This model of a Murray River Steamer is loosely based on the P.S Tolarno which was built at Goolwa, South Australia in 1879. She regularly worked the Murray and Darling Rivers until sold for scrap in 1936 at Morgan because of the demise of river traffic due to road and rail competition.
The P.S Gidgee Lass is built in 1/35 scale almost entirely of stryene plastic. A standard plank on plank method of shipbuilding was used to construct the hull.

The Drydock

Orginally built as a floating drydock at Mannum, South Australia in 1873, it was somewhat unsuccesful in that role and was purchased by William Randall in 1876. A site on the Murray River near Mannun was excavated and the dock was installed. Being the only drydock on the Australian river system, it was in great demand for the servicing of many of the river steamers up until the early 1930s. This diorama depicts the drydock as it possibly appeared in the late 1890s.

Mannun Dock

A typical afternoon at Randalls dockyard

The P.S Gidgee Lass is nearing the end of her annual refit. The Skipper William (Tubby) Brophy is chatting about the forthcoming trade season with a local businessman and his son. The carpenters are putting the finishing touches to the forward hold. One is on his way to see why the apprentice is taking so long to get more timber, not knowing that the boy has been waylaid by the ship's cook Bill (Bunyip) Doyle who, after a morning session in the Two Rivers Hotel can be seen sneaking back onboard with his "supplies" whilst the Skipper is pre-occupied. Unfortunately his drinking cobber and dock worker, Spud Murphy has been sprung and is getting a right royal dressing down by the Yard Foreman, with the blacksmith being an interested onlooker. The ships Engineer is explaining a technical problem with the Fireman and two local lads are trying their luck off the dock gate - has "Bazza" hooked onto another catfish or has he got one of the fabled Murray Rivers Cod???