 1880, 1881 Gwydir 1881 Namoi 1881, 1883 Federation 1881 Border Chief 1882 Eagle 1884 Paroo 1885 | Sunk at Hay 1880; left for Gippsland Lakes 1885. Sister ship to Corrong. The name "Burrabogie" was applied to a barge c. 1889. |
| Cadell See also steamer Francis Cadell below. | 126' × 20' | 1876– | G. B. Johnston 1876 G. Johnston & Co. 1883 D. Ritchie 1922 | G. B. Johnston 1878 W. Dickson 1879, 1880, :1883, 1884 R. Johnson 1880 J. Ritchie 1923, 1925 | Isabel 1878 Monarch 1879–1881, 1886, 1887 Granite 1923–1924 | Her hull was launched 1876 and she was used as a barge until 1878 when her engine was fitted. Johnston's brother Peter died after falling into paddlebox 1881. Frequently crossed Murray mouth. She lay derelict on a Port Pirie beach until purchased by D. Ritchie and returned to the Murray. (Mudie p. 194) by 1925 she was described as J. Ritchie's "flagship". |
| Canally | 92' 100 hp. | | Tinks 1919–1925 T. Freeman −1920 (S.A. buyer) 1920– Francis & Tinks 1924 | T. Freeman 1912–1916, 1918 F. Weaver 1924 | T. F. 1918, 1920 | Dubbed "Greyhound of the Rivers", she raced Arbuthnot 1913. Made record time Balranald to Echuca 1915 sold 1934 then 1941. Converted to barge; carried wood blocks from Yielima. Now undergoing restoration at Mannum Her four-tone steam whistle was later used at the Mildura packing shed. |
| Canberra | | 1916– | | | | Refurbished by Hilary Hogg in 1953 as a tourist vessel out of Renmark. Restored in 2003 and serves as tourist vessel out of Echuca, Victoria. |
| Captain Sturt | Iron hull | 1916–1938 | River Murray Commission | G. Johnston 1916, 1919, :1923, 1925 E. Orchard 1926 | | Built by Washington Meredith, an American. Unique in pushing barges (four or more, loaded with stone from quarry at Mannum) ahead of her. Used for Lock 8 in 1932. Became houseboat at Goolwa in 1946. In 1997 the upper decks were removed and the hull used at the centre of Goolwa's Captain Sturt Marina, where the paddle wheel is still visible. |
| Cato | iron hull | 1883– | J. Nash & G. Curson 1883– E. Rich & Co. –1907 Permewan, Wright 1907– | J. Nash 1883–1889 D. Cremer 1896, 1897 E. E. Dodd 1897, 1898 | Albemarle 1896–1908 Livingstone 1897 Trader 1898 | Helped rescue people stranded by floods at Bourke 1890. |
| Charlotte | | | Henry Butler Rhoda Singh | | | Hawking steamer |
| City of Oxford | 70' × 11' | 1890–1915 | C. Cantwell 1890– T. Goode 1903 R. Singh 1909 H. Mackenzie 1909 R. Singh 1910 (again!) | C. Cantwell 1890 C. Johnson 1890, 1894 J. Lyons 1891 D. Sinclair 1894 R. Singh 1909 | Union 1898 Undaunted 1904 | Originally L'Orient, lengthened by 22', she was designed to operate in shallow waters. Became a hawking steamer operating between Morgan and Renmark. Struck cliff and sank 1909 at Qualco, and again in 1911. She struck a snag near the S.A. border in 1915, and though refloated and repaired did little subsequent work. |
| Clara | 79 tons | 1876–1880 | W. Beams & Co. 1879 James Johnston 1880 | L. Searles 1877, 1878 | | Collided with Despatch 1878 Burnt to the waterline 1880 while laid up and being advertised for sale; she was insured for more than the asking price. |
| Clyde | | | Permewan, Wright & Co. W. Wilson F. O. Wallin 1909– | W. Wilson 1888–1895 W. F. Bailey 1897 Johnson 1899 Olson 1901, 1902 Permewan, Wright & Co. –1909 F. O. Wallin 1909– | Annie 1890 Zulu 1890, 1895 | Built from barge Result (Mudie p. 160) Engineer James Quinn died September 1907 from injuries after getting clothing caught by the engine shaft. Acquired by Wallin 1909 in exchange for Oscar W. |
| Colonel | | 1894?– | F. O. Wallin 1918 | J. Innes 1896–1899 H. Teschner 1903–1906 W. F. Bailey 1905 E. Orchard 1923 G. Alexander 1924 A. E. Workman 1924, 1925 C. Cantwell 1924 W. Henderson 1926 L. McLean 1927 C. Haines 1933 | Jessie 1895, 1906, 1908, 1910, 1911 Maori 1895–1899, 1903, 1905 Woorooma 1896 Sarah Jane 1900 T.P. 1901 Lancashire Witch 1905 Gunbower 1906 J.L. Roberts 1906, 1910–1912 Echuca 1907 Namoi 1908, 1912 Vega 1918 Uranus 1920 Emerald 1923 Hartley 1924 Loxton 1924 Ukee 1925 Kulnine 1926–1927 Crowie 1928 Moorabin 1928, 1929 | Barge Maori sunk 1897 near Yarrawonga, blocking the river. |
| Colonel Light | | 1922– | | | | Weekly run for Renmark fruit growers |
| Colonial | | | | | | Delivered boiler 1926 Perhaps typo for Colonel. |
| Coonawarra | 110', 225 ton | 1950– | Murray Valley Coaches Ltd. | H. Hogg 1950 L. Telley 1951 R. McGraw 1952 L. Wagner | | Conversion by Charles Felshaw from barge J.L. Roberts (built 1911 in Echuca) as Murrumbidgee II. Incorporated shaft from Murrumbidgee and paddlewheels from Excelsior. Subject of Judith Crossley song Coonawarra has three shadows. |
| Corio | 83 tons | 1857 | River Murray Steam Navigation Ltd. | B. Germein 1857 | | "The screw steamer Corio was bought for £4,200, to run from Port Adelaide to Goolwa, but after a number of trips she was stranded inside the mouth, and was abandoned." |
| Corowa | composite hull stern-wheeler, 98' × 19' 8" 182 tons | 1868– | Smith & Banks 1868 Murray & Jackson E. H. Randell 1871– Chaffey Brothers J. Tait 1892– Gem Navigation Co. 1909– | A. Peirce 1868, 1869 J. Thompson 1870 E. H. Randell 1871 E. C. Randell 1873–1876, 1880 W. R. Randell 1876 A. E. Randell 1885, 1886 J. Tait 1890–1895 Hart 1895 H. W. King 1897 J. Nutchey 1899, 1907, 1909, 1912 Tinks 1905, 1908 G. McLean 1907 G. Alexander 1911–1913, 1919 E. Orchard 1912, 1921 G. A. Thamm 1913 S. Rossiter 1914 W. Freeman 1923 L. Mewett 1923, 1924 | Paika 1871, 1912 Eclipse 1875 Mary Ann 1884 Emerald 1901, 1907, 1921 Paragon 1905 Susan 1907 Empress 1907, 1910, 1912 Isabel 1907 Pearl 1907 Nonpareil 1907, 1908 Myee 1910 Alice 1910 Radia 1912 Emily 1914 Moorara 1914 Crowie 1919 Ukee 1919 Hartley 1919 Loxton 1921 Wollara 1921 Uranus 1922 | Replacement for Lady Darling, and using some of her materials.(Mudie p. 73) Randell disposed of her in Adelaide 1876 Stuck in upper reaches of Darling 1880, 1881. and 1885, 1886 |
| Corrong | 30 hp 60/87 tons | 1874 | Hay Steam Navigation Co. 1874–1879 McCulloch & Co. 1879– | J. W. Ritchie 1874, 1876 H. Theisz 1875–1879 W. Pullar 1880–1882 Johnson 1882, 1883 M. Cole 1883, 1884 T. Freeman 1884–1886 J. Page 1885 J. Patterson 1887 G. Lindqvist 1887–1888, :1890–1892,1894 (Mudie p, 139),1896 J. Dickson 1888, 1889 J. Innes 1888 A. Dusting 1896 H. Teschner 1897, 1898 | Moira 1870, 1874 Willandra 1875 Pimpampa 1875, 1876, 1878, 1879 Swallow 1879–1881 Pelican 1879 Federation 1880–1881 Namoi 1881, 1889, 1890 Advance 1882 Shamrock 1882 Horace 1882, 1885–1886, 1891 Jessie 1883–1884, 1897 Victory 1886, 1887 Nelson 1886 Paroo 1888, 1891 Confidence 1888, 1891, 1897 Gunbower 1890 Eagle 1891 | Perhaps named for Corrong station on the Lachlan; she was sister ship to the Burrabogie. Bargehand William England lost overboard 1874. |
| Culgoa | composite stern-wheeler 30 hp, 79 tons | 1865–1868 :1871–1872 | Acraman, Main, Lindsay, & Co. Murray & Jackson | A. Sunman 1865–1871 W. Parker 1870, 1871 W. Barber 1872 | Darling 1865–1866 Hume 1869, 1871–1872, 1878 | Snagged and sunk 1865. A. Sunman and Culgoa also worked between Gulf St Vincent ports out of Port Wakefield 1869–1871. |
| Cumberoona (1) | 108' × 20' 142 tons 60 hp. | 1866– | J. Whyte 1866 Whyte, Counsell & Co. 1879 | J. Mace 1866–1869 C. Hill 1869 Adamson 1870 E. Barnes 1870–1872, 1876 W. Barber 1873–1875 G. Pybus 1881, 1883–1887 Adams 1879 | Howlong 1868–1874, 1883 Livingstone 1874, 1879 Stanley 1876, 1881 Morning Star 1876 Goolwa 1879 | Snagged and sunk on maiden voyage. Stuck in Darling 1885–1886 Collided with Wahgunyah 1869; Mace was found culpable and had his master's certificate suspended for 12 months. |
| Cumberoona (2) | steel hull side-paddles 25m. | 1986– | | | | 3/4 replica built at Albury 1985 as Bicentennial project designed by Warwick Hood. |
| Daisy | 52' × 11' 20 tons | 1896–1906 | R. S. McLeod 1905 | Wilson 1904 T. Edwards 1912 Mine Family 1945 1948 when sunk. | | Hawking steamer, still afloat in 1942. |
| Davis | | | | W. O. Searles 1926 | | |
| Decoy | 93' × 18' | 1878–1902 :1911– | H. B. Hughes 1878– G. Ritchie J. Whyte Murray Shipping Ltd. John Darling & Son 1902 Gem Navigation Co. 1909– | E. Fowler 1878 E. Baron 1878, 1881, 1885, 1886 T. Johnston 1881 J. Kerr 1889, 1898 W. Sandey 1892–1894 G. Grundy 1900 R. Potter 1912 E. Orchard 1923 V. Byrne 1924 W. Henderson 1924 L. Mewett 1924–1927 A. Price 1926 W. H. Drage 1928 | Reliance 1879–1881, 1883, :1890–1893, 1897, 1902 Croupier 1881, 1884, 1889, 1895, 1899 Uranus 1890, 1896 Bourke 1898 Mallara 1910, 1911, 1927 Murchison 1911 Hartley 1911 Nonpareil 1911 Ukee 1912 Cobar 1918 Emerald 1921 Moorabin 1921, 1923 Loxton 1924 Crowie 1924, 1925, 1927 Kulnine 1926 | Brought out from Scotland in sections and built in Melbourne, originally designed to burn coal, modified for wood 1878. Later owned by John Whyte Purchased by John Darling 1902 to work Gulf St Vincent with barge Reliance. then served as passenger vessel on Swan River 1905–1909 then purchased by George Ritchie and returned to the Murray. In 1925 the barge Crowie towed by Decoy carried a record 2,493 bales of wool. Became a houseboat. |
| Dione | | 1894, 1895 | | W. C. Butler | | Twin screw steamer built for N.S.W. Government and bought by Rev. Butler for missionary work among Village Settlements; renamed Glad Tidings. |
| Dispatch | 117 tons 111' long | 1877– | A. H. Landseer 1877 T. C. Goode –1909 | J. Tait 1877 J. Wallace 1879, 1882, 1885 T. C. Goode 1908 | | Built as mail steamer on the Lower Lakes. Snagging duties 1910 |
| Despatch | | | | G. Grundy 1910 W. R. F. Hanckel 1911 | | |
| Dora | 29' × 10', 5.6 tons, 2 hp. | 1884– | J. Wrench & Macpherson 1884 Matthews 1886 John Ware 1890 | | | Hawking vessel |
| Duke of Edinburgh | | 1868– | Tonkin & Fuller | B. M. Fuller 1868–1874 Bruce 1870–1872 | | Light draught steamer worked between Milang and Wentworth. |
| E.R.O. | | | Renmark Irrigation Trust Cuttle & Ogilvy 1918 W. Collins 1923 | Randell 1917 J. Nutchey 1917–1921 | Alice 1917–1925 | named for E. R. Olorenshaw, founding chairman of the Renmark Irrigation Trust. Delivered Renmark punt (Captains Randell and Nutchey) 1917. |
| Echuca | iron hull | 1865– | | | | |
| Edwards | 85' × 16', 78 tons | 1875 | J. Laing 1875–1879 J. Lawrence & Son 1888– J. Webb 1903 R. J. Evans (Evans Brothers) 1907 | S. Williams 1875–1883 J. Laing 1875–1879 W. Sugden 1881 A. Dusting 1882 J. Newman 1882 A. Ebery 1882, 1883 C. Morton 1886 J. Lyons 1887 G. Cole 1888, 1889 J. Webb 1903, 1905 R. Keir 1911 P. Evans 1918 Dean 1932 J. Foster 1939 R. McGraw 1950 | Rabbie Burns 1875–1877 Federation 1876 Blue Bells 1878–1883, 1887 Benduck 1879 Whaler 1921 Impulse 1950 | Barge sunk 1883 Converted for irrigation purposes 1888 Idle 1902, then restored for general cargo 1903 Associated with Barmah sawmill, 80 km upstream from Echuca, carrying logs and sawn timber from 1907. |
| Elfie | | 1880– | | Perry 1892 Gribble 1892 L. Searles 1894 C. Payne 1896 F. Wolter 1897, 1898 | Cutty Sark 1896–1897 | Originally a barge behind Kelpie, then set up for scouring wool. Deckhand Alfred Salmon burned to death when deck caught fire 1892 Captain Perry mysteriously disappeared 1892, found dead. Chinese cook murdered deckhand 1894 |
| Elizabeth | 90 tons | 1872– | J. Mackintosh Mackintosh Sawmill Co. 1888 Murray River Sawmill Co. | E. Fowler 1873, 1874 D. Bower 1874–1876 C. Hill 1878, 1879 C. King 1879 L. Strom 1883, 1885, 1886, 1888, :1892, 1893, 1899–1901, 1908 W. Carlyon 1893 | John Campbell 1878, 1885 Tongo 1878 Scottish Chief 1876, 1878–1879 Premier 1886 Confidence 1893 | |
| Ellen | 134 tons 125 ft. × 19' 6 in. | 1877–1930 | Shetliff & Co. H. King & Co. 1909 Gem Navigation Co. 1909– Murray Shipping Ltd. 1919, 1923 | S. Shetliff jr. 1883–1886 A. Matulick 1885 W. Miers 1890, 1891 Hart 1895, 1896 H. W. King 1905 W. Tinks 1906, 1909 C. Payne c. 1910 Bob Smith 1910, 1911 G. McLean 1911 G. Alexander 1912 E. Orchard 1913 V. Byrne 1920 C. Cantwell 1921 J. Haynes 1923 L. McLean 1923 | Paragon 1905, 1906 Pearl 1906 Isabel 1906, 1909, 1912 Empress 1909, 1910 Queen 1910 Hartley 1910 Susan 1917 Albemarle 1917 Ukee 1917 Paika 1917 Cobar 1918 | Originally barge Ellen, launched 1876. Stuck in Darling 1885–1886 Sold to Joseph Johnson of Port Wakefield in 1887, but returned to Mildura with George Chaffey's pumps in December 1888. Sank near Euston in 1923 Destroyed by fire 1930. |
| Emily Jane (1) | 58 tons 70' 9" × 13' 2" | 1875–1882 | T. Buzza 1875–1882 | E. Fowler 1875, 1876 T. Buzza 1877, 1880 S. Fowler 1878 (Mudie p. 91) J. Dickson 1878–1880 J. Lyons 1881 C. Evans 1881 F. C. Hansen 1881 E. Barnes 1882 | Energetic 1876 Wyuna 1878–1882, 1886, 1887 Goulburn 1879–1882 Gunbower 1881 Native Companion 1883 | Named for Buzza's daughter. First steamer to reach Shepparton, Murchison; and Seymour In 1882 Buzza announced his intention to convert her to log barge and her engine to be installed in White Swan. |
| Emily Jane (2) | | 1882–1899 | T. Buzza 1882–1893 W. Bowring −1899 | T. Buzza 1882–1887 S. Williams 1891 W. Bowring 1894, 1899 | Wyuna 1887 Paika 1899 | Possibly the White Swan renamed (see below). Destroyed by fire with huge losses Christmas 1899 then broken up. |
| Emma | iron hull, 25 hp. | 1885– | T. Freeman 1885– W. Keir 1887, 1888 Davie, Price & Co. | T. Freeman 1885, 1886 A. De Forest 1886 W. Keir 1887, 1888 F. Kerridge 1890–1892 | Sarah Francis 1886 Union 1899 Eagle 1930 Chime 1912 Annie 1903, 1906, 1912–1913, :1916, 1918 | Light draught steamer built after style of Ferret. (Mudie p. 159) |
| Emu (1) | 19/41 tons orig. stern-wheeler | | H. Williams 1879 | Sheridan 1867, 1872 W. Smith 1871–1873 F. Gurney 1872–1874 Wilkes (Wilks ?) 1874 Freeherne 1876 | | Converted to side-wheeler 1872 |
| Emu (2) | | 1888– | Sleigh & Coombes 1891–1896 | E. Fowler 1893 Duffy 1893, 1894 T. Davis 1895 | Diamentina [sic] 1891 | H. C. Sleigh later shipping and "Golden Fleece" petroleum magnate |
| Emmylou | | 1908– | Murray River Paddlesteamers | | | Built as tourist vessel. Featured in TV series All the Rivers Run as "PS Providence". |
| Endeavour | iron hull | 1866–1879 | J. Egge 1868 | J. Egge 1868–1874 J. S. Upton 1876 E. W. Randell (when?) | | Hawking steamer |
| Endeavour | | | | M. Gabb 1908 | | Missionary steamer |
| Enterprise (1) | | 1868–1874 | J. Mackintosh 1868 J. Maultby 1871– | R. Davey 1869 C. Berthon 1875 Church 1876 E. Cremer 1877 W. Keir 1873 | Moama 1870 | Built specifically to cart redgum timber from Bamah forest. Became trading steamer for Joseph Maultby, purchased by S.A. Government c. 1874 and fitted with (coal-burning) boiler; sent to Top End for construction phase of the Australian Overland Telegraph Line. Returned to Murray 1878. Later renamed Rita |
| Enterprise (2) | | 1878– | R. Keir 1878–1889 C. Hunt 1889 T. H. Freeman 1894 Gem Navigation Co. 1909– | W. Keir 1878–1889 R. Keir 1887–1889 Johnson 1882 M.Cole 1882 A. De Forest 1887 F. Toomer 1891 D. Sinclair 1892 L. Strom 1894 J. Newman 1908, 1909 W. F. Bailey 1910 | Energetic 1878–1879 Border Chief 1879 Reliance 1879 Belubla 1879–1882, 1887–1889 Gunbower 1882 Benduck 1882 Annie 1884–1889 Maori 1890 | Snagging duties 1887. Barge sank in Lake Alexandrina 1887; Capt. Keir was criticized for lack of judgment. In 1889 the barge was snagged near Balranald and sunk. Barge Annie sunk 1889 Phillips recounts a 1973 race between Enterprise and Etona. Became houseboat at Mannum. In 1988 Enterprise was restored to run on Lake Burley Griffin as a working museum piece. |
| Era | | | | J. Krause 1903 | Columbia 1903 | |
| Eric | | 1913–1918 | | | | later named W.F.B. then Bejo (Mudie p. 183) perhaps "B.J.O." |
| Esmeralda | 140' × 32' side-wheeler | 1919 | Murray Shipping Co. 1919 | | | largest boat on the Murray; built at Arnold's shipyards, Mannum, by Capt. P. J. Sandford. |
| Ethel Jackson "The Jackson" | 266 tons 115' long, 62 hp. | 1876– | McCulloch & Co. H. C. Sleigh c. 1892–1896 | M. Mack 1876–1879 J. Lawson 1880, 1881 J. Dorey 1880, 1881 | Namoi 1877, 1878–1880 Eagle 1878, 1880 Swallow 1878–1880 Border Chief 1881 | Largest boat on the Murray, flagship of the McCulloch Company. |
| Etona (1) | | 1892–1900 | Church of England | | Rev. J. F. K. McKenzie 1892 Rev. W. J. Bussell 1894–1900 | Missionary boat, named for Eton school. Purchased by SA Govt. 1900, renamed Alma |
| Etona (2) | | 1900–1912 | Church of England | | Rev. W. J. Bussell 1900–1912 Rev. H. F. Severn 1902–1909 Rev. F. W. Wilkinson 1910 | The Etona was originally built in 1898 in Milang, SA by John McLellan, with assistance from his brother James McLellan, who stayed on to become the vessels engineer. Sold 1912, became fishing launch; replaced with motor boat Restored by P & R. Symonds of Echuca Phillips recounts 1973 race between Enterprise and Etona. model, display at Cobdogla Steam Museum. |
| Eureka | 80' × 25' flat-bottomed | 1881– | J. H. Brown 1881– | | | A steamer Eureka was built by William Gordon c. 1850 |
| Eva | | | Govt. marine underwriter surveyor | Earnshaw 1898 | | |
| Eva Millicent | | 1894–1903 | E. Diener 1893–1903 | E. Diener 1893–1903 | | Hawking steamer and residence; converted to barge behind Merle until replaced by Flo. |
| Excelsior | 120' × 20' 142 tons 24 hp. | 1873– | T. Brakenridge 1873 W. Anderson 1879 W. Hart 1889 E. Rich & Co. –1907 Permewan, Wright & Co. 1907– Gem Navigation Co. 1912 W. Bowring & Co. 1909–1930 Collins | T. Brakenridge 1873–1876 W. Mathews 1873–1875 Blake 1879 W. Thompson 1882, 1894–1897 W. Hart 1889 J. Newman 1910 G. McLean 1912 J. Hemfield 1912 H. Hart 1913, 1914 E. Orchard 1912–1914 R. Potter 1913, 1917 J. Nutchey 1916 G. Dorward jr. 1916 E. R. Randell 1923, 1925 | Morning Star 1876 Paika 1881 Border Chief 1896–1897 Howlong 1896–1897, 1883 Florence Annie 1909, 1912 Annie 1909, 1925 Empress 1912 Maori 1913 Ukee 1913, 1914 Moorara 1913–1914, 1917 Hartley 1914 Emerald 1916 Mallara 1917 | Hawking steamer, sunk near Netley station in 1886 when overloaded with grog for Wilcannia; riot by 150 striking shearers ensued. Her paddlewheels were incorporated into M.V. Coonawarra 1950. |
| Express | 17 tons 70' long, 8 hp. | 1868–1878 | T. Dowland snr. 1869–1870 Parker & Hilton 1870– Fallow 1877 F. Payne 1878 E. Dutton 1879 | T. Dowland snr. 1869, 1870 H. Parker 1870, 1871 R. Hilton 1871, 1872 T. Saunier 1871, 1872 W. Kerr 1873, 1874 Fredericks 1878 | | Destroyed by fire 1878. |
| Fairy | | | H. Brennan 1892 Johnson & Dodd 1898 | E. Fowler 1881 W. Collins 1893, 1894 E. H. Dodd jr. 1898 | Sprite 1883, 1884 | Small trading steamer |
| Federal | | | Taylor 1903 | J. Gibbs 1905–1908 | Pearl 1902 Emerald 1903 | Light draught steamer like Alpha and Mannum. Served as mail steamer between Morgan and Mannum 1903–1909. Became houseboat, perhaps at Morgan. |
| Ferret (Ferrett?) | 57' × 14' | 1883– | Wilson & Glew 1883 | D. Sinclair 1884 W. Porter 1884 J. Fyfe 1884 W. Wilson 1884–1888 Pearson 1890 F. Salmon 1892, 1896 | Result 1884, 1886 Annie 1890 | Light draught steamer. Documentation or photograph needed to prove whether her name was "Ferrett" (surname) or "Ferret" (animal). |
| Firefly | 5 tons | 1864–1867 | | W. Pullar | | First steamer to work from Echuca. Previously on Yarra and later purchased by South Australian government for Cadell's Northern Territory explorations. |
| Florence Annie | 110' × 25' 100 tons | 1882–1908 | Brown 1882 Goode & Goode 1907 | J. McMillan 1882–1884 D. Cremer (when?) Merton 1891 C. Westin 1892, 1896 T. C. Goode | Cutty Sark 1882 Emily 1885 | Hawking steamer or floating store, based at Bourke then Goolwa. Stuck at Louth during drought 1885–1886 Converted to barge Florence Annie 1909. |
| Forester | stern-wheeler 55' × 12' | 1891–1901 | N.S.W. Govt. Forestry Department | | | After serving for a few high-level tours of inspection, she was moored at Tocumwal and sank at her moorings 1901, was raised at great expense and promptly sank again. She was advertised for sale that same year and may have been broken up. |
| Fort Bourke | | | | | | see Lady Daly |
| Francis Cadell See also steamer Cadell above. | iron side-paddles 60 hp., 110 ft × 16 ft. 140 tons. Built by J & W Dudgeon, Cubitt Town and shipped in sections | 1866–1868 | J. King 1866 Murray & Jackson | J. King 1866 Grundy 1892? | | Sent to Brisbane; A. T. Saunders suggests she drew too much water for Murray navigation. |
| Fraser | | 1873– | Public Works department (Vic. govt.) | | | snagging steamer named for Alexander Fraser, Public Works commissioner decommissioned before Wardell and Melbourne |
| Freetrader | side-paddles 93 tons 98' long | 1872–1888 | McCulloch & Co. | F. Toomer 1872, 1874 C. Hill 1873 S. Williams 1874 W. Porter 1875, 1876 J. Lawson 1877 J. Dorey 1878–1881 J. Tait 1881 G. Jolly 1883 W. J. Carlyon 1888 | Advance 1872 Swallow 1874, 1879 Alice 1878 Gwydir 1878–1879, 1882–1886 Paroo 1879 Pelican 1879 Gunbower 1880 Pimpampa 1881 Namoi | Lay idle in Darling with barges 1882–1886 due to low river levels, silted up irretrievably. Purchased by Charles Hunt and her copper sheathing and machinery salvaged. He was subsequently called on to clear the derelict. |
| Gem | 96' × 20' 143 tons | 1876– | Reid & King Sabine 1878 E. Randell 1877–1879 Chaffey Gem Navigation Co. 1909– Murray Shipping Ltd. 1919 Sold 1952 | H. W. King 1889–1908 J. Nutchey 1903–1915 Dubois 1915 H. McLean 1917, 1942, 1943 V. Byrne 1921, 1923 G. H. Alexander 1924 W. O. Searles 1925–1928 H. Payne 1939 G. Makin 1948 | Pearl 1907 | Built by Air & Westergaard Lengthened by 40' c. 1882 First to employ electric light. Sank 1948; one frail passenger died. In 1949 described as three-decker passenger boat |
| Gemini | twin hull | 1855–1863 | W. R. Randell | W. R. Randell 1855–1859 C. Stilton 1860 E. Randell 1860, 1861 | Goolwa 1860, 1861 | One hull was originally Mary Ann. Reached Bourke, Brewarrina 1857.(Mudie p. 70) Reached Walgett in floods of 1861.(Mudie p. 78) |
| Gertrude "Gerty" | 34 tons, 60 ft. × 10 ft. | 1873– | Swannell & Wallace 1873 A. H. Landseer | J. Wallace 1873, 1874 Swannell 1875 Kopp 1875, 1876 | | Replaced Blanche as mail steamer on Lakes Alexandra and Albert. Converted from screw to paddles 1875. |
| Glad Tidings | | 1894, 1895 | Rev. W. C. Butler | Rev. W. C. Butler | | see Dione above |
| Glimpse (1) | 48' long | 1884–1886 | Wilson Brothers, B.R. & C.J. | Master Craik 1884 R. Keir 1884 D. Sinclair 1884 W. Porter 1885 C. P. Johnson 1885 (Mudie p. 121) C. Wilson 1885 | Impulse 1885 | Built on the banks of the Murray River at Koondrook by B. R. Wilson. Light draught steamer with Altlas 10 hp engine, first trialled 21 March 1884 Destroyed by fire at Koondrook 25 January 1886. Raised from 20' of water and slipped at Koondrook for rebuild 24 June 1886 |
| Glimpse (2) | 60' long | 1887– | Wilson Brothers, B.R. & C.J. A. Arbuthnot & Sons 1913– | C. Wilson 1886–1888 A. De Forest 1897 W. Johnson 1899 | Impulse 1887 | Light draught steamer rebuilt from Glimpse (1). Trialled 3 February 1887 |
| Golconda | 78' × 16' 97 tons | 1877– | R.F. Williamson, C. Hansen, J.L. Simpson 1877– J. H. Brown F. E. Schuetze J. G. Arnold | F. C. Hansen 1877–1880 D. Sinclair 1879? A. Dusting 1880, 1881 J. McMillan 1881, 1882 C. Cowley 1882 C. Bock 1887 J. G. Arnold | Leviathan 1877–1883, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1891 Woorooma(?) 1879 | Converted from barge Golconda. Another barge Golconda was owned by W. T. Tutcher in May 1881, at which time steamer Golconda, involved in collision with Moira, was owned by J. H. Brown. Her barge Leviathan sunk 1881, again in 1891. |
| Goldsbrough | 84' × 15' | 1875– | L. McBean 1875 Cramsie, Bowden & Co. 1882 Permewan, Wright & Co. H. Palmer 1910 | Church 1876 J. Christy 1877, 1878 J. Page 1888–1890 John James 1878 J. Innes 1878, 1887 J. Dorey 1878 D. Sinclair 1879 C. Cowley 1880 E. Crowle 1880 W. Bulled 1880 J. Fyfe 1880 W. Sugden 1881 H. Theisz 1881 W. Keir 1882 M. Cole 1882, 1883 P. Westergaard 1883–1886 A. Nutchey 1890–1899, 1901 G. Thomson 1897 W. Knight 1905 J. Gibbs 1910, 1911 Dubois 1915 | Woorooma 1876, 1878, 1880–1881, :1886 Jessie 1883, 1888, 1908 Pimpampa 1883, 1885, 1889 Horace 1883–1886, 1888, 1905 Victory 1886 Tongo 1887–1894, 1898–1900 Paroo 1888, 1891 Namoi 1888 Confidence 1889, 1890, 1897 Eagle 1890, 1892 Sprite 1899 Nelson 1892, 1893, 1896, 1899, 1900, 1905, 1908 Gunbower 1896–1897, 1915 J.L. Roberts 1897, 1898 Lancashire Witch 1897, 1905 Maori 1905, 1915 Uranus 1910 Crowie 1914 | |
| Goolwa (1) | Iron hull, twin screw 30 tons | 1866–1872 | Johnston & Murphy | J. Gillon 1867–1871 J. Morris 1870 C. Murphy 1870 W. Dickson 1871 | | Very shallow draught, intended to carry small loads in the dry season Sold to J. Becker for use on Gippsland Lakes. |
| Goolwa (2) | Iron hull 31 tons | 1873– | A. Ross & Co. 1875 Johnston & Murphy 1879 | B. Atkins 1874 M. Mack 1875 J. Nash 1875, 1876, 1879 | Bogan 1873 | |
| Grappler "The White Elephant" | snag steamer | 1858– | S.A. Government | Williams G. W. Brown 1867–1872 J. Lindsay 1872–1875 | | Built in Echuca at Cadell's suggestion, to clear "snags" (underwater obstructions) but was largely ineffective (Mudie p. 46). Other reports were far more favourable. Sent up-stream 1878 for use as police station. Converted to dredge 1880. |
| Gundagai | iron hull 96 tons, 40 hp. | 1855–1866 | River Murray Navigation Co. | E. Robertson 1855 G. B. Johnston 1856 J. Mace 1856 H. Mennie 1856 John Barclay 1857–1864 H. King 1862–1865 W. Barber 1862 | Wakool 1855–1857 Eureka 1856 Murrumbidgee 1855–1857 Darling 1857–1858 | She was sent to New Zealand 1865 and totally wrecked 1866 on the Pātea River. |
| Hero | 92 ft × 17 ft 63/137 tons 45 hp | 1874–1957 2000–now | J. Maultby 1874– W. Keir 1882 D. Stratton & Co. 1890 Donaldson, Coburn & Knox 1901 Permewan, Wright & Co. J. C. Grassey & Partners Collins Bros. c. 1942 Forestry Commission Collins Bros. 1950–1954 | J. Maultby 1874–1890 A. Dusting 1891, 1893–1897 E. Fowler 1892 G. Robson 1905 D. Nutchey 1906 W. Knight 1906 H. Hogg 1942–1944 S. Clarke 1943–1949 | Queen 1878–1882 Echuca 1883, 1885, 1887, 1890, 1908 Eagle 1896, 1901 Jessie 1897, 1907, 1908, 1911 Nelson 1905 Ada 1906 J.L. Roberts 1908 Albemarle 1909 Namoi 1910 John Campbell 1943, 1950 Canally 1950 | Restored c. 2000; based at Echuca, used for private charters. |
| Industry (1) | 98' × 11', 15 hp. | 1878– | J. & K. Nutchey A. H. Landseer | J. Nutchey 1880 E. Fitzgerald 1887 M. Barber 1885–1905 G. Grundy jr. 1909 1905, 1909 | Mary Ann 1887 | Oniginally barge, built 1876; converted to steamer 1878. |
| Industry (2) | 112' × 19.3' | 1911– | | G. Grundy jr. 1912, :1916, 1919, 1920, 1922 H. Brand 1923–1928, 1930 D. Burns 1941 | | Snagging operations for SA Government. Delivering pile timber in 1926. |
| Invincible (1) | 92' × 16' 3", 140 tons | 1878–1889 | F. Payne 1877–1879 Echuca Steamship Co. 1879–1882 C. Hunt Wm. McCulloch W. Carlyon 1886 C. Hunt 1887, 1890 W. Miers & Co. 1899 | J. Innes 1878 J. Morris 1878, 1879 W. Hampson 1879–1881 R. Lewen 1880 A. Manning 1881 C. Johnson 1881 C. Hill 1882 W. Porter 1884 J. Newman 1886 W. Carlyon 1886 C. Hunt 1887–1889 D. Bower 1888 G. Jolly 1887 J. Burgess 1888 | Goolwa 1878 Energetic 1878 Confidence 1878 Gunbower 1878–1879 Reliance 1878–1879, 1881 Eagle 1886 Federation 1887 Pelican 1887, 1890 Nelson 1890 | McCulloch & Co. sold their Echuca fleet 1887 |
| Invincible (2) | 91 ft × 20 ft | 1889– | C. Hunt 1889–1917 Murray Shipping Ltd. Koondrook sawmills 1937 | C. Hunt 1889–1892 W. Miers 1897–1900 H. Kelly 1922, 1925, 1932, 1934 | J.L. Roberts 1934 Vega 1931, 1936, 1949 | Fred Agars (a Cudmore descendant) drowned August 1896 after falling from the Invincible 1936 carried last bales of wool handled at Echuca wharf. |
| J. G. Arnold | Sidewheeler | 1916– | J. G. Arnold | W. Bailey 1917, 1918, 1921 L. Mewett 1923 C. Cantwell 1925 L. McLean 1927–1929 | Crowie 1917, 1918, 1922 Ukee 1919–1921, 1932 Loxton 1923 Kulnine 1923, 1928 | Built from wreck of Arbuthnot. Image at State Library of New South Wales In 1917 her barge Crowie carried record 2000 bales of wool; in 1925 the same barge towed by Decoy carried 2,493 bales. Towing barges with stone for construction of Lock 8 in 1932. |
| J. H. P. "The Coffin" "Darning Needle" | steel stern-wheeler, 30 ton | 1866–1872 | Pollard & Saunders 1868 J. Warby 1869–1870 Wallace & Dawson 1871–1872 H. King 1872–1873 | T. Connell 1866–1870 Adamson 1870 J. M. Wallace 1871 Parker 1872 Barrenger 1872 H. King 1872 | | Named for J. H. Pollard. Steamer Alfred was sister ship, but side-wheeler. Capsized near Echuca 1869; one man drowned. Dubbed "The Coffin", and the "Darning Needle" on account of her narrow beam, she had more than her share of capsizings. Converted to barge for Princess Royal 1873. |
| Jandra | | 1894–1921 | A. Senior & W. & H. Brown 1894– | W. Brown 1912 G. Pickhills | | Converted to barge 1921. Subject (as "Yanda") of C. E. W. Bean's book Dreadnought of the Darling |
| Jane Eliza "Jane" | 98/120 tons | 1867– | Smith & Banks 1867– Davies & Dorward H. King with W.L & H. T. Reid 1875– H. King 1879 Chaffey brothers | G. Smith 1867–1870 J. Banks 1869, 1870, 1872 W. Thompson c. 1871 A. Peirce 1871 F. Foord 1872 G. Dorward 1874 H. King 1875, 1878 T. Saunier 1879 W. Porter 1883 A. Dusting 1883–1886 | Only Son 1869 Wangaratta 1869–1872,1883 Reliance 1876 Goolwa 1878 Isabel 1879–1880,1883 | Built from wreck of Beechworth (Mudie p. 223) Stuck in Darling 1883–1886 with building materials for hotel (Mudie p. 229–233) Sunk after collision with Paringa 1883; may have had more collisions than any other steamer on the Murray.(Mudie p. 228) |
| Jolly Miller | iron hull length 90' 92 tons | 1866– | T. Johnston 1866 J. Wallace 1867 F. Johnstone 1873 W. Collins 1908– Gem Navigation Co. 1914 | J. Wallace 1866–1868 J. Ritchie 1868 W. Barber 1868, 1869 T. Johnston 1870, 1872, :1874, 1875 Waters 1871 J. Johnston 1875 J. Shetliff 1893–1895 W. Collins 1908–1910 | Emily Maid of the Murray 1874, 1875 Murrumbidgee 1872, 1874, 1875 | First iron-hulled vessel to be built in South Australia. |
| Julia "Mayho" | 39 tons | | J. Mackintosh 1871–1879 Mackintosh Sawmill Co. 1888 W. Wilson 1894–1899 F. O. Wallin 1899–1906 | Lewen 1870 C. Hill 1871 J. Gribble 1874 G. Jolly 1878 J. Patterson 1882, 1884 F. O. Wallin 1898–1906 | In Renmark nicknamed "Mayho" or "Mayo" (Mudie p. 129) | |
| Jupiter | iron hull, 119 tons | 1868–1933 | King & Reid J. King −1875 W & H Dunk 1921, 1928 A. H. Landseer 1929– | J. King 1869–1874 J. Tait 1871, 1875, 1876 T. Saunier 1874, 1875 G. Pickhills 1875 A. Tait 1876 E. Cremer 1876 Ritchie 1892–1893 D. Cremer 1902, 1907, 1908 :1921, 1922, 1928 | Venus 1875, 1893 Isabel 1876 | Jupiter built as a barge from imported sections in 1866; rebuilt and fitted with engine from Lady Augusta in 1868. Barge Venus sunk 1893. |
| Kelpie | 45 tons length 82' | 1864– | J. Symington W. & A. Sugden Cramsie, Bowden, & Co. 1879 Permewan Wright & Co. | J. Symington 1864–1873 H. Dewing 1869 R. Davey 1872 R. G. Lewen 1874, 18875 W. Sugden 1875, 1876 W. Rowlands 1876 G. Dorward jr. 1877, 1878 J. Innes 1879–1893 D. Sinclair 1887 Johnson 1888 G. Lindqvist 1895 | Redgum 1869 Waterwitch 1869, 1871 Lancashire Witch 1876 Horace 1878–1883, 1893 Jessie 1878–1884, 1889, 1891–1894 Belubla 1882 Woorooma 1885, 1886 Pimpampa 1885–1888 Nelson 1886, 1890–1892, 1894 Paroo 1889, 1891–1893 Tongo 1889 Maori 1889 | Originally a stern-wheel boat but rebuilt with side-paddles. Engineer John Ayre lost overboard 1872. |
| Kelvin | | 1912– | D. J. Ritchie 1912– S.A. Irrigation Department 1919 R. Reed 1937 | D. J. Ritchie 1912– J. Grundy 1920 C. Payne 1932 R. Reed 1934, 1935 | | Built from wreck of steamer Ariel; replaced Dispatch as passenger and mail steamer between Morgan and Murray Bridge 1912. |
| Kennedy | 109' 114 tons | 1864– | J. Cornish A. Sunman Acraman, Main, & Co. 1875 E. Main 1879 | J. Cornish 1864–1867 W. Parker 1866, 1867, :1871, 1872 J. Lindsay 1869 A. Sunman 1870–1876, :1878, 1880 C. Bock 1883 | Darling 1864–1865, 1872–1873 Hume 1870, 1873, 1875–1876 | |
| Kingfisher | | −1893 | S. Williams 1877 C. Roberts 1881 | Church 1874 F. C. Hansen 1875–1878 E. Crowle 1878 W. Bulled 1879, 1880 D. Sinclair 1880 W. Stone 1881, 1882 P. Westergaard 1882 A. McPherson 1884 C. Johnson 1884–1886 J. Patterson 1890 G. Lindqvist 1892 E. Golding 1892 | Leviathan 1878 Canally 1878 Reliance 1878, 1879 Benduck 1878–1879 Willandra 1879 Darling 1880 Goulburn 1881–1882 Pimpampa 1888 Horace 1888–1890 Maori 1891 | |
| Kookaburra | | 1917 | E. Diener | E. Diener 1917–1923 J. Nutchey 1924–1926 H. Hogg 1952 | E. Diener 1918–1923 | Hawking steamer and residence; converted from Diener's barge Flo. Phillips recounts race between Kookaburra and Coonawarra. Became houseboat at Mildura. Restored by Hilary Hogg 1953, |
| Lady Augusta | wood hull, 105' × 12' 2 × 22 hp. 90 tons | 1853– | River Murray Navigation Co. G. Young 1859 W. Barber 1879 | W. Davidson 1853 F. Cadell 1853 W. Webb 1854 E. Robertson 1854, 1855, :1857–1859 T. Johnstone 1856 H. King 1861 W. Barber 1862–1866 F. Foord 1870 | Murrumbidgee 1853, 1858, 1859, :1864, 1865 Eureka 1853, 1854, 1857, 1858 Wakool 1855 | Named for the wife of Sir Henry Young, but inadvertently registered as "Lady Agusta". She was entirely built in Sydney, winner of S.A. Govt.'s £2,000 prize (and £2,000 bonus) as first commercial steamer on Murray. Samuel Darby (engineer) and Francis Clems (stoker) were scalded to death when a flue ruptured October 1856. Subject of interstate customs squabble. |
| Lady Daly | stern-wheeler 300 tons, 114 ft × 25 ft 6 in. | 1862–1867, 1876–1878 | Murray & Jackson Gunn & Co. 1869 McCulloch & Co. | W. Luxon 1862, 1864, 1865 J. Mace 1864, 1865 Blake 1864, 1868 P. Jackson 1865 J. Lindsay 1866, 1867 A. Peirce G. Pickhills 1869–1875 J. Burgess 1875 F. Toomer 1871–1876 W. Barber 1876 W. Pullar 1878 | Mitta Mitta 1864 Paika 1870 Advance 1872 Waterwitch 1874 Federation 1874, 1876 Vanguard 1874 Empress 1876 Waterwitch 1876 | Provisionally named Fort Bourke, she was at the time one of the largest on the river, second only to Ethel Jackson. Converted to log barge 1878. |
| Lady Darling | stern-wheeler | 1864–1867 | Murray & Jackson 1865 Smith & Banks 1865 G. Smith 1867 | Blake 1864 H. King 1864 J. Mace 1865 Reis 1866 Scott 1867 | | Destroyed by fire 1867. She was rebuilt as the Corowa. (Mudie p. 173) Name changed "for good luck" |
| Lady of the Lake | 60' × 20' 6" | 1880– | F. Payne 1880– | R. G. Lewen 1880, 1881 F. Boxall 1882, 1885 F. Payne 1884, 1887, 1896–1898 J. Egge 1896 H. Payne 1896 | Robbie Burns 1880, 1882, 1884, :1890, 1896–1897, 1899 | Leichardt's barge of the same name abandoned off Middleton 1866. Noted for her shallow draught, she sank 1890 after striking submerged barge. |
| Lancashire Lass | 92' × 17' | 1878– | E. Whiteley 1878 J. S. Wilson 1888 B. R. Wilson 1894 Edward Rich 1896 E. Rich & Co. –1907 Permewan, Wright 1907– Knox & Downs 1917– | C. Cowley 1878 J. Christy 1879–1881 E. Barnes 1881 R. Hanson 1881 J. Dickson 1882–1888 D. Sinclair 1887, 1896–1898 C. J. Wilson 1888–1894 B. R. Wilson 1894–1895 A. De Forest 1895 Hart 1905 W. Thompson 1906 D. Nutchey 1908 E. Orchard 1911 | Namoi 1878, 1892 Victory 1879–1883, 1885, 1887–1897, :1906, 1909, 1912 Belubla 1882 Confidence 1886–1887 Jessie 1886 Nelson 1886, 1887, 1911, 1915, 1917 Gwydir 1887 Paragon 1896 J.L. Roberts 1908 Horace 1910–1911, 1917 Gunbower 1911 Loxton 1914 Koondrook 1920 | |
| Leichardt | iron hull, side paddles, 120' × 23' 60 hp. 97 tons | 1856–1858 | Chubb, Hill & Co, Acraman, Main, Lindsay, and Co. | A. McCoy 1856–1858 Davidson 1856, 1857 | Lady of the Lake 1856–1857 | Sister to steamer Sturt. Sailed to Batavia 1859, for use as river transport for troops at Bangor Massam, Borneo during the Banjarmasin War. Leichardt was the name of the steamer, although Ludwig Leichhardt was the name of the explorer for whom, no doubt, she was named. |
| Lioness | Iron hulled paddle steamer | 1853 | H. F. Cadell | R. Kay 1853 | | Sailed from Liverpool jury-rigged as schooner, with Robert Ross mate; George Gibson engineer; Avery was cook and crewed by George Johnston, James Ritchie, John Barclay and William Barber. She was sold to G. W. Cole of Melbourne for £21,000 (cost £5,500 in Scotland). There are reports that she was destined for Murray but somehow proved unsuitable without actually getting there. |
| Little Wonder | 32 tons | 1875– | McCulloch & Co. | J. Patterson 1876 J. Krause 1879, 1880 C. Schmedje sr. 1881, 1882 S. Cowley 1898 | Swan 1876 Alice 1879–1880 Pimpampa 1880 Pocohontas 1882 Confidence | |
| Maggie | 75 ft × 20 ft 4in. | 1881– | R. S. Foley 1881– Paul Fischer 1909– | H. Theisz 1881–1883 Lewis 1883, 1884 J. Burgess 1885 F. C. Hansen 1885–1897 G. Lindqvist 1891, 1898, 1899 W. F. Bailey 1899 R. Strang 1904, 1905 Lewen 1905 W. Knight 1905 H. Teschner 1905 | Energetic 1881–1882 Alice 1881, 1908 Advance 1882–1883, 1886 Native Companion 1884–1886 Tongo 1886–1889, 1895 Jessie 1888–1890, 1892, 1896, :1903, 1905–1906 Confidence 1889–1892, 1894–1896 Paroo 1890 Moira 1890 Maori 1890, 1892, 1895, 1903 Namoi 1893, 1895 Eagle 1894, 1896 Horace 1892, 1895 J.L. Roberts 1895, 1897, 1905 Echuca 1896, 1897, 1939 Lancashire Witch 1898 Nelson 1898, 1906, 1907 Ormond 1899, 1904 Goldsbrough 1901 Sarah Jane 1901 Paragon 1901 Ada 1902 Gunbower 1907 Sprite 1908 | Refurbished as tourist vessel by Fischer. Used for tourist accommodation at Waikerie in 1910. |
| Mannum (1) | 600 tons | | Gem Navigation Co. 1909– | W. Tinks 1902 Smith 1913, 1914 S. Rossiter 1914 E. Orchard 1914, 1924 C. Payne 1920 T. C. Goode 1926 | Emerald 1901, 1906 Susan 1903 Queen 1910 Pearl 1912 Florence Annie 1913 Moorara 1915 | The largest boat on the Murray, she was largely destroyed by fire and scuttled at Mannum in 1920; raised by J. G. Arnold and P. Sandford in 1921. and rebuilt by Arnold. |
| Mannum (2) | | | River Navigation Co. 1920 | J. Payne 1920 | | Possibly largest boat on the Murray |
| Maori | | | | L. Searles 1907, 1908 | | Carrying firewood. Was she converted from barge Maori? |
| Maranoa | stern-wheeler length 117' 89 tons | 1864– | Johnston & Murphy 1864– G. Johnston & Co. 1875 | Peter Johnstone (Johnston?) 1866 T. Johnston 1868–1872 G. B. Johnston 1869–1872, :1874 James Barclay 1870–1875, 1879 J. Gillon 1870, 1872 W. Dickson 1871 C. Murphy 1871 W. Luxon 1871 E. Cremer 1873 | Mitta Mitta 1865 Goolwa 1866 J & M 1867, 1872, 1874 Unknown 1874, 1875 Menindie 1878 Monarch 1879, 1884 | Originally barge Maranoa. |
| Marion | 110' × 23' | 1900– | W. Bowring & Co. 1900– Ben Chaffey Steamboat Co. 1908–1909 Gem Navigation Co. 1909– Murray Shipping Co. 1920 | A. Hart 1900–1908 G. McLean 1909, 1912 B. Atkins 1910 W. Tinks 1910 J. Nutchey 1911 G. Alexander 1911, 1914 C. Payne 1911, 1921–1931 H. Payne 1912 Smith 1913–1917 S. Rossiter 1914 R. Ransom 1916 H. McLean 1917 Morrison 1920, 1921 G. Makin 1924, 1944 W. H. Drage 1928, 1931–1942 L. McLean 1941, 1942, 1949 | Paika 1906, 1914 Queen 1908, 1910 Emerald 1909 Ukee 1909 Pearl 1909 Cobar 1914 Mary Ann 1914 | Originally barge Marion, purchased by George Fowler for conversion to pleasure vessel but after Fowler's death was bought by W. Bowring & Co., of Mildura and Wentworth, to replace their trading vessel Emily Jane. Converted to passenger boat 1914 with superstructure from Pearl. Extensively damaged by fire 1926 Operated as tourist vessel between Morgan and Mildura in the 1930s. In 1949 described as three-decker passenger boat |
| Mary Ann | | 1853–1855 | W. R. Randell 1853–1855 | W. R. Randell 1853–1855 | | Named for mother of Wm., Tom, Elliott and Eb. Randell Became one of Gemini's twin hulls. The first paddle steamer to successfully traverse the Murray-Darling river system. |
| Mascotte | | 1911 | Permewan, Wright & Co. | A. Nutchey 1911 | | Built as a barge in 1910; converted to steamer 1911. |
| Maude | 300 tons | 1885– | J. Lamby 1885 Sawers & Wilson E. Rich & Co. –1907 Permewan, Wright 1907– | H. Theisz 1885–1887 W. Payne 1896–1898 H. Payne 1896–1898 | | Probably named for the Murrumbidgee town Engineer Wilcox lost both arms 1885. Capt. Theisz fell overboard and drowned 1887 Snagging duties 1898 |
| Mayflower | 50' × 12' 9" 14 tons | 1884– | D. Alexander 1884–1890 Butterworth & Co. 1890 | D. Alexander 1884–1890 | | Light draught steamer built after style of Ferret. (Mudie p. 159) Repossessed by bank 1890 PS Mayflower, stationed at Morgan is the oldest operating paddle steamer in South Australia. |
| Mayho | | | | | | see Julia |
| Melbourne (1) | iron hull, 60 hp. 84 tons | 1855–1859 | River Murray Navigation Co. | F. Cadell G. B. Johnston 1856 E. Robertson 1856 J. King W. Barber 1859 | Eureka 1856, 1859 Kennedy 1859 | Broke up crossing the Murray mouth November 1859. No casualties. |
| Melbourne (2) | | 1872?– | Public Works department (Vic. govt.) Evans Bros. 1950 | R. Shelley 1870, 1872 C. Hill 1872, 1873, 1875, 1878, :1882, 1884, 1887, 1888, 1890 G. Jansen 1902 | | Snagging steamer operations on upper Goulburn 1878. Laid up during 1902–1905 drought. (Mudie p. 234) |
| Menindie | 106' × 16'; 93 tons | 1875– | Heseltine & Reid 1875– R. M. Randell c. 1910– | Adam Johnstone (Mudie p. 116) C. Bock 1875 S. Heseltine 1875, 1876, 1879 R. Grundy 1893 | Bourke 1876, 1877, 1879, 1881 Croupier 1895 Queen 1897 | Almost certainly named for the town now spelled "Menindee". R. M. Randell changed name to Murrundi 1912; it became his houseboat. Frequently misnamed as "Murrurundi" There was an iron barge Mennindie built 1866 for Johnston & Murphy or A.A.Scott & A. Kirkpatrick. |
| Merir | 58 ft × 12 ft 6 in. | 1890– | | | | built for NSW Forest Dept. |
| Merle (1) | stern wheeler 82' 9" × 15' | 1903– | E. Diener 1903–1917 | E. Diener 1903–1917 | Flo 1911–1916 | Hawking steamer, named for Diener's eldest daughter (barge Flo was named for the younger daughter). Sunk in Lake Alexandrina 1917. |
| Merle (2) | twin screw, 110 ton | 1943– | G. H. Griffin 1941–1945 E. Griffin 1945–1952 C. Payne 1946, 1947 W. Bowhey 1952– | G. H. Griffin 1941–1943 E. Griffin C. Payne 1945 V. Byrne 1953 | | Two-decker motor vessel offering regular cruises between Murray Bridge and Morgan. |
| Milang | | 1878– | A. H. Landseer 1878 H. Dunk 1891 W. & H. Dunk 1904 T. Goode 1909– Hume Bros 1920 Eudunda Farmers Coop. Society 1931– | G. Rogers 1893, 1894, 1900, 1902 T. C. Goode 1909 McDonald 1913, 1917 S. Rossiter 1928 J. Grundy (when?) | Empress 1881, 1910 Unknown 1909, 1910 Rosa 1909, 1910 Pearl 1913 Horace 1917 Alfred 1920 Jessie 1924 | Described as mail steamer 1891 |
| Moira (1) | | 1865–1869 | H. King 1865– | H. King 1865–1869 Smith 1867 Lewen 1868 | | Described as a "little steamer", it is likely that the barge Moira (which became the second steamer Moira) was not the same hull. |
| Moira (2) | 83 ft. × 17 ft. 90 tons | 1875–1904 | H. Luth 1875 J. Christy 1878 Seward 1881 W. Dickson John O'Connell 1893–1904 | C. Hill 1876, 1881–1883 J. Christy 1878 F. C. Hansen 1881–1883 W. Dickson 1889, 1892–1898 | Gunbower 1881 Golconda 1881 Emily 1896–1897 | Moira was a barge until c. 1875, and converted for Luth & Riddell's sawmills. Her barge Golconda sank 1881, later used for irrigation pumping. Destroyed by fire 1904. |
| Monada | | | D. Treacy 1926, 1939 L. Mewett 1944 | D. Treacy 1937 L. Mewett 1944 | Emerald | Originally steamer Princess Royal (see below), she was based in Mildura. |
| Moolara | 110' × 20' 6" | 1909– | B. Chaffey | | | Steamer, twin of barge Mallara. |
| Moolgewanke | iron hull 103' × 10' 60 tons | 1856– | Webb & Napier 1856 Johnston & Murphy 1860– (Mudie p. 74) E. H. Randell −1871 W. Luxmoore S. Wilson Tonkin & Fuller 1879 Tonkin, Fuller & Martin | W. Webb 1856–1859 G. B. Johnston 1860 E. H. Randell 1863–1865, 1867, :1868, 1870, 1871, 1874 S. Wilson 1871 B. M. Fuller 1874–1877 F. Blake 1875 | Unknown 1858–1862 Morning Star 1863 Kulnine 1865, 1870 | Perhaps a native name for "devil". First to reach Deniliquin 1860 (Mudie p. 75) Left for Melbourne November 1862, intended for New Zealand but returned to Murray 1863 James Long (boundary rider), Sam Son (cook) killed 1874 when boiler exploded near Swan Reach Left Murray for Gulf trade 1871 |
| Mosquito | 50' 20 tons | 1857–1858 | A. Landseer | W. Masson 1857 | | Transported overland, launched at Milang Reached Balranald 1857. Converted to schooner 1860.(Mudie p. 64) |
| Mundoo | 22 tons | 1875– | E. H. Dodd 1879 Spry Bros. E. Rich & Co. –1907 Permewan, Wright 1907– J. G. Arnold 1911 | D. McBeath 1875, 1876 Walter 1877 E. H. Dodd 1878, 1890,1893,1896 G. Pickhills 1895, 1896 G. Merrett 1896 C. Westin 1897, 1898 S. Watson 1912 Dubois 1914 | Isabel 1879 Duck 1879, 1884, 1886–1887, 1910 :1895–1899 Hartley 1909 Rabbie Burns 1910 Gunbower 1914 Livingstone 1914 Maori 1916 | Caught fire and sank 1876 while carrying railway iron; back in operation, perhaps enlarged, by 1878 Barge Hartley sunk 1909. Barge Livingstone sunk 1914. |
| Murrabit | 112 ft × 23 ft, 90 hp. | 1914– | Arbuthnot & Sons Budarick Bros 1917– A. H. Landseer 1922 L. M. Arnold 1948 | P. Johnson 1914 W. Budarick 1919 A. Price 1921 F. Weaver c. 1930 T. C. Goode 1939 P. Treleaven 1948 | Koondrook 1917, 1921 Nelson 1919 Crowie 1939 | Replacement for Arbuthnot, which was destroyed by fire. Crewman Olaf Olsen was murdered with axe 1921 in her barge Koondrook. Albert Smith given life sentence. 1927–1933 towing barges with stone from Mannum for lock construction. |
| Murray (1) | screw steamer | 1861–1862 | | D. Napier 1861 W. Barber 1862 | | sold to Australian Steam Navigation Co. of Sydney. |
| Murray (2) | paddle steamer 135' × 22', 313 ton | 1866 only | Johnston & Murphy | Ritchie | | Built in Scotland and sailed to SA as schooner by Richard Berry. travelled no higher than Goolwa; almost immediately sold to Captain Dove of Melbourne for trading on the Gippsland Lakes. |
| Murray Explorer | | | Murray River Developments Murray River Cruises | | | Diesel-powered tourist vessel. |
| Murray Princess | 70m. length; 120 passengers | July 1986 | Murray River Developments (1986-1988) Captain Cook Cruises (1988-2011) Sealink Travel Group (2011-2021) Kelsian Group (2021-) | Hutton | | Diesel-powered tourist vessel operated out of Mannum, South Australia. Owned and Operated by Kelsian Group. |
| Murray River Queen | | 1979– | Murray River Developments (1979-1988) Captain Cook Cruises <1988-1993) Murray River Queen Pty Ltd.(2022-) | | | Decommissioned in 1993. Moored in Goolwa as a floating hotel until 2003. Moved to Waikerie. Permanently moored in Renmark since 2017. |
| Murrumbidgee :"'Bidgee" | 82' × 16' 6", 108 tons 14 hp. | 1865–1949 | Duncan & Bower 1867 McCulloch & Co. J. Egge 1887 Gem Navigation Co. 1909– A. H. Landseer 1913 S. Clarke 1923–1946 Murray Valley Coaches Ltd. | J. Duncan 1867 D. Bower 1869–1873 R. Davey 1874 J. Patterson 1874, 1875 J. Gribble 1875, 1876 J. Christy 1876 J. Burgess 1877–1880 W. Pullar 1878 J. Page 1880 J. Krause 1880 J. Dorey 1880–1885 J. Lawson 1880–1883 F. Toomer 1883, 1884 C. Cantwell 1884 J. Egge 1896 E. Egge 1898 S. Armfield 1898, 1907, 1908 G. Grundy 1902–1904 H. W. King 1909 S. Rossiter 1914 S. Clarke 1923–1946 T. Bynon (when?) | Minnie Watt 1874 Namoi 1876 Alice 1876, 1878 Paroo 1877 Federation 1878 Advance 1879 Swallow 1879 Pimpampa 1879–1882 Gwydir 1881 Swallow 1881 Willandra 1882, 1883 Pelican 1884 Swan 1888 Susan 1888, 1896, 1897, 1901 Hilda 1901 Croupier 1903 Empress 1903 Cobar 1904 Queen 1907 Ormond 1909 Nelson 1923 J.L. Roberts 1943–1946 | Engineer Robert Ware lost overboard 1871 when steam valve failed. In 1942 the vessel and barge J.L. Roberts were commandeered by the army for use by the Hay internment camp. Fireman Job Eastwood died from infection following laceration. Paddlewheel shaft used for M.V. Coonawarra 1950 |
| Murrumbidgee II | | | | | | see Coonawarra |
| Murrundi | | 1912–1950 | | | | Originally Menindie (see above). |
| Napier | 93 tons screw steamer | 1874– | A. Graham 1874 G. Johnston & Co. 1875 | G. B. Johnston 1875 | Left for Melbourne 1876 | |
| Nellie | 85' × 20' | 1882–1930 | W. Hampson 1882 Chaffey Bros. King & Co. M. C. Crane & Co. 1903– | W. Hampson 1882, 1883 Hart 1898, 1899 M. Crane 1906, 1907, 1909, :1911–1915, 1919–1921 | Horace 1882 Isabel 1893 Hartley 1906 Saddler 1909 Union 1919 | Originally hawking steamer, converted to mail and passenger boat 1912. Replaced Kelvin as passenger and mail steamer between Morgan and Murray Bridge or Morgan and Mannum. Destroyed by fire 1930. |
| Nil Desperandum "Black Swan" | length 110' 106 tons | 1865– | W. R. Randell 1865– | W. R. Randell 1870–1874 R. Anderson 1873, 1877 John Anderson 1880 | Bogan 1872–1874 Eclipse 1879–1880, 1884 | Originally a barge built from half of Gemini then converted to steamer c. 1870 |
| Nile | 70'. × 16' 50 tons | 1885– | W. J. & W. E. Davies Permewan Wright & Co. Brown Bros. 1911–1926 | W. J. Davies 1885 W. E. Davies 1887 F. Tucker 1888–1891, 1893 P. Westergaard 1891 D. Bower 1886, 1892, 1893, :1895, 1897–1899 C. Cantwell 1887, 1896 J. Innes 1898 G. Robson 1905 | Lancashire Witch 1887, 1888, 1897, :1890, 1891, 1897, 1907 Sarah Jane 1890, 1894, 1897 Annie 1890 Zulu 1890 Maori 1891, 1897, 1902 Pimpampa 1897 Sprite 1896, 1898, 1901 Ormond 1907 | Light draught steamer built after style of Ferret. (Mudie p. 159) Caught fire 1895 |
| North Star | | | | H. Hogg 1950 | | |
| L'Orient | | | | R. Isherwood 1889 | | see City of Oxford |
| Oscar / Oscar W. | iron hull 105' × 21' | 1908– | F. O. Wallin 1908–1909 Permewan, Wright & Co. 1909– Highways and Local Government Department 1953 | D. Nutchey 1911, 1914, 1918, 1930 C. F. Haynes 1925 L. McLean 1930–1934 R. J. Johnson 1935 | F. O. Wallin 1908 Jessie 1909, 1912–1913 Maori 1909 Ormond 1909 J.L. Roberts 1909, 1911–1915 Ulonga 1910 Ada 1910, 1918, 1925, 1927 Namoi 1912 Mallara 1920 Moorara 1921, 1923, 1924 Echuca 1923 Kulnine 1934 Australia's Wealth 1934 | Built at Echuca; originally Oscar; renamed Oscar W. in 1909 for Wallin's son, who was later killed in World War I. Old name continued to be used as often as not. Exchanged by Wallin for Clyde in 1909. Ship's cook J. "Tassy" Russell drowned 1925. Later operated as a tourist attraction at Goolwa. |
| Osprey | | 1882– | J. Robson | | | Used for towing redgum logs |
| Paringa | 106' × 20' 148 tons | 1878– | Tonkin, Fuller & Martin Fuller | Andrew Martin B. M. Fuller 1883 | | Hawking steamer, burnt at Renmark Sunk after collision with Jane Eliza 1883 |
| Pearl (1) | stern-wheeler 77 tons 75 ft. × 15 ft. | 1866– | E. C. Randell Davies & Dorward 1878 | E. C. Randell 1866–1872, 1875, 1876 Adams 1872 W. Porter 1874 Church 1875, 1876 G. Dorward jr. 1879, 1880 J. Dickson 1880–1882 R. Strang 1882, 1883 F. Maultby 1883 C. Bock c. 1885 | Paika 1869–1871, 1873, 1876 Jessie 1878–1881 Native Companion 1879 Horace 1879–1881, 1883 Belubla 1882–1883 Victory 1882 Woorooma 1883 | |
| Pearl (2) | steel stern-wheeler | 1891 | Chaffey Bros 1891 W & F Brown 1914– | J. Tait 1890, 1891 J. A. Barber 1891 W. Miers 1891–1897 | | Built on Mississippi pattern; imported in sections by Chaffey brothers, but performed poorly. Modifications by Richard Craig ( – 20 April 1930) were largely successful. |
| Pevensey | 111' × 23' 130 tons | 1911– | Permewan, Wright & Co Murray River Steamship Co. | A. Nutchey 1915, 1916, 1918 C. Cantwell 1930–1932 H. McLean 1937, 1941–1944 G. Makin 1942 | Maori 1912 Echuca 1912, 1917–1919, 1921, :1923–1926 Ormond 1914 J.L. Roberts 1916–1918, 1921, 1932 Mallara 1921 Kulnine 1932 H. Payne 1937 Loxton 1942 | Record 2,600 bales carried by Pevensey and Kulnine 1928, 1930–1932, 1937. Largely destroyed by fire October 1932. Deckhand Jones lost his foot in a barge accident 1937. Featured in TV series All the Rivers Run as "PS Philadelphia". Now a tourist vessel based in Echuca. |
| Pilot | | 1883– | W. Wolter 1883– E. Rich & Co. –1907 Permewan, Wright 1907–1910 Barmah Sawmilling Co. 1910– G. King 1915–1917 | W. Wolter 1886–1901, 1896 G. King 1915–1917 | Cobar 1883 Alice 1888, 1893, 1896–1897, 1899–1901, 1903, 1905 Florence Annie 1897 Emily 1907 Ormond 1909 Maori 1909–1911 | |
| Pioneer | 63 tons, 175 tons (see ref) | 1870– | Robert Barbour 1870–1873 Whitely & Cole 1873– Brown & Ritchie 1875–1880 J. Ritchie sr. 1880–1881 Ritchie bros. G. Ritchie 1891–1899 McCulloch & Co. E. Rich & Co. George Ferguson 1907 | J. Duncan 1870 C. Hill 1870 H. Theisz 1874, 1880 J. Christy 1875, 1876 J. Ritchie 1878–1880, 1882 A. Dusting 1881 Burnaby 1881, 1882 Ebery 1881 H. Hart 1896 C. Payne 1897, 1898, 1903, 1904 T. C. Goode 1906 | Energetic 1878 Trader 1878–1879, 1881–1882, 1890, :1896–1897 Livingstone 1897 Swan 1898 Emily 1899, 1901, 1903 Undaunted 1906 | There appears to have been two Pioneers in 1879 Renamed William R. Randell (see below) around 1907. |
| Platypus | screw steamer 6 tons | 1866 | Johnston & Murphy 1866 Robert Barbour 1879 W. Barber | | | Sister ship to Bunyip, regular service Wagga Wagga to Narrandera 1879–1880. Later used by Hercules Sawmills of Narrandera, which sold up in 1884. |
| Portee | 30' side-wheeler | | | R. Anderson 1881 | | Originally a ship's lifeboat (Mudie p. 207) |
| Pride of the Murray (1) | Stern-wheel 83' × 16' 60 tons | 1865–1921 | Johnson, Davies and Co. 1865–1869 Davies & Locke 1869 W. Davies 1879 W. Davies & Son 1885 | W. J. Davies 1865–1877 J. Gribble 1875 W. Rowlands 1877–1889 W. E. Davies 1878–1884 F. Tucker 1891–1901 C. Hill (when?) J. Webb (when?) | Moira 1869 Only Son 1869–1871 Swallow 1873 Sarah Jane 1876, 1882 Bourke 1876 Lancashire Witch 1877–1880, :1882, 1886, 1889 Willandra 1881, 1882 Portsea 1886 Jessie 1893, 1897 Nelson 1897, 1898 Cobar 1889 J.L. Roberts 1899 Horace 1897 | Sunk at Echuca 1921 after having been virtually abandoned for several years. |
| Pride of the Murray (2) | stern-wheeler 98/142 tons | 1924– 1977– | | | | Built at Echuca as barge C24. It was rebuilt in 1977 as a tourist vessel; in 2022 transported to Longreach, Queensland, for use as a tourist attraction on the Thompson River. |
| Prince Alfred | 86' × 12' 6" 43 tons | 1867–1900 | Oliver & Walker C. Oliver −1875 John Haigh 1875– J. Egge 1879 W. Bowring & Co. 1900 | E. Walker 1867–1872 C. Morton 1870 C. Oliver 1870–1875 Wallace 1871 J. Egge 1875 J. Heigh 1875 S. Heseltine 1875 | Susan 1891 Isabel 1899 | Replacement for Warrego Destroyed by fire 1900. |
| Princess | 210 tons | 1874– | R. Barbour 1874– | C. Hill 1874, 1875 M. Cole 1877 F. Toomer 1878 J. Lawson 1879, 1880 J. Dorey 1880 O. Kenrick 1880–1884 C. Johnson 1887 | Swallow 1875–1876 Eagle 1879 Gwydir 1880 Namoi 1880 Federation 1880 Pelican 1878, 1882, 1887 Trader 1878 Lancashire Witch 1887 | |
| Princess Royal | 61 tons | 1870– | Gunn & King 1870 A. Ross & Co. 1875 A. Tewsley Tonkin, Fuller & Martin 1881– Gem Navigation Co. 1909– | H. King 1870–1873 Barrenger 1872, 1873 J. Tait 1874, 1875 B. Atkins 1875, 1876 B. M. Fuller 1891 A. Hart 1895 R. Ransom 1908 C. Payne 1912 G. Alexander 1912; E. Orchard 1913 Hart 1914 D. Treacy 1926 | Queen 1874 J.H.P. 1873–1878 Border Chief 1879 Mildura 1884, 1890, 1897, 1900 Empress 1897 T. P. 1909 Cobar 1910, 1913–1914 Hartley 1912 Ukee 1912, 1913, 1917 | Renamed 1926 as Monada (see above). |
| Providence | | 1865–1872 | Lake Alexandrina Steam Navigation Co. W. Barber 1866 Whyte, Counsell & Co. | D. Myrick 1866 R. Anderson 1866, 1867 W. Barber 1866–1868, 1870–1872 J. Davis 1872 | | Destroyed by explosion at Kinchega station near Menindee on River Darling. John Davis, Edward Sparks (engineer), J. Roach (fireman), Thomas Gunn (Chinese cook) and Seymour killed when boiler exploded. George Grundy, the bargemaster, was the only survivor. The boiler is still lying on the riverbank at -32.469, 142.385 |
| Pyap | 93' × 10' | 1897– | C. Oliver 1897–1908 Eudunda Farmers Coop. Society 1908–1931 L. Mewett 1944 | Thomson 1897 C. Oliver 1897–1908 G. A. Thamm c. 1900 Bails 1906–1911 W. Sladden 1908–1931 L. Mewett 1944 | | Trading steamer; lightest draught on the Murray |
| Queen | stern-wheeler 89 ft. × 18 ft. 127 tons | 1865– | W. Barber 1865 W. Gunn 1872 Gunn & Oliver 1875– C. Oliver 1878 R. H. Taylor 1920 J. M. Brand 1924 | W. Barber 1865 G. Pickhills 1866–1873 C. Elfenbein 1872 F. Blake 1873 R. Felgate 1873–1874 J. Gillon 1874–1875 C. Oliver 1875–1878, 1890, 1908 C.& O. Oliver 1911, 1919 Dubois 1915 J. M. Brand 1924 | Barwon 1872 Bourke 1904, 1908, 1914, 1921, :1922, 1924, 1925 | "A trading steamer that also carried passengers" (Mudie p. 226) Collided with Jane Eliza and sank 1876. Later towed Bourke, successively a floating cold storage and butcher's shop based in Renmark. "Finally burned and sank at Mypolonga" (Mudie p. 227) |
| Queen of the South | 131' × 22' 3" 198 tons | 1878– | G. B. Johnston 1879 | G. B. Johnston 1878 | | Designed by Johnston for navigating Murray mouth. |
| Renmark | 110' × 20' | 1913 | Gem Navigation Co. 1913 Arnold & Co. 1914–1916 Knox & Downs 1916 R. Reed 1948 | J. Grundy 1913 H. Payne 1914, 1940 Dubois 1914 C. Payne 1914, 1916 M. Crane 1920 G. A. Thamm 1923, 1924 W. O. Searles 1924–1927 A.? R.? Johnson 1925–1927 H. McLean 1933 L. McLean 1942, 1943 J. G. Arnold 1943 (Mudie p. 133) L. F. Butcher 1944 | Nelson 1914, 1919 Crowie 1915, 1916, 1920, 1922–1924 Maori 1916 Loxton 1916 Mallara 1919 Moorara 1919 Ukee 1922, 1924, 1927, 1928, 1942 Moorabin 1925 Emerald 1925 | Burned and sunk at Goolwa 1951 |
| Resolute | 92' × 18' 8", 138 tons | 1877– | Payne −1879 Echuca Steamship Co. 1879–1882 David, Stratton & Co. 1894 | E. Barnes 1877, 1878, 1882, 1885 J. Symington 1878, 1879 G. Lindqvist 1878, 1879 J. Morris 1879, 1880 J. Christy 1881 G. Jolly 1886, 1887 A. Dusting 1889, 1890, 1899 D. Nutchey 1891–1899, 1901, 1905 W. F. Bailey 1905, 1906 H. Teschner 1905 W. Knight 1906 | Confidence 1877–1881, 1888, 1896 Energetic 1878 Gunbower 1878–1879, 1882, 1906 ;1890, 1893–1894 Reliance 1884, 1886, 1888–1890 Echuca 1893–1894 Horace 1897 Tongo 1897 Jessie 1905, 1909 Ada 1905 J.L. Roberts 1905 Ukee 1909 Crowie 1913 | |
| Ricketson | | 1876– | Barbour | | | Small, powerful steamer, intended for towing logs for Patent Slip sawmill, Echuca. |
| Rita | | | | A. Dusting 1904 | | Advertised for sale at Echuca 1908 |
| Riverina (1) | 66 tons | 1865–1889 | J. Duncan & Co. D. Bower 1869 F. Payne 1876, 1879 J. Laing jr. 1878 George Piggins 1879– J. Montgomery −1885 M. King −1887 D Bower 1887– | E. H. Randell 1871–1873 E. Barnes 1874–1876 A. Peirce 1876 J. Morris 1877 F. C. Hansen 1878 J. Patterson 1878, 1884 T. Freeman 1879 E. Crowle 1880–1882 C. Johnson 1882 J. Newman 1882 J. Christy 1883 A. Ebery 1885 | Alice 1869 Energetic 1875, 1876 Belubla 1878–1880 Native Companion 1878–1879 Advance 1879 Benduck 1880–1883 White Rose 1884 Sarah Francis 1887, 1888 | Riverina and barge largely destroyed by fire 1883 Wrecked after striking snag 1884, Montgomery bankrupted. Renamed Wandering Jew (see below). |
| Riverina (2) | | 1905– | Huddart, Parker and Co. | | | |
| Riverina (3) | | 1965– | | | | Previously named Trix |
| Riverine | Stern-wheeler 25 tons | 1863–1870 | Duncan & Bower | D. Bower 1863–1870 | | "... ran between Hay and Echuca for about three seasons then broken up." |
| Rob Roy | 131 tons sidewheeler 88' 6 in. × 18 ft. | 1876– | J. Laing sen. 1876 J & J Laing 1878 Laurence 1880 J. Wallace 1891– E. Rich & Co. –1907 Permewan, Wright 1907–1909 Gem Navigation Co. 1909– | J. Newman 1876, 1877 T. Laing 1876 J. Fyfe 1878–1880 J. McMillan 1879 E. Barnes 1880 J. Laing 1880, 1881 C. Christie 1880 C. Rolfe 1880 F. C. Hansen 1880, 1881 Laurence 1880 D. Sinclair 1881 Stevens 1881 T. Nolan 1887, 1888 B. Atkins 1893, 1896–1898, 1906 Thompson 1908 P. Sandford 1912 G. M. Mumby 1913 Harris 1914 | Swan 1878, 1880, 1881, 1883, :1896, 1897, 1899–1901, 1903 Benduck 1880 Border Chief 1896–1897 Victory 1909 Ukee 1910 Mallara 1913 Albemarle 1908, 1913 | Sunk 1878. There was a s.s. Rob Roy, 400 tons, working around the coast under a Captain Christie 1892–1893. A connection or simple coincidence? |
| Rodney | 110' × 18', 150/196 tons | 1875–1894 | Davies & Dorward 1875 Cramsie, Bowden & Co, 1877 Davies & Dorward 1879 Permewan, Wright 1887 (Mudie p. 209) | G. Dorward 1875, 1876, :1878–1880 O. Kenrick 1877, 1878 G. Dorward jun. 1878–1884 E. Fowler 1886 J. Innes 1887 G. Lindqvist 1888–1891 J. Dickson 1891–1894 | Queen 1876 Jessie 1877 Nelson 1877–1880 Victory 1887 Namoi 1889, 1890, 1892 Laurel 1891 | Built in Echuca Burned by striking workers 1894. |
| Roma | 80 ft × 20 ft, 20 hp, 60 tons | 1884–1886 | Farmer Bros. Whyte, Counsell 1886 | E. H. Randell 1884–1886 | Alice 1884 Uranus 1885, 1886 | Lightest boat on the river. Destroyed by fire. |
| Rothbury | 86 ft. × 20 ft. | 1882– | W & J Robson Munro & Co. 1888 G. B. Air 1891–1898 W. Wilson 1899–1904 | J. Christy 1883, 1885 A. Ebery 1884, 1885 F. Toomer 1885–1889 T. Freeman 1890–1892 G. B. Air 1891–1899 W. Wilson 1899–1904 E. Evans 1901 W. Knight 1902 F. Tucker 1905 W. F. Bailey 1906 S. Hart 1911 M. Anderson 1911, 1940, 1948 J. G. Arnold 1912 | Gunbower 1884–1885, 1887–1888 Goulburn 1887 Wyuna 1890–1894 Shamrock 1895–1896 Namoi 1899, 1906 Zulu 1901 Jessie 1906, 1909 Echuca 1909–1910 Crowie 1911 Aurora 1940 | Still in use in timber trade, Mildura 1947. |
| Royal | | | A. Francis −1908 C. Dyer 1908–1922 | C. Dyer 1908–1917 | | Shuttle service between Morgan and Renmark 1909– . Lengthened by 15 ft. in 1910 |
| Ruby (1) | Coasting steamer 70 tons, 40 hp | 1859– | Cadell W. R. Randell | W. Barber 1859 H. King 1860 J. King | | |
| Ruby (2) | 117 tons 85' × 18' 6" | 1876– | E. C. Randell A. E. Randell 1879 King & Aldridge 1903 Gem Navigation Co. 1914 | A. E. Randell 1880, 1881 W. Miers 1886–1890 L. Searles 1890 A. Barber 1891 Hart 1895, 1896 J. King 1899 H. W. King 1899 | Paika 1877 Alice 1884 Isabel 1893, 1900 Pearl 1902, 1906, 1907 Uranus 1906 | |
| Ruby (3) | 133' × 18' 6" | 1908 | Gem Navigation Co. 1909– | H. King J. Nutchey 1907–1916 W. Tinks 1908, 1909 J. Newman 1909, 1910 T. C. Goode 1911 A. Leishman 1911 E. Orchard 1912 Smith 1912, 1913 R. Ransom c. 1916 G. Alexander 1914, 1917, 1921 Freeman 1923 W. Henderson 1924 H. Payne 1924, 1930 W. O. Searles 1928 | Paika 1911, 1912 Ukee 1913 Alice 1913, 1914 | Served as a guesthouse in Mildura from c. 1938 then houseboat for Mr. and Mrs. V. Robbins from c. 1945. |
| Saddler | 92 tons 35 hp. | 1877 – c. 1907 | W. McCulloch and Co. 1878– Australasian Shipping and Carrying Company −1887 J. Whyte jun. 1887– J. G. Arnold 1894– | J. Page 1878–1884 J. Dorey 1879 G. Pybus 1888–1890 R. Grundy 1893 J. G. Arnold 1894, 1901 A. Johnstone 1896 M. Crane 1902 | Eagle 1878, 1885 Alice 1878, 1879 Wyuna 1878 Federation 1878, 1880 Sarah Jane 1878 Advance 1879 Tongo 1879 Paroo 1879 Willandra 1880 Darling 1880, 1881 Border Chief 1880, 1883 Pimpampa 1880 Swallow 1882 Croupier 1893, 1896 Livingstone 1896 Uranus 1896 Eclipse 1902 | Described as irrigation steamer 1904; broken up 1907. M. C. Crane had barge Saddler consort of Nellie 1909. |
| Sapphire | | 1911–1916 | F. W. Blundell 1911–1912 B. W. Francis 1916 W. T. Smith | F. W. Blundell 1911, 1912 B. W. Francis 1916 | | Trading steamer destroyed by fire 1916. |
| Sawmiller | | | Penrose & Oddy Steam Navigation and Sawmilling Co. –1909 | H. Treacy 1899–1901 | | |
| Settler | stern-wheeler 100 hp, 381 tons, | 1861–1864 | Murray & Jackson | A. Murray 1861, 1862 P. Jackson 1862–1863 | | Snagged and sunk at Paringa 1862. Too large for River Murray, she failed to sail to New Zealand, and went to the Brisbane River in 1864, where she was still working in 1921. |
| Shamrock | | 1884 | Matulick & Oliver 1892 F. Matulick 1895 | Bill Hoff J. Gillon 1886 (Mudie p. 231) | | Low-draught steamer was destroyed by fire 1895 |
| Shannon | 110' × 18' 2" 122 tons | 1877–1904 | H & H. A. Gelston 1879 Reid & Heseltine 1885 T. Freeman Mitchell 1904 | H. Gelston 1880 J. Heseltine 1880, 1881, 1885 S. Heseltine 1880–1882, 1886 T. Freeman 1894–1899, 1901–1904 J. Cummins 1895 Mitchell 1904 | Scottish Chief 1896 Nonpareil 1896 Belubla 1904 | Caught fire and scuttled 1885 Freeman bought the damaged vessel from Heseltine and replaced her engine with that from the Stanley. Mitchell took her to Tasmania 1905. |
| Showboat | | | | | | Tourist vessel operating from Renmark; originally sailing boat Ada and Clara. |
| Sir Henry Young "Sir Henry" | 75 tons | 1854 | | F. Cadell 1854 E. Robertson 1854 | Wakool 1854 Murrumbidgee 1854 Eureka 1854 | Appears to have made only two trips up the Murray: from Goolwa to Moorana and Windomal and return and from Port Elliot to Moorundee and return. |
| South Australian | 152 tons | 1878–1902 | Whyte, Counsell & Co. 1879 G. Ritchie Thomas & Grose 1902– | G. Pybus 1878, 1879 J. Kerr 1888, 1891–1894 | Howlong 1878 Stanley 1879 Livingstone 1879, 1883 Stanley 1890, 1893 Reliance 1890 Croupier 1890 | Won towing contest against Rothbury 1892 Operated by flour miller on Tam o' Shanter creek from 1902. |
| Struggler | | | George H. Risby 1888–1889 | Robert Isherwood 1901 Joy 1918 T. Bynon (when?) | | |
| Sturt | length 93' 60 hp. | 1856–1890 | Chubb, Hill & Co, Acraman, Main. Lindsay, & Co. Heggaton & Pickhills 1876– Pickhills & Co. 1885 | A. McCoy 1856–1858 Davidson 1857 W. Luxon 1859–1863 Blake 1877 G. Pickhills 1882, 1885–1888, :1890 | Lady of the Lake 1857 Hume 1859 | Sister vessel to Leichardt. Stuck in Darling 1885–1886 Hit snag, sunk 1890 |
| Success | 129 tons | 1877–1957 | Westwood & Air 1877 Dashwood & Air 1879 Randell & Air T. Freeman 1905 Staley & Connell 1911 Olsen 1918 Francis & Tinks 1922 Bailey & Sons 1926–1934 | G. Air 1877–1895 E. Barnes 1881 E. C. Randell 1881, 18821886 (Mudie p. 109) T. Freeman 1889, 1891–1893, :1897, 1902–1909 W. Thompson 1889, 1890 C. P.? J.? Johnson 1891–1903 Johnston 1892? check D. Sinclair 1892–1894, 1901 J. Cummins 1896 W. Tinks 1922 V. Byrne 1926, 1929, 1931, :1933–1935 W. J. Bailey 1928, 1931, 1935 F. Weaver 1935 C. Cantwell 1941 H. Hogg 1956 Pollard 1956 (Mudie p. 111) | Energetic 1878 Border Chief 1879 Mildura 1877–1882 Paika 1881 Benduck 1882 Nonpareil 1882, 1884, 1886, :1890, 1902 Scottish Chief 1888–1889 Belubla 1896 Ormond 1919, 1922 Croupier 1926 Vega 1956 | In 1906 she made the Wilcannia to Wentworth trip in a record 40 hours. Undergoing restoration at Echuca, Victoria. |
| Sunbeam | | | E. H. Dodd jr. | Johnson 1899 Randell 1910 E. H. Dodd jr. (when?) | | Small trading steamer of very low draught; carried small Government party 1897, dried fruit, and fishing and shooting parties until at least 1910. |
| Surprise | | | | W. F. Bailey 1892 | Annie 1891 | |
| Tarella | 100' × 20' | 1897– | A. H. Landseer 1897 Gem Navigation Co. 1909– South Australian Government, Irrigation Dept. 1919–1948 Murray Shipping Ltd. 1948–1948 L. M. Arnold 1953(to be confirmed) | J. Grundy 1897–1909 E. Orchard 1911 H. McLean 1911, 1912 R. Potter 1913 R. Smith 1914 Thompson 1914 A. F. Porter 1919–1923 Smith 1934 G. Makin 1938 | Empress 1901, 1913 Croupier 1902 Susan 1903, 1904, 1906 Bourke 1904 Cobar 1905, 1912–1913 Murchison 1909 Nonpareil 1908 Ukee 1909 Alice 1909 Mallara 1910 Victory 1910 Isabel 1910 Nonpareil 1912 Mary Ann 1913 Emily 1913 Pearl 1914 Florence Annie 1914 Hartley 1914 Albemarle 1914 Albion 1947–1948 | Barge Nonpareil was destroyed by fire near Wilcannia 1912. She was used to transport two gigantic Humphrey pumps to Cobdogla in 1923. Decommissioned by Murray Shipping Ltd. in 1948 having stripped her of all machinery and then resold. Towed by P.S. Gem in 1948 to a permanent mooring approx. 5 km above Mannum S.A. Used out as fishermans shack by various owners until refloated for rebuilding and recommissioning in 2014. |
| Telegraph | 62 tons, 90 ft. × 17' 6ins. | 1866–1875 | Lake Alexandrina Steam Navigation Company 1866– | J. Tinks 1866–1875 W. Wolter 1870 T. Johnston 1870, 1871 W. Mathews 1871 | Darling 1872 | Mail steamer operated Milang to Meningie (Mudie p. 84) Converted to barge 1875 |
| Teviot | Side-wheeler 57' × 12' 20 tons | 1865– | G. Smith 1865–1868 H. King 1868– | J. Smith 1865–1869 H. King 1868, 1870 | | Engines transferred to Princess Royal 1870. |
| Thistle | 151 tons 105 ft. × 19 ft. | 1877– | Blair & McGrouther | R. G. Lewen 1879, 1880 C. Schmedje sr. 1879 | Shamrock 1880 | One of the largest steamers; ousted by competition from lighter, shallow draught boats such as Emma, Nile and Mayflower |
| Timor | | | | J. P. Willoughby 1890, 1891 | | Small steamer repaired in Renmark 1894. |
| Tolarno | | 1879– | Andrew Willcock Gem Navigation Co. George Donaldson 1902 Donaldson, Coburn & Knox 1901 Donaldson Ltd. 1910 Knox & Downs 1916 | L. Searles 1880 R. Grundy 1893, 1894, 1902,1906,1913, 1914, 1916, 1917, 1919 L. Mewett 1924 L. McLean 1924, 1925 R. Pendle 1926 | Croupier 1889, 1893 Uranus 1892–1894, 1899, 1901, :1903–1909 Myee 1910–1913 Moorabin 1916–1917, :1920, 1924 Ukee 1922, 1923 Crowie 1924 Mallara 1926 Emerald 1926 | light draught steamer built by Willcock and operated by him and his father, Oliver Willcock. |
| Trafalgar "Traf" | steel deck 105' 7" × 18' 158/228 tons | 1877– | W. J & W. E. Davies 1877–1879 Davies and Son 1889 | W. J. Davies 1877 D. Bower 1877–1886 W. Rowlands 1882 W. E. Davies 1888 C. Cantwell 1887–1899 | Sarah Jane 1878–1882, 1885, 1886, :1889–1891 Pocahontas 1878 Nelson 1885 Eagle 1888–1890 Horace 1891 Jessie 1895 Echuca 1897 Namoi 1929 | Later passenger service between Swan Hill and Mildura. Sold to a South Australian company 1917. |
| Trio | | 1872– | | Shetliff 1872– | | |
| Trix | | 1943– | | W. H. Drage 1950– | | Became 100-passenger showboat steamer out of Renmark 1943; renamed Riverina 1965. |
| Tyro | 72 tons | 1872–1926 | R. N. Tolley & H. King 1872– S. Shetliff & Son 1875 R. M. Randell 1884– G. & S. Shetliff 1879 | S. Shetliff 1872–1878 F. C. Hansen 1880 R. M. Randell 1897, 1899, :1904, 1909 G. A. Thamm 1914 Dubois 1915 | Golconda 1873 Union 1874, 1875, 1880, 1881 Blanche 1874 Confidence 1880 Queen 1880 Loxton 1915–1916 | Shuttled between Murray Bridge and Mannum from 1884 to at least 1917. Largely destroyed by boiler explosion November 1897. Randell and engineer Trounson were badly scalded. The Tyro returned to service the following year. She was destroyed by fire at Murray Bridge in 1926. |
| Ulonga | 111' | 1912– | Permewan, Wright & Co. Murray River Shipping Co. W. O. Searles 1937 R. Reed 1937– | C. Cantwell 1913 H. Kelly 1915, 1918 D. Nutchey 1930–1933 C. Haines 1935, 1936 R. Reed 1937– | Jessie 1913–1915 Namoi 1914 Echuca 1918, 1920, 1922 J.L. Roberts 1913, 1915, 1916, :1918–1921, 1923–1928 | Built as barge Ulonga 1911, converted to steamer 1912. Collided with Invincible 1926. Carting firewood 1937 Burnt to the waterline 1937. |
| Undaunted | 28 tons | 1875– | J. T. Laing F. Payne 1876 Gurney −1894 T. C. Goode 1906 | Church 1875, 1876 J. Morris 1875, 1876 E. Barnes 1876 J. Fyfe 1877 D. Sinclair 1877, 1881 W. Hampson 1878, 1879, 1881 J. Laing 1879 E. W. Randell (when?) | Energetic 1876 Only Son 1876–1878 Benduck 1878–1879 | Barge snagged and sunk 1879. Ended as hawking steamer on Darling, then converted to barge for City of Oxford around 1904 by T. C. Goode. |
| Ventura | | | E. Dodd 1909–1911 C. P. Allen 1911–1916 | Dodd 1909–1911 W. R. F. Hanckel 1909 | Walgett 1916 | |
| Venus | | | G. Ritchie 1906– | G. Ritchie 1906, 1907 | | Excursion steamer; successor to Alexandra (see above) received unfavourable reviews, |
| Vesta | 29 tons | | T. Brakenridge H. Williams 1879 | S. Shetliff 1868–1871 B. M. Fuller 1870 W. Wolter 1870 T. Brakenridge 1871–1872 C. Elfenbein 1871–1873 J. Dodd 1872 W. Mathews 1872, 1873 W. Barber 1873 W. Stewart 1873–1875 W. Kerr 1874 Wilkes (Wilks?) 1877, 1879 | Satellite 1874 | |
| Victor | 79 tons 95' × 15' | 1877– | W. Barber Barber & Kirkpatrick 1879 A. Martin & Co. 1896 | W. Barber 1881 E. H. Golding 1890, 1891, 1894 A. Martin 1896 J. Frayne 1903 | Laurel 1879, 1881, 1882, 1896 Venus 1902–1903 | Barge Laurel destroyed by fire 1896. Hawking steamer, burnt at Murray Bridge. |
| Victoria | 114 tons 85 ft. × 15 ft. iron framed | 1864– | Murray River Steam Navigation Co. Upper Murray Steam Navigation Co. Leonard & Co. Wagga Wagga Steam Navigation Co. 1869– Wm. McCulloch & Co. 1878–1884 | G. Dorward 1866–1869 Adamson 1869 J. Ritchie jr. 1870–1873 A. Peirce 1873–1875 R. G. Lewen 1876–1878 J. Burgess 1878, 1884 E. Barnes 1879 W. Pullar 1879 G. Jolly 1881 J. Hart 1885, 1886, 1888–1891 Dodd 1893 J. Wallace 1896, 1903 | Wangaratta 1867 Moama 1868 Pocahontas 1869–1871 Moira 1873 Darling 1878 Tongo 1878–1879, 1904 Federation 1879 Advance 1881 McIntyre 1896 Cobar 1889, 1896, 1898, 1899, 1901 Tongo 1904 Queen 1904 Uranus 1910, 1911 | |
| Viola | | 1898– | W. Wilson 1933 | John Colebatch 1902 | | Spent most of her existence as fishing launch. or chartered by Thomas Goode. |
| W. F. B. | | | Bailey & Sons 1933 | W. J. Bailey 1922, 1923, 1926, :1929, 1931 F. Weaver 1933 | Annie 1922, 1923 Horace 1931 | Named for W. F. Bailey Weekly trips Morgan to Renmark in 1923 Originally Eric; later Bejo (Mudie p. 183) (for B.J.O.?) |
| Wagga Wagga "Wagga" | 86 tons | | R. Barbour 1879 G. H. Risby James Roach & Co. 1905 | T. Bynon sr. 1876, 1885 T. Bynon 1903–1905, 1912, 1916 D. Sinclair 1878, 1879 J. T. Laing 1880 G. H. Risby 1888, 1889 R. Ransom 1890 | Wakool 1876 Native Companion 1978 Whaler 1885, 1892, 1904 Goulburn 1890 Namoi 1890 | Became trading vessel 1878 |
| Wahgunyah | 58 tons | 1866– | J. Foord 1866–1868 Hilson 1869 Permewan & Hodge 1879 | F. Foord 1866–1868 J. Page 1869–1877 | | Collision with Cumberoona 1869; bargehand Skinner drowned. Page totally exonerated. |
| Waikerie | 83' × 14' 6" | 1911–1929 | Francis & Tinks Bailey & Sons 1926–1929 | A. Francis 1911 W. Tinks 1911–1926 G. A. Thamm c. 1911 F. Weaver 1926 | Pearl 1920 Merle 1920 Melbourne 1920 Horace 1921 | Destroyed by fire 1929 |
| Wakool | wood hull, 70 tons | c. 1860 | F. Cadell (c. 1860–1920 ) | J. Mace 1860 J. Ritchie sr. 1863 | Mitta Mitta 1860 | Originally barge; converted to steamer c. 1860. Sent to New Zealand 1920; wrecked at Hokitika along with the Bruce and Waipara. |
| Wandering Jew | 72' × 14' 4" 66 tons | 1891–1914 | D. Berger G. White 1910–1914 | G. White 1903, 1908, 1910–1914 | Sarah Frewens 1899 | Trading steamer, previously named Riverina, she was gutted by fire at Bourke 1893 Destroyed by fire near Brewarrina It is likely that her barge Sarah Frewens was the Sarah Francis renamed. |
| Wanera | 112' × 20' 9" | 1910–1985 | Permewan, Wright and Co. 1910 Murray Shipping Ltd. 1918 R. J. Johnson 1933, 1936 Brennan 1938 | H. Kelly 1910 L. Wagner 1983 G. Makin 1929 W. Henderson 1930 A. Haynes 1931 W. H. Drage 1935 R. Johnson 1936 L. McLean c. 1938 J. Searles 1952, 1953 E. R. Randell 1953 W. S. Carlyon (when?) | J.L. Roberts 1911, 1912, 1913, :1920, 1921, 1926, 1928, 1931 Namoi 1910, 1911 Ada 1912 Echuca 1913 Jessie 1915 Mallara 1920 Moorara 1922, 1924, 1928 Moorabin 1930, 1936 | Built as barge T.P. (for Tom Permewan), converted to steamer and carried record load 450 tons 1910. Became houseboat at Renmark for Lorry and Gwen Brennan 1939 destroyed by fire January 1985 |
| Waradgery | stern-wheeler 151 tons | 1865– | H. Leonard 1876 Wilson & Glew 1886 Glew & Fulford 1889 Gem Navigation Co. 1909– | W. R. Randell F. Foord 1868–1872 W. Sugden 1869 G. Dorward 1872, 1874 Williams 1874 J. Burgess 1874 F. Toomer 1874–1884 B. M. Fuller 1878 W. Thomson 1879 A. Glew 1887, 1888 J. Fulford 1889 A. E. Randell 1890–1892 C. Bock 1893 J. Tait 1894 W. Porter 1895 J. Randell 1907 | Moama 1866 Wangaratta 1869–1871 Symmetry 1871 Waterwitch 1872, 1873 Darling 1874 Paroo 1876, 1878, 1879 Pocahontas 1878 Alice 1878–1879 Gwydir 1878–1879 Pimpampa 1887 Willandra 1889 | Advertised 1876 as "Henry Leonard's new steamer". Barge Willandra sank 1889 and crewman Robert Johnstone drowned. |
| Wardell | | 1873 | Public Works department (Vic. govt.) L. Godegast 1877 | Henry Thorpe 1879–1884, :1888, 1892 W. Bulled 1893 Lubert 1909 | | Snagging steamer, probably named for W. W. Wardell of the Victorian Public Works Department. R. J. Shelley supervised operations from 1873 but it is not clear whether he commanded the boat. Her barge was later used as a boat shed. |
| Warrego | | 1864– | Oliver & Rankin 1865 Oliver & Walker 1865 | C. Oliver sr. | Rendlesham 1866 | replaced by Prince Alfred |
| Wave | | 1903 | Donaldson, Coburn & Knox | | | brought merchandise to Wilcannia 1903 only. |
| Wentworth | 110' × 23' (100' × 19' 6" in 1886) 99 tons / 123 tons | 1864– | A. Kirkpatrick 1864 Harrold Brothers 1865, 1866 R. & B. Varcoe Leonard & Symington 1869 Johnston & Murphy 1870 Geyer & Creek 1873 W. Bowring and Co. G. Johnston & Co. 1875, 1879 | J. Smythe 1864–1867 B. Varcoe 1866, 1867 W. Luxon 1866–1868 G. B. Johnston 1870, 1873, 1876 J. Gillon 1870–1875 James Barclay 1872 W. Dickson 1874–1876 J. Packer 1878, 1887, 1889, 1901 | Miriam 1865 Menindie 1866, 1869, 1871–1875 Unknown 1870, 1872, 1873 Mitta Mitta 1874 Waterwitch 1876 J and M 1875, 1879 Reliance 1876 Unknown 1879, 1881 Gwydir 1880 McIntyre 1881 Barwon 1881 :Three barges together! | |
| White Swan | 85' × 22' 9" | 1882 | Buzza 1882 | Buzza 1882 | | In March 1882 Buzza announced she would have engine from Emily Jane. After 20 June 1882 no further mention of White Swan is to be found in newspapers, though a week later Buzza captained a steamer named Emily Jane, so it is possible that White Swan had become the second Emily Jane. |
| Wilcannia | 107' x 18'6" 144 tons | 1874–1915 | J. Tinks 1874 W. Tinks Anderson & Hoad J. G. Arnold 1911– Cuttle & Co. 1924 | J. Tinks 1876, 1879–1889 W. Tinks 1892 M. Anderson 1906 W. R. F. Hanckel 1911 Grundy 1911, 1912 M. Patterson 1915 G. A. Thamm 1917 S. Watson 1921 J. Nutchey 1923, 1924 | Rosa 1911, 1913 Crowie 1912, 1913, 1914, 1917 Nelson 1920 Moorabin 1921 Emerald 1921 | Engines originally from Telegraph Wrecked 1915 but still running 1924. |
| William Davies / Wm. Davies | 78 ft × 10 ft. | 1894– | Permewan, Wright 1894– Donaldson, Coburn & Knox 1901 Permewan, Wright and Co. Gem Navigation Co. 1913 | J. Innes 1894 Dickson 1894 P. Westergaard 1895–1902 A. Nutchey 1902, 1904–1906, :1908 Daley 1910 W. Bailey 1912 S. Rossiter 1913 B. Atkins 1913 Hart 1914 E. Orchard 1914 H. McLean 1916 N. McLean 1920 Rice 1920 C. Cantwell 1921 G. Alexander 1923 V. Byrne 1924 W. O. Searles 1924 E. Hill 1925 W. H. Drage 1926 L. McLean 1929, 1930 | Nelson 1894, 1896 Horace 1894, 1896 Eagle 1894–1896, 1898 Namoi 1895, 1897 J.L. Roberts 1896, 1898, 1899, :1903, 1906–1908, 1922 Paroo 1894 Jessie 1894, 1895, 1905 Maori 1895–1897, 1903, 1909 Echuca 1896 Confidence 1898 Paragon 1899, 1901 Ada 1900 Ormond 1902 Sprite 1903 Gunbower 1906 Emily 1908 Albemarle 1910, 1912 Emerald 1910, 1912, 1913 Moorara 1910 Mallara 1912, 1917 Queen 1913 Mary Ann 1913 Hartley 1913–1914, 1923 Ukee 1914, 1916 Annie 1916 Uranus 1930 | Named for Captain William J. Davies (c. 1830–1903). Bargehand Anderson fell into hold and was killed 1900 Engine exploded August 1920 but no casualties. Mate William "Gus" Haynes lost overboard 1925 Ship's cook Thomas Baird lost overboard 1921. Bargehand Alex Harris drowned 1930. |
| William Randell / Wm. R. Randell | | | Gem Navigation Co. 1909– | Hart 1907 Weston 1910 P. Sandford 1911 H. McLean 1912 R. Potter 1914, 1916 G. Knight 1935 | Susan Alice 1912 Murchison 1907, 1908, 1909, 1912, 1913 Ukee 1909, 1910 Uranus 1912 Alice 1914 Hartley 1916 Moorara 1916 | Originally Pioneer (see above). |