One of only a handful of original Murray River paddle steamers still in regular operation, the wood-fired PS Oscar W offers one-hour heritage cruises from Goolwa Wharf on weekends.
A working piece of river history
Built at Echuca in 1908, the PS Oscar W is a wood-fired steam-driven paddle steamer that spent most of the 20th century hauling wool, wheat and timber up and down the Murray, Darling and Murrumbidgee rivers. She was rescued by volunteers in the 1990s and now operates as a living museum based at the historic Goolwa Wharf precinct.
What visitors do
One-hour cruises take passengers out onto the Goolwa Channel with the skipper delivering live commentary on the river's history. Down in the engine room you can watch the stokers feed the boiler and see the original 1908 twin-cylinder steam engine in action - it's noisy, hot and unforgettable. Cruises run on selected Saturdays and Sundays; bookings are essential and sell out in peak season.
Practical notes
Bookings go through the Goolwa Visitor Information Centre or the Visit Alexandrina website. During the Goolwa Wharf restoration the Oscar W berths at Hector's Jetty, about 100 metres south of the main wharf - check the website for the current mooring. Tickets are modestly priced; bring cash for the onboard donation bucket. Not recommended for passengers with mobility issues as boarding involves steps.
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Sources
- PS Oscar W - official source - psoscarw.com (accessed April 2026)
Image credits
- PS Oscar W at Goolwa by Lesbardd , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons