Murray–Darling steamboat people
This is a list of captains and boat owners and others important in the history of the Murray-Darling steamer trade, predominantly between 1850 and 1950. All entries relate to items on the list of Murray–Darling steamboats. Notes. 1. Spelling : Information in this article has mostly been gleaned from newspaper reports. Barbour, Bower, Christie, Davies, Dickson, Hampson, Hansen, Johnston, Lindqvist, Maultby, Miers, Pickhills, Reed, Rossiter, Schmedje, Searles, Tait, Theisz, Westergaard (all prominent people) often appeared in print as Barber, Bowers, Christie, Davis, Dixon, Hampton, Hanson, Johnson, Lindquist, Maltby, Myers, Pickels, Reid, Rossitter (or Rosseter), Smidgee  (or Schmedge), Searle, Tate, Theiz (or Theitz) and Westergard. The firm of Johnson and Davies was spelled four different ways in their own advertisements. Boats were given the same treatment. The barge "Tongo" was often written "Tonga" and "Goldsbrough" often "Goldsborough". Although the owners should have known better, the vessel generally named "Lady Augusta" was actually registered as "Lady Agusta" and "Leichardt" was presumably (mis)named for the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt (1813 – c. 1848). The barge "Rabbie Burns" appears to have metamorphosed into "Robbie Burns" around 1880. The steamer here spelled "Ferret" may have been registered "Ferrett" – more information is needed . The town now (and here) spelled Narrandera was once mostly "Narandera", a spelling tenaciously retained by its newspaper. 2. Dates of service alongside names of boats and their owners and captains are from contemporary newspaper reports, which varied greatly in depth of information supplied. They would therefore not necessarily reflect the vessel or person's full period of service. Dates refer to service on the Murray system; some craft and most skippers had earlier or later service elsewhere. 3. In the interests of simplicity, honorifics (S.S., P.S., M.V. etc.) have been omitted from boat names. 4. Ownership of vessels was  not often reported in the press, which accounts for this column being largely incomplete. The major companies (Wm. McCulloch & Co., Cramsie, Bowden & Co., E. Rich & Co., etc.) as well as owning vessels, also acted as agents for private owners, who may have been their captains, or absentee investors. 5. Almost without exception, no master or vessel was employed on the river throughout the year. In non-drought years shipping activity might be expected to run (give or take a month) from around June (with the winter rains) to December (with the snow melt). Anderson. Charles Miller Anderson ( – 1 August 1942 ), came to Echuca from Stockholm in 1858 or 1859. He had been mate on the "Morning Light" and jumped ship at Melbourne to join the gold rush (Mudie p. 101). He married Margaret (c. 1831 – 28 February 1902) in 1863. They had two daughters and two sons and also raised nephew Hilary Hogg. Robert M. "Bob" Anderson (c. 1840 – 13 July 1889) of Mannum, possibly no relation, skippered "Providence" 1866–1867; "Ariel" 1868–1875; "Nil Desperandum" 1873; possibly "Bogan" 1868–1869 (Mudie p. 80). Married to Mary Elizabeth Anderson (c. 1841 – 20 November 1911). He married Alice May Hooper (c. – 26 January 1915 ) in 1899, lived at "Edgecombe House", Mannum. Arnold. (Johann) George Arnold (c. 1863 – 25 May 1949) born in Gothenburg, Sweden, owner of "Saddler" 1894–, "J. G. Arnold" and "Wilcannia" 1911–, early worked on "Golconda" while Schuetze was her owner, may have become her owner and skipper to 1894; "Saddler", "Tyro" and "Renmark".(Mudie p. 133). He commissioned a number of vessels such as the huge barge "Crowie" (an aboriginal name for the brolga or "big 'un"). In 1913 the "Arnold Line" consisted of steamers "Renmark", "Wilcannia", "Tyro", and "Mundoo" and barges "Crowie", "Gunbower", "Loxton", "Rosa" and "Duck". In 1898 he purchased  the "Perseverance" but lost her while removing her through the Glenelg River mouth. For a time he owned Big Bend station and farmed for six years. He purchased W. R. Randell's shipbuilding yards at Mannum where during World War I he built over a dozen giant barges, which were employed in building the River Murray locks and many other boats, culminating in the "Esmeralda". He grew wheat at Big Bend station then became one of the largest wheat traders on the river. He was partner with Mortimer Crane as M. C. Crane and Co. ( –1902). He married Alvena Pauline  Riedel ( – 2 March 1934) in 1892; they lived at "Esmeralda", Mannum. Barclay. James "Jimmy" Barclay ( – 29 May 1914) was a member of the first "Lady Augusta" crew. He accompanied the wives of George and Thomas Johnston, James Ritchie and John Barclay when they sailed from Scotland on the "Planter" in 1857. then the "Burra", which brought them to Adelaide on 28 January 1858. He captained "Albury" 1870, 1871, 1874, 1875; "Maranoa" 1870–1875; "Wentworth" 1872. A brother-in-law of G. B. Johnston, he was married to Grace (c. 1835 – 12 October 1910); they had a son John Barclay (c. 1871  – 3 October 1921) and lived in Goolwa. John Barclay (c. 1826 – 1 November 1886) of Mundoora, perhaps an older brother, skippered "Gundagai" 1857–1864. Partnership with James King as Barclay & King was dissolved in 1864. He was married to Margaret (c. 1827 – 5 March 1912), sister of G. B. Johnston; they lived at Mundoora, South Australia. Elizabeth Barclay (c. 1831 – 25 September 1920) married G. B. Johnston in 1852. She has been variously described as sister of John Barclay of Mundoora, sister in law of James Barclay and daughter of James Barclay of Cockenzie, Scotland. For all these statements to be  true, Jimmy and John would have been brothers, sons of another James Barclay. Bowring. William Bowring J.P. (c. 1852 – 28 July 1924) was mayor of Wentworth 1896–1898, 1901. He married Eliza Williams ( – 6 December 1909) of Gol Gol in 1878. His business, W. Bowring & Co., store owners of Wentworth, later also Mildura, ran trading steamers "Emily Jane" (destroyed by fire on Christmas Day, 1889) and "Prince Alfred". He bought barge "Marion" from estate of George Fowler; sold her to Ben Chaffey. Buzza. Thomas Buzza (c. 1833 – 25 April 1904) for some years owned sawmills at Back Creek (near Sandhurst), then  Myers Flat (where payable gold was found in 1882), then the Wyuna Steam Sawmills near Koondrook, Victoria and the Gannawarra Steam Sawmills. He built the "Emily Jane" (probably named for his wife) in 1875 (and skippered her 1877, 1880) and barge "Goulburn" in 1876. In 1882 he built "White Swan" and converted the "Emily Jane" to a log barge. but he continued to run a steamer "Emily Jane", perhaps "White Swan" renamed, and was her skipper 1882 to 1887. In 1893 he sold up to run a business in Eaglehawk, Victoria, but returned to Myers Flat in 1898. Byrnes. James  Manning Byrnes (c. 1838 – 9 October 1924) was overseer of a snagging gang for ten years, including 1879–1880 while the river was low. and later ran a butchery at Wilcannia, and was a town alderman and mayor for several terms; his sons owned several pastoral properties including Tintinallogy. He and his wife Mary had a property "Surbiton" on the Darling and moved to Knightsbridge, Adelaide around 1920. Carlyon. William Symington "Billy" Carlyon (18 August 1859 – c. 5 September 1936) was an employee of Permewan Wright, initially as deckhand on the "Kelpie" then master of the "Invincible" 1886 (with Charles Hunt  as deckhand), "Barwon" 1897, "Elizabeth" and finally the "Wanera". He was one of the strikebreaking captains who together manned the "Wm. Davies" in May 1895.He kept the Criterion Hotel, Echuca, from 1897, and the Bridge Hotel, Moama 1913. He married Mary Ellen Josephine Foley (c. 1872 – 5 October 1937) died at Brighton Rd., St. Kilda. His sister Isabelle Halbert Carlyon ( – 25 January 1937) married Captain Gustav Lindqvist. His sister Wilhelmina Carlyon (c. 1852 – 26 August 1915) married Captain John Innes. His brother Thomas Symington Carlyon (1866 – 20 October 1925) was amateur champion oarsman of Victoria in 1896, kept the Criterion  Hotel, Echuca, 1895–1897, then others in Ballarat, Creswick, Spencer Street, Melbourne, Hampton, Albert Park, Hotel Victoria, South Malbourne and finally the Esplanade Hotel St. Kilda. He is reported as having captained a River Murray steamer. He married Mary Ann (died 1920) Carlyon descendants were prominent in Melbourne business circles. W. J. Carlyon was captain of "Freetrader" 1888 (though not aboard) when she sank irretrievably in 1914 and from around 1910 was licensee of the Bridge Hotel, Moama. This may be the same person identified as W. S. Carlyon above. Cramsie, Bowden and Co.. Merchants and steamboat owners, with branches at  Echuca, Hay, Balranald, and Wilcannia. They purchased their Wilcannia store in 1877. John Cramsie (c. 1831 – 18 February 1910) ran businesses in Balranald: Sparkes and Cramsie (−1860) with Thomas Harrison Sparkes then Cramsie, Bowden and Co. from 1876. He was M.L.A. for Balranald in the N.S.W. parliament 1880–1887. A son, William A. Cramsie maintained a correspondence with Captain James Dickson. John Clark Bowden (c. 1845 – 7 April 1924) was partner for a time, then with his son ran a hardware business specialising in aluminium goods. He was, as "J. B. Clark" leader of a successful racehorse syndicate and was an  outspoken critic of the Victoria Racing Club. Cremer. Edward Daniel Cremer (c. 1817 – c. 5 February 1892) of Goolwa "a most fearless seaman" skippered the cutters or schooners "Unity" 1866–1874 and "Water Lily" 1874–1876 but occasionally took on river steamers: "Maranoa" 1873; "Enterprise" 1877. He married Mary Driscoll (c. 1830 – 5 March 1900). Curson. George Frederick Curson (c. 1822 – 1 April 1898) of Goolwa was partner in engineering firm Hooker & Curson, then manager, Goolwa Ironworks and Patent Slip. The steamer "Cato" was built for him and partner Joseph Nash (see below). George married Jane (c. 1827 – 5 February 1866), then  Sarah (1827 – 22 January 1901), whose sister Eliza (c. 1840 – 2 August 1892) was married to Joseph Nash. His daughter Jane married Joseph, son of S. Shetliff, in 1874. Davies. William J. "Commodore" "Bill" Davies (c. 1830 – 15 April 1903), born in Liverpool, skipper and part-owner (as Johnson, Davies and Co. then Davies and Locke, finally Wm. Davies and Son) of "Pride of the Murray" 1865–1877 and "Nile" 1885– . He also skippered "Kelpie", "Trafalgar" 1877. He was partner with George Dorward in the firm of Dorward and Davies c. (1875–1884). He married (1) Annie (c. 1831 – 8 July 1875 ) in 1856, and (2) Teresa (Tassie) Helena Smith in 1878. Tussle over W. J. Davies' will Dorward. George Johnston Dorward (c. 1831 – 9 March 1906) was born in Fifeshire and sailed to Melbourne as second mate on the "Beemah" in 1855. He accompanied Francis Cadell on his first voyage down the river from Albury, charting the river. He was on the "Lady Darling" when she first reached Echuca. He was on the "Albury" when it first reached the town of Albury. In the summer months he and Cadell were occupied in removing snags from the river. Lived at "Rosebank", Moama . He was a partner with William Davies in the firm Dorward & Davies (c. 1875–1884). He was later involved in wheat, sheep and cattle growing. He married Ann Haxton (c. 1832 – 24 August 1910) in Scotland before emigrating; they lived in Moama; he died in Toorak, Victoria, leaving a considerable estate; his will was for a time contested by eldest son G. R. Dorward jun. Dowland. Thomas Dowland (c. 1833 – 27 March 1887) was a carpenter builder and undertaker who arrived in Australia in 1848 and resided in Goolwa from about 1860. He operated the steamer "Express" 1869–1870, which with her  barge was sold to satisfy creditors after he was declared insolvent, and he returned to the building trade. He was married to Elizabeth (c. 1833 – 27 March 1887) and died at the Murray Bridge home of his daughter Milveena Woodard (1859–1935). He was mayor of Goolwa 1888. His son Frederick Archibald Dowland was mayor of Goolwa in 1898; left Goolwa for Fremantle mid-term, was later a warehouse manager in Singapore. Egge. John Egge "The White Chinaman" (Mudie p. 99) was originally Chinese, being born in Shanghai, and was picked up in Canton by Francis Cadell to work on his  ship "Queen of Sheba". He assumed a Scandinavian surname (which should be pronounced as two syllables) and settled in Australia in 1852, farming on Hindmarsh Island, and became a successful trader and shipowner stationed at Wentworth. Despite his long residence and marriage to a British subject he was subjected in 1877 to a poll tax (under South Australia's Chinese Regulation Bill). Despite popular outrage (hundreds contributed to pay his fines) and support from both of Adelaide's newspapers, this was never reimbursed. Another celebrated victim of a similar law, but in New South Wales, was Way Lee. John's  son Edwin David "Ned" or "Ted" Egge (1869 –) held a river captain's certificate and was later a barber and businessman in Renmark. Foord. John Foord (c. 1820 – 15 February 1883) "The Emperor of Wahgunyah", owner of several flour mills, built the steamers "Wahgunyah" and "Waradgery". He owned "Foord's Punt", which provided communication between Wahgunyah and Corowa on opposite sides of the Murray. His son Fred Foord (c. 1840 – December 1878) skippered "Wahgunyah" 1866–1868; "Waradgery" 1868–1872; "Lady Augusta" 1870; then "Jane Eliza" 1872, but after several reverses, culminating in the "Jane Eliza" colliding with the Wahgunyah bridge, Fred ended  up almost penniless and when he died was working as mate on the "Victoria" at Pooncarrie on the River Darling. Francis. Albert "Bert" Francis (16 August 1874 – 21 September 1913) was born at Gumeracha and on leaving school settled at Mannum, where he became a boat engineer. He built the steamer "Alpha" in 1898 and traded on the Upper Murray between Morgan and Renmark. In 1902 he settled at Waikerie, where he bought land for fruit-growing. He later built the trading steamers "Royal" and "Waikerie" (the latter of which he was part-owner with Captain William Tinks). He was  a successful real-estate developer, largely responsible for the township of Waikerie. In 1896 he married Amelia Clara Bertha Strempel (1874–1972) of Mannum. Fuller. Benjamin Grove Fuller (1815 – 9 June 1902) was owner of "Paringa" and partner in the firm of Tonkin, Fuller & Martin. He married (1) Jane Assels (1810 – 11 December 1871) around 1844, with whom he had several children, including Benjamin Mark Fuller (1846–) and Charlotte (c. 1836 – 18 November 1874) who married Absalom Tonkin (see below) in 1855. (2) Elizabeth Ann Pearce (1850 – 3 April 1932) in 1874; they had six children. They lived at Swanport until  around 1879, Milang until about 1885 then Morgan. Benjamin Mark Fuller (1846 – 20 September 1912) captained "Duke of Edinburgh" 1868–1874, "Vesta" 1870, "Moolgewanke" 1874–1876, "Waradgery" 1878, "Paringa" 1883, "Princess Royal" 1891. He was captain and part owner (with Absalom Tonkin) of the "Moolgewanke" when her boiler burst, killing two men (for which he was held partly responsible), and a year later when her barge sank. He operated as a trader on the Murray with the "Britannia" and "Paringa" until 1891, when he opened a store, perhaps in Renmark or Morgan. Around 1895 he moved to Western Australia, where he worked  for Millar's Jarrah and Timber Company. He married Mary Rowe Lean (1845 ) in 1865. Their daughter Laura married E. H. Golding of Gol Gol in 1892. Grundy. George Grundy (c. 1818 – 4 July 1902), originally from Cockenzie, Scotland, Scotland was member of crew of "Murray" in 1866 which sailed to Australia with Capt. Berry for George B. Johnston. He was father of: Hogg. Hilary Harding "Paddy" Hogg (18 July 1913 – ) born at St. Kilda, Victoria, was raised in Echuca by his aunt and uncle Capt. Charles Anderson. He had an engineering workshop in Echuca and was involved in petty  crime in 1930, opened a timber mill 1938, then a radio and electrical shop. He gained dual qualifications as ship's engineer and riverboat captain; skippered "Alexander Arbuthnot" in 1942, then "Hero", when he ran foul of the fisheries laws. He enlisted with the AIF as engineer with the 12th Small Ships Company, and was court-martialed on 25 June 1946. He sold up his electrical goods store early in 1948. Appointed master of "Murrumbidgee" 1947, he was captain of this vessel when his 6-week-old son Lawrence Hilary died 1948; the coroner could find no cause of death . A month later, on 29 November 1948, the "Murrumbidgee" burnt to the waterline while Hogg was skipper; his conduct during this emergency was praised. He was appointed first master of the "Murrumbidgee II", soon after renamed "Coonawarra". He was involved in the 1953 restoration of the paddle steamer "Canberra". He was cited as co-respondent in the 1954 divorce of Neil Dryburgh Wallace and Pearl Royal Wallace (née Collins). He and his wife had four children: Beverley, Patricia, William and Mavis. Hunt. Charles Frederick "Charley" Hunt (1852 – 3 April 1941), was owner of "Invincible" (which he bought from McCulloch, and  rebuilt 1889) 1887–1917 and her (or their) skipper 1887–1892. He bought the "Freetrader" wreck, salvaged her machinery and copper sheathing and left the hulk where she lay, but was later called on to clear away her derelict hull, thus losing on the speculation. In 1918 he retired to St. Kilda, Victoria. He was married to Agnes Mary (died 20 October 1947). Johnstone. Adam Johnstone was a member of Hew Cadell's "Lady Emma" crew from Cockenzie that brought the "Gundagai" and "Albury" in sections to Port Elliot and built them at Goolwa. Worked as mate on "Menindie", "Saddler" and "Shannon  for S. Heseltine. Lived at Woodlands", Murray Bridge, married Mary Ann Dalcam (c. May 1847 – 17 December 1932), and had five sons and seven daughters. Mary Ann married again, to John Thomas Medwell in 1911. Mrs. A. L. Hawke (née Johnstone, born c. 1869, second daughter of Adam) identifies George Johnston (though spelled Johnstone) as Adam's cousin and Tom Johnstone, owner of the "Jolly Miller" as his brother. "Tom" Johnstone, a tall strong man, was a member of the "Lady Emma" crew which in 1855 brought out the "Albury" and "Gundagai" in sections for Captain Cadell. He returned to  England then came out to Port Elliot on the brig "Harry". He worked as mate with his cousin George B. Johnston. (Mudie p. 145)He was partner in Johnston & Murphy; he died at Kallara on board the "Jolly Miller". Kay. Robert Kay was a mate on the brig "Halifax" (owned by Francis Cadell's father Hew), and skippered the paddle steamer "Lioness", rigged as a schooner, from Liverpool to Melbourne, arriving in 1853. His crew was George Johnston, Thomas Johnston, John Barclay, John McDonald, William Barber, John Ritchie, all from Cockenzie. The "Lioness", though intended for the Murray, was sold in  Melbourne without reaching the river. He captained the brig "Lady Emma" directly from the Clyde to Port Elliot arriving in 1855 carrying the "Gundagai" and "Albury" in sections. His crew included Adam Johnstone, George Johnston, Thomas Johnston, John Barclay and John McDonald. James Barclay accompanied the wives of these last four when they emigrated in the "Planter" arriving January 1858. A. T. Saunders appears to give the crew of "Lady Emma" as: Robert Kay (master); Robert Ross (mate); George Gibson (engineer); Avery (cook); George Johnston, James Ritchie, John Barclay, and William Barber (crew). King. Hugh "Hughie" King (11 January 1840  – 7 October 1921) captained "Ruby" 1860; "Lady Augusta" 1861; "Gundagai" 1862–1865; "Lady Darling" 1864; "Moira" 1865–1869; "Teviot" 1868, 1870; "Moira" 1869; "Jupiter" 1869–1874; "Princess Royal" 1870–1873; "J.H.P." 1872; "Corowa" 1897; "Jane Eliza" 1875, 1878; "Gem" 1890–1908. He owned or part-owned the "Teviot", "Ellen", "Moira" 1865–, "Princess Royal", "Jupiter", "Jane Eliza" (with which he once towed three barges from Bourke), "Gem" (which he lengthened by 40 feet) "J. H. P." 1872– and "Ruby". The Gem Line, of which he was a principal, also ran the "Corowa", "Marion" and the second "Ruby". The partnership with George Chaffey as "H. King and  Co." was taken over by Chaffey in 1897. Rivalry between King with "Gem" and Cantwell with "Trafalgar" created considerable interest. He married Isabel McKenzie (died 1888). They had four sons, two of whom outlived him. He married again, to Frances Judd on 26 August 1891 and retired to Morgan. Hugh King Drive, which runs alongside the River Murray at Mildura, may have been named for him, as was King's Row, a block of five houses in Morgan. George King captained "Pilot" (which he owned) 1915–1917 M. King was proprietor of Globe Hotel, Crossenvale (1 km south of Echuca); he  owned "Riverina" until 1887, when he sold her to David Bower. Which King had "Mannum" 1901? Knox and Downs. Knox and Downs Ltd. took over Federal Stores, Wilcannia, in 1912. The company lost 500 tons of supplies valued at between £3000 and £4000 in a fire on barges "Nonpareil" and "Cobar" that same year, which may have prompted them to purchase steamer "Alfred" and barge "Uranus". They were implicated, by failure to maintain "Alfred" properly, in the death of crewman Charles James Thorn in 1917 They opened a store at Menindee in 1920. Kruse. Carl Heindrich Ferdinand Kruse  (25 May 1823 – 27 June 1911) captained the schooner "Ponkaree" and later a three-masted schooner for T. R. Bowman, named "Ada and Clara" for Bowman's daughters, and used on Lake Albert. (It was later motorised and as a mail steamer operated between Milang, Narrung and Meningie. In 1939 it was renamed "Showboat", based at Renmark.) He is reported as captain of "Little Wonder" 1880, but it is quite likely to be a typographical error for "Krause". subject of NLA photo mislabeled F. H. C. Kruse married Mary Rony (c. March 1830 – 21 May 1891) Laing. Thomas Laing ( – ) was  the youngest son of James Laing sen. He was skipper of "Rob Roy" 1876 and "Agnes" 1879 (also engineer and part-owner of "Agnes" 1877–1880 and barge "Rabbie Burns" from before 1877). He was accused in 1878 of tampering with steam safety valves. Thomas Laing and Company was taken over by principals James Randell and David Luttet in 1880. He found employment with Robinson Bros., implement makers of Melbourne. He invented a harvester which performed well in trials around 1888. He married (Alvina) Janet Wark (c. 1857 – 31 October 1884) around 1878; the marriage was unstable; they separated 1884 and  she died in Melbourne the same year. He married Harriett Burke in 1885; she died four years later. Luth. Henry Luth (c. 1837 – c. 18 July 1883) was a sawmiller of Echuca; partner with Samuel Riddell as "Luth & Riddell" which took over the Phoenix Steam Sawmills in 1875, and soon dissolved amid recriminations; he continued as sole trader. He was owner of "Moira" 1875– Luth was mayor of Echuca 1877–1878. He was married to Rose O'Neill Luth (c. 1840 – 16 June 1874). He married again, to Catherine "Kate" O'Hara (c. 1863 – 10 February 1889) in 1878. He drowned at Echuca  after finalisation of his insolvency. He was insured for £1000, which was claimed by both his erstwhile creditors and the beneficiaries of his Will. The resulting court cases were complex and extensive. Luth Street, Echuca may be named for him. McCoy. Alexander McCoy (c. 1822 – 29 September 1895), originally from Portsmouth, was captain of sailing ship "Gem", then captained steamers "Leichardt" 1856–1858 and her sister ship "Sturt" 1856–1858. He sailed the "Leichardt" to Batavia 1859, for use as river transport for troops at Bangor Massam, Borneo during the Banjarmasin War. He brought the "Settler" through the Murray mouth 1861 , then captained the "Maid of the Yarra" in the Spencer Gulf. He was instrumental in founding the Adelaide Steamship Company. Alexander McCoy married Margaret (c. 1826 – 8 July 1861). He married again, to Annie Sanderson, whose brother was Francis J. Sanderson of H.M.Customs, in 1862; they had a home in Alberton, then Molesworth Street, North Adelaide. He may have been a brother-in law of Captain Davidson. McCulloch and Co.. Founded by William McCulloch (22 October 1832 – 4 April 1909), Wm.McCulloch and Co., Pty. Ltd. of Melbourne, ran the largest transport business on the Murray system between the years  1876 and 1886. Among the vessels they owned or operated were steamers "Alert", "Burrabogie", "Corrong", "Ethel Jackson", "Freetrader", "Invincible", "Lady Daly", "Little Wonder", "Murrumbidgee", "Pioneer", "Princess", "Saddler" and "Victoria"; and barges "Advance", "Alice", "Berder Chief", "Canally", "Darling", "Federation", "Gwydir", "Horace", "Jessie", "Namoi", "Pelican", "Pimpampa", "Sarah Jane", "Shamrock", "Swallow" and "Willandra". They began divesting their Murray properties around 1885 to small operators such as John Egge and Charley Hunt. The business was taken over by Cramsie, Bowden and Co., which was in turn taken over by Permewan, Wright and Co. Matulick. Alexander Ferdinand "Fred" Matulick (July 1856 – 24 June 1937) was  a boat builder and owner born in Port Elliot the son of a shipwright, worked in Goolwa, building steamers "Napier" 1874, "Shannon" 1877, "Victor" 1877 and "Shamrock" 1884 and barge "Laurel"; arrived in Renmark in 1887, where he built the wooden bridge across the creek at Renmark Ave. (completed around 1892) and as partner in Matulick and Oliver ran a stone quarry, then Morgan, where he built "Pyap" 1897 and "Ruby" 1908(?). He and brother Francis Joseph "Frank" Matulick (c. 1859 – 30 August 1939) built homes and offices: "Olivewood" for Charles Chaffey and residence for Colonel Morant. His firm A.  F. Matulick and Co. became Matulick & Jones around 1910. He married Ann Harper of Meadows around 1878. Maultby. Joseph Touchstone Maultby (c. 1833 – 10 March 1915) was born in Ireland and came to Echuca from Canada, where he had worked on river steamers. In 1868 he opened a store in North Wagga Wagga, and began trading up and down the river in the steamer "Enterprise" in 1871, opening a store at Narrandera around the same time. He commissioned, owned and skippered "Hero" 1874–1890; then sold up to run a store in Yarrawonga, Victoria. He died in a Melbourne private hospital ; his wife Elizabeth died later the same day. Frederick William Maultby (c. 1856 – 26 September 1932) captained "Pearl" in 1883. Possibly unrelated, though both originally from Ireland. He was a son of Henry Warner Maultby of Cork, and married Emma Warren Collings (c. 1862 – 30 November 1945) in 1885. Mennie. Henry Horn Mennie was a deep-water sailor from Devonshire who was captain of the schooner "Josephine L'Oizeau" (owned by the River Murray Navigation Company!), when she was wrecked at Port Elliot on 10 July 1856, but with no loss of life; Mennie and the harbour master Nation were highly  praised for their conduct and Mennie was absolved of any blame. (The River Murray Navigation Company's new iron barge "Goulburn", being towed by steamer "Melbourne" from Port Adelaide, was lost off Cape Jervis in the same storm with the loss of several lives.) He then captained the Murray steamer "Gundagai" for the 1856 season. He returned to the sea, in charge of the schooner "James Gibson" which was wrecked on an uncharted reef off the island of Rodriguez on 20 January 1858 on his way from Adelaide to Mauritius; again he was praised for his efforts and exonerated. He  was granted the publican's licence for the Sportsman's Arms, Rockhampton, Queensland in 1864. Mumby. George Humble Mumby married Eliza Mann on 12 October 1876. It is possible he was master of "Alfred" at some stage but evidence is lacking. His son (George) Michael Mumby (13 September 1880 – 22 February 1944) was master of "Rob Roy" 1913, and the "Alfred" May 1917 when she sank, killing crewman Charles James Thorn. He and mate Job Eastwood were charged with manslaughter but acquitted. A widower, he enlisted September 1917, served during World War I in the Tunnelling Corps of the Australian  Army. He married again, to Frances Hooton (née Hooper) in 1919 and took up a farm at Curlwaa, New South Wales. He enlisted with the Citizens' Military Forces and served as a Private during World War II, during which service he accidentally drowned. Murray and Jackson. Proponents of stern-wheelers, these two Americans built the "Settler" 1861, "Lady Daly" 1862 and "Lady Darling" 1864 from selected Oregon pine. and ran an extensive shipping agency operating on the Murray, the east coast of Australia and to New Zealand. They later also owned "Corowa", "Culgoa" and "Francis Cadell". A. L. Blake was  a close associate. Their partnership was dissolved in 1869. Alexander Sinclair Murray (26 November 1827 – 26 November 1914) was born in Scotland and before coming to Australia was owner of the paddle steamer Washington, which plied on the Sacramento River, California. He skippered "Settler" 1861, 1862, and later ran excursion trips on the Hawkesbury River in his steamboat "General Gordon". Peleg Whitford Jackson (c. 1834 – 24 April 1912), born in Addison, Vermont, after coming to Australia was involved in the firms Victorian Coach Company, and the South Australian branch of Cobb & Co before his partnership with A. S. Murray. He  skippered "Settler" 1862, 1863 and "Lady Daly" 1865. He was declared bankrupt 1870. He was at one time married to a Margaret Greig. He married Anna Chambers (9 December 1845 – 2 October 1907), daughter of pastoralist James Chambers in 1869. They lived variously in Albury, New South Wales, Charleville, Queensland, Beechworth, Victoria and Brighton, Victoria and had six children. Murray Shipping Ltd.. A South Australian company with registered office in Steamship Buildings, Adelaide, and headquarters at Morgan, formed in June 1919 by combining the river interests (only) of Permewan Wright, and Gem Navigation Co., J. G. Arnold's fleet from  Mannum, Knox and Downs from Wilcannia and A. H. Landseer. The fleet included the "Invincible", "Ulonga", "Marion", "Gem", "Ada", "Vega", "Colonel", "Oscar W.", "Pevensey" and "Australien", all of which were based in Echuca. F. O. Wallin joined the consortium in 1932. The company ceased trading in 1952 and was wound up in 1954. Payne. Frederick Payne (c. 1833 – 22 February 1911) came to Australia from England, lived in Echuca from around 1856 and from around 1859 worked as an auctioneer and commission agent. He was active there until 1882 (including a stint as mayor in 1866). He owned "Resolute" −1879 , "Invincible" 1877–1879; "Express" 1878; "Riverina", "Undaunted", "Lady of the Lake" 1880– ; and "Maude" and the barge "Confidence". He skippered "Lady of the Lake" 1884, 1887, 1896–1898. He married twice: to Marianne (or Mariane) Louise Boxall (c. 1839 – 8 October 1873) on 17 June 1862; then to Alice Boxall ( – ) on 24 December 1874. Two sons were involved in Murray trade: Randell. William Beavis Randell, flour miller of Gumeracha, South Australia married Mary Ann Elliott Beare (1799–1874) on 17 April 1823. Among their children were: Ernest W. "Ern" Randell, perhaps an American, (Mudie p. 217) skippered "Endeavour", "Undaunted", "Wanera" 1953 Rich. Edward  Rich (c. 1844 – c. 15 September 1912) was founder and managing director of E. Rich & Co, shipping agents of Brewarrina (founded 1872), then Bourke (c. 1887) and Wilcannia. They sold their fleet consisting of steamers "Brewarrina", "Cato", "Excelsior", "Lancashire Lass", "Maude", "Mundoo", "Pilot" and "Rob Roy" and the barges "Albemarle", "Alice", "Border Chief", "Emily", "Rabbie Burns", "Swan", "Trader", and "Victory" to Permewan, Wright & Co. of Victoria in 1907. Earlier vessels they owned or represented include steamers "Elfie", "Florence Annie", "Lady of the Lake", "Moira", "Pioneer", "Rothbury", and "Victoria" and barges "Bantam", "Cobar", "Cutty Sark", "Duck", "Ferrett" (sic in 1896 advt .), "Golconda", "Howlong", "McIntyre", "Paragon", "Shamrock" and "Walgett". The company later became Hales Ltd. Ritchie. James Ritchie (1832 – 23 April 1881) of Goolwa was a member of first "Lady Augusta" crew. He owned "Pioneer" with J. H. Brown, then on his own. He skippered "Jolly Miller" 1868. He married Alison Johnstone (12 August 1829 – 20 February 1913). Three, perhaps four sons were captains of river boats: Westergaard. (Frederick) William Westergaard (c. 1840 – 20 November 1923) was shipwright at Echuca with G. B. Air to 1884, then with David W. Milne. He left in 1886 and with his son James managed the  dry dock at Mannum, then in 1902 moved to Fremantle, Western Australia. He was married to Ann. Peter Andreas Ammentorp Westergaard (28 December 1854 – 17 January 1919), born in Odense, skippered "Kingfisher" 1882, "Barwon" 1887–1893, "Goldsbrough" 1884–1886, "Nile" 1891, "Wm. Davies" 1895–1902. He was later Echuca manager of Permewan, Wright and Co. He married Janet Reid (1857–1939) lived at Echuca.