The paddle steamer PS ‘Burrabogie’ was built sometime prior to 1874. Originating in Echuca, she serviced the Murray River trade from 1874 to 1885 at which time she was sold and transported to the Gippsland Lakes. She was renamed PS “Burrabogie” c 1889.
The PS ‘Burrabogie” was fitted with a long hurricane deck together and cabins. She weighed in at 80-95 tonnes; being 110 ft (33.5 m) long and 16 ft 6 (5 m) wide.
An excerpt from Riverine Grazier on the 3rd November 1880, below, announces her arrival:
The PS ‘Burrabogie’ was relocated to the Gippsland Lakes following her purchase by ‘James McCulloch & Co.’ in 1885.
An excerpt in the article “Gippsland Shipping” published in the Gippsland Times on the 16th December 1948, reported:
” . . . In the year 1885 the steamers Omeo, Dargo, Tanjil and Bogong were busily engaged in the Sale-Bairnsdale service. The Omeo and Dargo were running to Bairnsdale with the Tanjil connecting at Paynesvill for the Tambo River to Mossiface, and the Bogong maintaining a service to Lakes Entrance from Paynesville. During this same year the Lakes Navigation Company was faced with very serious opposition by the McCulloch Company’s steamers, Ethel Jackson and Burrabogie, which in those days, were two very substantial paddle steamers which had been brought round from the Murray River. However, for various reasons, they were not very successful in competing against the Sale company’s vessels. . . “
Soon after, the PS ‘Burrabogie’ was purchased by Derham & Bull who transformed her into a floating hotel designed to lavish the tourists with the wonders of Gippsland’s lakes and rivers. The experience of the PS ‘Burrabogie’ to its patrons traversing the lakes in early 1887, can best be described by the following article:
Following the catastrophic decline of the land boom, Derham disappeared leaving the debt and doubtful ownership of the PS ‘Burrabogie’ to his partner, Captain Bull.
Captain Bull sold the PS ‘Burrabogie’ to Mr. Munro, the owner of the Tambo Saw Mills at the time, who proceeded to remove the engines and use them in the new saw mill at Maringa Creek, near Kalimna.
The PS ‘Burrabogie’ was used as a timber barge for a few years, until she was converted to a screw steamer at the Johnsonville shipyard.
A Summary of the Owners of the PS ‘Burrabogie’:
- Hay Steam Navigation Co. 1874 to 1878
- McCulloch & Co. 1879 to 1885
- James McCulloch & Co. 1885 to 1886
- Derham & Bull 1886 to :
- Mr Munro
View other important events in the history of Gippsland’s Steamers . . .
