Mildura has been without the paddle steamer which conducted popular tours of the Murray River for almost five years due to the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.
Echuca shipwright Adam Auditori is the third owner of the boat in more than 112 years after acquiring it last July.
In the past six months, Mr Auditori has been carrying out works on the boat’s hull and its boiler in preparation for its relaunch.
The PS Melbourne has a rich history in Victoria, first being built at Koondrook in 1912 and launched in July of 1913.
After a trial run to Echuca in December of 1913, the boat commenced work as a public works craft for the Victorian Government on New Year’s Day, 1914.
It was also used in the construction of the Tooleybuc bridge between 1924 to 1925.
In 1965, the boat was sold to Alby and Freda Pointon of Mildura after 29 years of being inactive.
In 1966 it officially commenced as a tourist vessel in Mildura on New Year's Day and continued without pause until 2020.
The boat is now up and running again, ready to cruise the beautiful Murray River with passengers aboard for the first time in five years.
The boat officially set off on its first cruise on New Year’s Day with a special sunrise cruise at 6am.
Cruises will now depart daily from the Mildura wharf.
For more information and bookings go to www.psmelbourne.com.au
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