River Trade and Steam
Photo credit: State Library of South Australia
River Trade and Steam
Mannum and Morgan played key roles in the river trade and steam navigation history of South Australia. Mannum, in particular, is celebrated as the birthplace of paddle steamer operations on the Murray River.
In 1853, William Randell launched the paddle steamer Mary Ann at Noa No Landing, just north of Mannum, kicking off the steam era on the Murray River. This event put Mannum on the map as a vital hub for river trade and transportation. The town quickly grew around the steamboat industry, with Randell building the first structure, a woolshed, to support his expanding trade operations.
As river trade flourished, Mannum became a centre for shipbuilding and maintenance. The town’s importance surged with the establishment of various businesses to service the booming industry, including butchers, bakers, blacksmiths, and watchmakers. In 1877, the Shearer brothers started their agricultural manufacturing business in Mannum, adding to the town’s industrial growth.
Morgan, located at the junction of the Murray River and the Darling River, also played a significant role in the river trade. It became an important transshipment point where goods were transferred between riverboats and trains, making Morgan a bustling river port during the paddle steamer era.
The river trade brought prosperity to both towns, with passenger services becoming a key component of the steamship business. Paddle steamers like the PS Marion carried both cargo and passengers, connecting river communities and boosting trade and tourism along the Murray.
However, the golden age of river trade began to wane in the early 20th Century with the rise of railways and improved road transport. Despite this, the legacy of the steam era lives on in both Mannum and Morgan. In Mannum, the PS Marion has been preserved as a floating museum, offering a tangible link to the town’s rich river history.
Today, Mannum and Morgan celebrate their river heritage with museums, restored paddle steamers, and historical sites that draw tourists and history buffs. These towns stand as a testament to the crucial role the Murray River played in South Australia’s development and the enduring impact of the steam navigation era on the region’s history and identity.
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