Excerpt of Article “Gippsland Shipping” published in the Gippsland Times – 16 Dec 1948
The SS ‘Ariel’ was amongst the first of the locally built screw steamers, being built in 1875. The hull was constructed by the Danish born Sylvia Erikson, who was to become a renowned Gippsland shipbuilder, in his Bairnsdale backyard.
Once the hull had been completed, she was then transported by Mr King, via special wagon and horse team, to the Mitchell River, where she was launched. Once launched she was towed to the East Bairnsdale slipway and shipyard, opposite the Upper Wharf, for the installation of her boiler and engine.
The SS ‘Ariel’ being piloted by Capt James Bull with Allen Anderson as Engineer
The SS ‘Ariel’ was a small screw tug mainly stationed at Lakes Entrance. She was a very elegant yacht-like steamer in design and had been described as ” . . . almost too much of a lady to be a tug . . .” As a tug, her job was to tow ketches and schooners that relied only upon sails, over the bar at The Entrance to Gippsland lakes and rivers as well as runs to Bairnsdale.
Prior to her career as a tug, she serviced the early run between the townships of Sale and Bairnsdale.
View other important events in the history of Gippsland’s Steamers . . .
