The propeller driven screw steamer, SS ‘Omeo’ traversed Gippsland’s lakes and rivers, as a passenger steamer – her build date unverified but estimated in the early 1880’s . . . By the time the Swing Bridge, Sale Canal and the Port of Sale had been completed in the late 1800’s, she was considered one of the older steamers, however, she still ran regular passengers services along the Latrobe and Thomson Rivers.
At a time when the Latrobe Wharf and the Swan Hotel were regular stop off points for the steamers, patrons would excitedly discuss the future of the steamers over a few pints of beer . . .
” . . . While standing at the bar or sitting down at their tables inside the Swan hotel, the men folk began to slosh down more spirits and beer while they talked about their Bairnsdale Rival the J.C.D. Steamer who was taking over as a huge passenger ship and taking some of their light cargo from the other steamers that ran along the Latrobe landing as she operated between Bairnsdale and Lake Entrance.
At this point Captain James Bull of the Tanjil said “Where lucky to have a River trade at all around here with so much of the Cargo going in out and off the Latrobe Wharf and the Tourist trade booming with regular passengers on board the SS. Dargo and the SS. Omeo . . . “
” . . . The Tanjil in command of Captain Bull became a favourite Paddle Steamer on the Latrobe run to the Port Of Sale and back again.
People waited for her, her tall good looking skipper in his gold laced uniform was one of the outstanding captains in the river trade.
Running against them was The J.C.D. and further on another steamer built for passengers, the SS Gippsland run by Captain Oscar Lindeman, entered the tourist trade and carried a multitude of passengers to the Gippsland lakes.
On the Rivers these screw steamers ran a few trips every day, mostly the older steamers like the Omeo and the Dargo did the passenger runs around the Latrobe River and the Thompson River and up passed the Swing Bridge . . . “
Source: Excerpts – ‘The Way of the Two Rivers’ – by Eve Contencin
View other important events in the history of Gippsland’s Steamers . . .
