PS Enterprise is an 1878 Australian paddle steamer, currently owned by the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. It is still operational, and one of the oldest working paddle steamers in the world. It is listed on the Australian Register of Historic Vehicles.[1][2]
Enterprise is built from river red gum wood;[1][2] the engine is a two-cylinder single expansion steam engine made by the Beverley Iron and Wagon Company in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England in 1877. The original boiler was replaced in 1988. It is 17.3 metres (57 ft) long, 4.6 metres (15 ft) wide, and 5.9 metres (19 ft) high (from waterline).[3] It has a shallow draft of 75 centimetres (30 in),[1] allowing it to cope with the low water levels of the Australian rivers, and a maximum speed of 5 knots (9 km/h; 6 mph).[3]
Enterprise was built in Echuca by William Keir between 1876 and 1878,[4] and initially owned by his family, until they sold it in 1893. It changed hands several times over the years, and has been used as a cargo ship (towing barges[4][5]), a store, a fishing boat and a houseboat, operating on the Murray, Darling and Murrumbidgee Rivers. From 1919 until 1945 it was owned by Augustus Creager, who, with his wife Hilda, raised a family of five children living on board.[2][6]
In 1973, amidst a general renewed interests in steamboats, Enterprise was restored by enthusiast Graeme Niehus and his father, and subsequently raced against other paddle boats.[1][2][7]
The National Museum of Australia bought Enterprise in 1984 and further restored it, including replacing the boiler.[2][8] In 1988, as part of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations, it was recommissioned on Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra.[9] It was opened to the public in January 1989.[10]
On 4 December 1993 Enterprise was temporarily recommissioned as HMA PS Enterprise of the Royal Australian Navy and allowed to fly the White Ensign for the day, as part of the Navy's Maritime Pageant.[2]
Enterprise is operated by the museum – it is the largest functional object in the museum's collection – and crewed by volunteers. It undergoes regular maintenance and occasional restoration work.[6][9]
Referencesedit
^ abcd"Paddle Steamer Enterprise". National Museum of Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
^ abcdef"PS Enterprise". Australian Register of Historic Vessels. Australian National Maritime Museum. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
^ abPS Enterprise specifications and statistics(PDF), National Museum of Australia, 7 June 2011, retrieved 8 April 2018
^ abDisplay signs at the jetty where Enterprise is moored on Lake Burley Griffin, near the National Museum of Australia. 2014-09-18
^"Canberra's old river steamer makes a splash". The Canberra Times. 30 January 1989. p. 1. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
^ abLouise Maher (11 March 2014). "Treasure Trove: PS Enterprise". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
^"Paddle-steamers race on Murray". The Canberra Times. 21 October 1974. p. 3. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
^"The Enterprise moves to new launch site". The CanberraTimes. 23 September 1988. p. 5. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
^ abKimberley Le Lievre (22 October 2017). "National Museum of Australia's paddle steamer Enterprise undergoes restoration". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
^"Paddle steamer open to public". The Canberra Times. 26 January 1989. p. 10. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Enterprise (ship, 1878).
Enterprise's 1878 Certificate of British Registry
PS Enterprise' in the National Museum's collection explorer
April 12, 2024
enterprise, 2921, 1218, 2921, 1218, historynameownernational, museum, australiabuilderwilliam, keirlaid, down1876launched1878general, characteristicstypepaddle, steamertonnage55, 9displacement30, tonnes, tons, length17, metres, beam4, metres, height5, metres, . 35 17 32 S 149 07 18 E 35 2921 S 149 1218 E 35 2921 149 1218 PS Enterprise HistoryNamePS EnterpriseOwnerNational Museum of AustraliaBuilderWilliam KeirLaid down1876Launched1878General characteristicsTypePaddle steamerTonnage55 9Displacement30 32 tonnes 33 35 tons Length17 3 metres 57 ft Beam4 6 metres 15 ft Height5 9 metres 19 ft from waterline Draught0 75 metres 2 ft 6 in Installed powerSingle expansion steam enginePropulsionPaddle wheelSpeed5 knots 9 km h 6 mph Capacity25 including crewPS Enterprise is an 1878 Australian paddle steamer currently owned by the National Museum of Australia in Canberra It is still operational and one of the oldest working paddle steamers in the world It is listed on the Australian Register of Historic Vehicles 1 2 Enterprise is built from river red gum wood 1 2 the engine is a two cylinder single expansion steam engine made by the Beverley Iron and Wagon Company in the East Riding of Yorkshire England in 1877 The original boiler was replaced in 1988 It is 17 3 metres 57 ft long 4 6 metres 15 ft wide and 5 9 metres 19 ft high from waterline 3 It has a shallow draft of 75 centimetres 30 in 1 allowing it to cope with the low water levels of the Australian rivers and a maximum speed of 5 knots 9 km h 6 mph 3 Enterprise was built in Echuca by William Keir between 1876 and 1878 4 and initially owned by his family until they sold it in 1893 It changed hands several times over the years and has been used as a cargo ship towing barges 4 5 a store a fishing boat and a houseboat operating on the Murray Darling and Murrumbidgee Rivers From 1919 until 1945 it was owned by Augustus Creager who with his wife Hilda raised a family of five children living on board 2 6 In 1973 amidst a general renewed interests in steamboats Enterprise was restored by enthusiast Graeme Niehus and his father and subsequently raced against other paddle boats 1 2 7 The National Museum of Australia bought Enterprise in 1984 and further restored it including replacing the boiler 2 8 In 1988 as part of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations it was recommissioned on Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra 9 It was opened to the public in January 1989 10 On 4 December 1993 Enterprise was temporarily recommissioned as HMA PS Enterprise of the Royal Australian Navy and allowed to fly the White Ensign for the day as part of the Navy s Maritime Pageant 2 Enterprise is operated by the museum it is the largest functional object in the museum s collection and crewed by volunteers It undergoes regular maintenance and occasional restoration work 6 9 References edit a b c d Paddle Steamer Enterprise National Museum of Australia Retrieved 8 April 2018 a b c d e f PS Enterprise Australian Register of Historic Vessels Australian National Maritime Museum Retrieved 8 April 2018 a b PS Enterprise specifications and statistics PDF National Museum of Australia 7 June 2011 retrieved 8 April 2018 a b Display signs at the jetty where Enterprise is moored on Lake Burley Griffin near the National Museum of Australia 2014 09 18 Canberra s old river steamer makes a splash The Canberra Times 30 January 1989 p 1 Retrieved 8 April 2018 a b Louise Maher 11 March 2014 Treasure Trove PS Enterprise Australian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 8 April 2018 Paddle steamers race on Murray The Canberra Times 21 October 1974 p 3 Retrieved 4 April 2018 The Enterprise moves to new launch site The CanberraTimes 23 September 1988 p 5 Retrieved 8 April 2018 a b Kimberley Le Lievre 22 October 2017 National Museum of Australia s paddle steamer Enterprise undergoes restoration The Canberra Times Retrieved 8 April 2018 Paddle steamer open to public The Canberra Times 26 January 1989 p 10 Retrieved 8 April 2018 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Enterprise ship 1878 Enterprise s 1878 Certificate of British Registry PS Enterprise in the National Museum s collection explorer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title PS Enterprise amp oldid 1197381547, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
