MV Perth
Encyclopedia
MV Perth is the oldest wooden boat in Western Australia
. Currently owned by Perth Boat School she is presently being completely renovated as a community project, assisted by a number of voluntary organisations and companies.
The vessel was designed and built in the early 1900s by A.E. Brown and launched in 1914.
1914 - Originally a steamship, S.S.Perth was launched and operated a ferry service between Barrack Street
and Mends Street
.
Double ender, with twin steering stations, twin props, so it didn't need to turn, the driver just walked to the other end as both ends are identical.
Originally powered by two coal fired burners operating at 120psi built by McKie and Baxter of Glasgow
.
1950 - With the road across the narrows becoming preferred transport across the river, the ferry became an excursion boat.
1970 - The steam engine was removed and went into the Maritime Museum
, replaced by a Kelvin t^ diesel, also from Glasgow.
1982 - Taken out of service.
1986 - Refurbished to be used for river transport during the Americas Cup defence.
1998 - Rebuilt by Ozco at Swan Dock, Fremantle
. Hull was Dynel
sheathed (fibreglassed) and the superstructure was also glassed. The vessel was used as a party boat.
White pickets were added to the outside decks to make it look like the American paddle vessels.
At some stage it became known as the Riverboat Gambler, as it ran gambling nights on the Swan River
.
2007 - Purchased by the WA Steamship Company and returned to sit on a mooring, then moved to sit in a pen at Jervoise Bay, Henderson
.
2009 - Purchased by the current owners, Perth Boat School. Leaks repaired, water pump repaired, fuel pump on Lister replaced, electrics repaired, entire fore and stern decks completely stripped, filled, overhauled and revarnished. Community Restoration Project, sponsored by many companies and voluntary organisations.
2010 - Renovations severely restricted when (without any consultation) Landcorp blocked all vehicular access to the vessel by putting huge boulders in the road a few hundred metres from the vessel. Landcorp allowed pedestrian access thus allowing vandals and thieves access to the vessel, also gave fishermen access to it so they could walk to it, get on it and damage it, however prevented tradesmen, repair personnel, security patrols or police etc from getting easy access to it so that the renovations and preservation work could continue. Vessel had windows smashed, was broken into and had tools and repair gear stolen, pressure pump etc, all stolen.
2011 - WA Government Department charged in excess of $4000 for the derelict, unserviced inaccesable, insecure, unpowered location. Appeals to the Minister to intervene have been unanswered.
Beam
: 6.1m
Hull Material: Oregon / Jarrah
Superstructure
: Nyatoh
Gross Tonnage: 320t
Engines: 1 x 180 hp Kelvin T6 Diesel
Propulsion: Twin Screw, one in each direction
Max Speed: 6 knots (11.8 km/h)
Generators: 1 x 50kva 3 phase Lister
Fuel Capacity: 500 gallons diesel
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Currently owned by Perth Boat School she is presently being completely renovated as a community project, assisted by a number of voluntary organisations and companies.
The vessel was designed and built in the early 1900s by A.E. Brown and launched in 1914.
History
Barrack Street, Perth
Barrack Street is one of two major cross-streets in the central business district of Perth, Western Australia. Together with St Georges Terrace, Wellington Street and William Street it defines the boundary of the main shopping precinct of the central city....
and Mends Street
Mends Street Jetty
Mends Street Jetty, is one of two Transperth jetties, the other being Coode Street Jetty, located in South Perth in Western Australia. The jetty is on the southern shore of the Swan River in the section known as Perth Water...
.
Double ender, with twin steering stations, twin props, so it didn't need to turn, the driver just walked to the other end as both ends are identical.
Originally powered by two coal fired burners operating at 120psi built by McKie and Baxter of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
1950 - With the road across the narrows becoming preferred transport across the river, the ferry became an excursion boat.
1970 - The steam engine was removed and went into the Maritime Museum
Western Australian Museum
The Western Australian Museum is the state museum for Western Australia.The Western Australian Museum has seven main sites: two in Perth within the Perth Cultural Centre, two in Fremantle , and one each in Albany, Geraldton, and Kalgoorlie-Boulder...
, replaced by a Kelvin t^ diesel, also from Glasgow.
1982 - Taken out of service.
1986 - Refurbished to be used for river transport during the Americas Cup defence.
1998 - Rebuilt by Ozco at Swan Dock, Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
. Hull was Dynel
Dynel
Dynel is a trade name for a type synthetic fiber used in fibre reinforced plastic composite materials, especially for marine applications. As it is easily dyed, it was also used to fabricate women's wigs...
sheathed (fibreglassed) and the superstructure was also glassed. The vessel was used as a party boat.
White pickets were added to the outside decks to make it look like the American paddle vessels.
At some stage it became known as the Riverboat Gambler, as it ran gambling nights on the Swan River
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
.
2007 - Purchased by the WA Steamship Company and returned to sit on a mooring, then moved to sit in a pen at Jervoise Bay, Henderson
Henderson, Western Australia
Henderson is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Cockburn.-History:The suburb of Henderson comprises land resumed by the Commonwealth Government in 1915 for defence purposes. A large naval base was planned by Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson, and the was area sometimes...
.
2009 - Purchased by the current owners, Perth Boat School. Leaks repaired, water pump repaired, fuel pump on Lister replaced, electrics repaired, entire fore and stern decks completely stripped, filled, overhauled and revarnished. Community Restoration Project, sponsored by many companies and voluntary organisations.
2010 - Renovations severely restricted when (without any consultation) Landcorp blocked all vehicular access to the vessel by putting huge boulders in the road a few hundred metres from the vessel. Landcorp allowed pedestrian access thus allowing vandals and thieves access to the vessel, also gave fishermen access to it so they could walk to it, get on it and damage it, however prevented tradesmen, repair personnel, security patrols or police etc from getting easy access to it so that the renovations and preservation work could continue. Vessel had windows smashed, was broken into and had tools and repair gear stolen, pressure pump etc, all stolen.
2011 - WA Government Department charged in excess of $4000 for the derelict, unserviced inaccesable, insecure, unpowered location. Appeals to the Minister to intervene have been unanswered.
Specifications
Length Overall (LOA) - 103 feetBeam
Beam (nautical)
The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point. Generally speaking, the wider the beam of a ship , the more initial stability it has, at expense of reserve stability in the event of a capsize, where more energy is required to right the vessel from its inverted position...
: 6.1m
Hull Material: Oregon / Jarrah
Superstructure
Superstructure
A superstructure is an upward extension of an existing structure above a baseline. This term is applied to various kinds of physical structures such as buildings, bridges, or ships...
: Nyatoh
Gross Tonnage: 320t
Engines: 1 x 180 hp Kelvin T6 Diesel
Propulsion: Twin Screw, one in each direction
Max Speed: 6 knots (11.8 km/h)
Generators: 1 x 50kva 3 phase Lister
Fuel Capacity: 500 gallons diesel