P.B. Coonawarra

Murray River Paddle-Boat

The P.B. Coonawarra began life as a barge in Echuca operated by J.L. Roberts and eventually fell into disrepair and was all but abandoned on the banks of the Murray River.

When the P.B. Murrumbidgee, owned and operated by Murray Valley Coaches as a tourist boat, was destroyed by fire whilst on a cruise the company retained Captain H.H. (Paddy) Hogg to find a suitable replacement boat, or a hull upon which a new passenger boat could be built. in 1949 Hogg identified the J.L. Roberts barge in Echuca and with shipwright Charlie Felshaw set about building the Coonawarra on the barge. Many parts for the 'new' Coonawarra were salvaged from other boats including paddlewheels from P.S. Excelsior, steering wheel from the Murrabit and various parts from the Murrumbidgee. When work was complete the newly commissioned P.B. Coonawarra with Captain Hogg as the helm accepted it's first passengers on October 12th 1950.

The Coonawarra was eventually sold to business interests in South Australia before returning to Mildura in Victoria where it is currently located.