P.S. Oscar 'W'

Echuca Paddlesteamer

The P.S. Oscar 'W' was built in Echuca, Victoria, in 1908, by the owner - builder Francis 'Charlie' Wallin. The boat was named after his son OSCAR. The OSCAR 'W' is 103' 5" in length, has a beam of 20' 7" and a draught of 2'3" - 5'1" and weighs 83 ton (gross), 59 ton (net).

The hull is a composite construction, steel topside's and 3" red gum below. Powered by a 16 HP, wood burning, 2 cylinder Marshall steam engine. The PS OSCAR 'W' operated the first few years of her life from the Port of Echuca carrying freight along the Edward and Wakool Rivers and up the Murrumbidgee as far as Balranald.

In 1914 Charlie Wallin sold the PS OSCAR 'W' to Permewan Wright and Co and for the next 5 years carried wool for the Riverina wool trade. In 1919 the PS OSCAR 'W' again changed hands, this time to Murray Shipping Ltd and hauled wool and general cargo on the Darling River. The PS OSCAR 'W' was also used as a supply and equipment vessel for the building of the locks and Goolwa Barrages.

In 1942 the PS OSCAR 'W' was sold to George Ritchie of Goolwa and again in 1943 to Perce Richards, R. Knox and Captain Tommy Goode, also of Goolwa, war restrictions forced the sale again this time in 1943 to the S. A. Highways and Local Government Department, the PS OSCAR 'W' was used for routine ferry maintenance work and based at Morgan, she was well suited to this type of work due to the powerful steam plant on board, in 1945 the Department decided to convert the OSCAR's boiler from wood to oil burning, in 1959 the PS OSCAR 'W' was replaced by the Tug, 'Nalta Yuki'. which is still operating.

In 1960 Captain Paddy Hogg purchased the PS OSCAR 'W' and took her to Mildura for tourist day trips, in 1962 the PS OSCAR 'W' towed the PS GEM from Mildura to Swan Hill on a falling River and was unable to return to her home Port, so she continued to Echuca and remained there for 9 months.

In 1964 the PS OSCAR 'W' was sold to Allan Moritz of Murray Bridge, he restored the PS OSCAR 'W' back to a wood burner, Allan died in 1984 and in 1985 the S.A. Department of Tourism bought the PS OSCAR 'W'.

In 1987 repair work was carried out on the slip at Murray Bridge to make the hull watertight, replacing some of the red gum planks, caulking and fitting new steel frame works and on March 30th 1988 the paddlewheels turned once again after 10 years and the PS OSCAR 'W' steamed down to Goolwa where work on the superstructure was completed and on the 1st July 1988 the PS OSCAR 'W' was recommissioned.

The Oscar W holds the record for the largest load of wool carried from the River Darling. Between 1943 and 1959 the Oscar W was used for ferry maintenance from a base at Morgan.In 1962 the Oscar W towed the PS Gem to Swan Hill where it was to be part of the Pioneer Settlement complex. Six months of the trip was spent stranded by low River levels.

In February 2001 the Alexandrina Council took over ownership of the PS OSCAR 'W'. The PS OSCAR 'W'