The propeller driven screw steamer SS ‘Dargo’ was built in Sydney specifically for the Gippsland Lakes trade in 1883.
By this same year the steamers SS ‘Tanjil’, SS ‘Dargo’ and SS ‘Bairnsdale’ were maintaining a regular service – transporting people and cargo from Sale to Lakes Entrance, via Paynesville.
The steamer trade was growing rapidly. The year 1885 saw the steamers SS ‘Omeo’ and SS ‘Dargo’ traversing the Sale to Bairnsdale run. The SS ‘Tanjil’ would connect at Paynesville for the Tambo River run to Mossiface. The SS ‘Bogong’ maintained the service to Lakes Entrance..
The SS ‘Dargo’ remained in regular service for some 55 years.
From 1938 she was transformed into a showboat, then a houseboat and finally a floating restaurant.
Sadly, she was destroyed by fire in 1955.
View other important events in the history of Gippsland’s Steamers . . .