Surprise (paddle steamer)

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The Surprise was the first paddle steamer, and the first steam powered vessel, built and run in Australia. It was built possibly on the Parramatta River, by shipbuilder Henry Gilbert,[1] and launched in Sydney on 1831-03-14. Its first voyage was on 1 June on the Parramatta River.[2] It was 58 feet long.[3]

The first steamer to operate in Australian waters was the Sophia Jane, built in England which arrived in 1831. It was having its paddles fitted when the Surprise made its first voyage.[2]

On 30 May, the Surprize (sic) advertised a service to Parramatta. At that time there were no advertisements for ferry services advertised in Sydney. The Sophia Jane advertised the first cruise on 13 June. From 8 August, the Surprise published a timetable in the Sydney Herald.[4]

The Surprise was built to operate on the Parramatta River and later operated in Tasmanian waters. Its fate is not known.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Stone, Peter (2002). New South Wales Shipwrecks. Encyclopaedia of Australian Shipwrecks. Oceans Enterprises. Retrieved on 2006-08-17.
  2. ^ a b Hunter Valley Steamships. Free Settler or Felon?. www.jenwilletts.com (2005). Retrieved on 2006-08-17.
  3. ^ Richards, Mike (1997). Pig and whistle run : men and ships of the N.S.W. South Coast. Lawrence, NSW, Australia: Mike Richards. ISBN 0-646-31138-7. 
  4. ^ MacAuslan, Duncan (2001). Sources of Timetables for Sydney Ferries (pdf). The Times:Journal of the Australian Association of Time Table Collectors; July 2001 (no. 208). Australian Association of Time Table Collectors. Retrieved on 2006-08-17.


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