A piece of South Australian river history is afloat again. The historic paddle steamer PS Canally has been brought back to working life almost 120 years after it was first launched, returning to carry passengers up and down the Murray River. For the volunteers behind it, the moment marks the end of a long and at times daunting journey.
The revival has been 15 years in the making. Those involved said that in the beginning many of them thought it would be a great thing to do, then found themselves running out of puff about halfway through, before finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as the vessel slowly neared completion.
The story stretches back decades further. In 1998, volunteers worked to raise the PS Canally from the bottom of the River Murray, where it had sunk almost four decades earlier due to inattention. There was a great deal of mud and debris inside, and a lot of dirty work involved, but those who saw it said the volunteers did a beautiful job.
From there, the long task of bringing it back truly began. In 2010, the boat started its journey of restoration, a solid 15 years of work that ultimately took around 4,500 volunteer hours to complete. For those who stuck with it through the lean years, the recommissioning was the realisation of a long-held dream.
The vessel was formally returned to service this weekend at the Living River Festival in the town of Morgan. The Mid-Murray Council has spent 1.5 million dollars over the last 15 years restoring the PS Canally to its former glory, and with a final lick of paint it is now ready to take passengers once more.
Locals say they are excited to finally see the boat in action again. They describe it as a part of the region's history with many dimensions, tied closely to the people of the river, and a reminder of an earlier era on the Murray that the local community was determined not to lose.
Keeping it running will take ongoing care. Those involved noted that it is an old engine and that, like anything old, it takes a lot of tender, loving care to keep operational. The hope is that the steamer will keep drawing tourists to Morgan to spend money in the town, while inspiring the next generation of boat lovers along the river.