Source to Sea the Story of the Murray Riverboats

Source to Sea – the Story of the Murray Riverboats

This entertaining, historically significant and informative DVD Source to Sea – the Story of the Murray Riverboats tells the story of Australia’s Riverboats. It was launched at the National Museum of Australia (NMA) in Canberra in 2003 and was shown as part of the NMA’s public program. The launch coincided with the 150th anniversary of the start of the Murray River trade in 1853.

It’s a story about passion and love - passion for old paddle steamers and love of a river. The producers were extremely fortunate to gain access to private archival footage from the Robinson family at Chowilla Station and historic photographs from the Rod Williams Collection at the Mannum Heritage Centre. The documentary celebrates the unique and largely untold story of the Murray paddle steamers.

Australia has more original, wooden, steam-powered paddle steamers than anywhere else in the world. The last time they gathered in large numbers was for the Centenary of Federation’s Source to Sea celebrations in 2001.

Documentary makers Ian Doyle and Paul Williams followed the flotilla and produced Source to Sea – the Story of the Murray Riverboats.

The documentary brings to life the remarkable history of a number of the old paddle steamers and shows the dedication of an increasing number of 'passionately mad' wooden boat restorers who are refloating and restoring sunken treasures along the Murray.

The documentary includes the story of steam; the hard work, the humour and the romance of the river trade in the late 1800's when several hundred paddle steamers and barges opened up much of inland Australia along the Murray, Darling and Murrumbidgee Rivers.

Part proceeds from the sale of the documentary are in support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

For more information www.paddlesteamerDVD.com