Genealogical &
Historical Society Inc.
No. A17295X
Inaugural Member Society of Genealogical Society of Victoria Inc

Quarterly Newsletter
 Number 63
August  2000
Page 1

ISSN 1036-1006

The Murray: Australia's Danube, The Riverboat Highway

Cradled in the Australian Alps, fed by tributaries from four states, the Murray River slides gently down to Goolwa only to find its path barred by sand and shallows. It depressed its early users. In 1902, after seven years of drought, it managed a scanty trickle between the few shallow pools along its length. Then in 1909 and 1916 its floods swallowed the surrounding country side to the point where flood waters almost lapped over the entire land mass of Pental island. Meanwhile the mail was delivered along the hill tops.[Guardian Dec 1999].

If farmers were not trying to stem floodwaters they were wondering where supplies of stock and drinking water were to come from.
Despite its inconsistency of water level, in 1922 a Mr. Bradbury planned to build floating baths at Swan Hill to accommodate separate sessions for men, boys, women and girls.

And of course it was a natural line of defence for the country in WW II, evidenced by the armed guard installed on the bridge at Swan Hill after animosities had been declared. This was not the first time the River was used for defence purposes. In 1919, traffic across the bridge was limited to prevent a pneumonia infection from crossing to NSW.

So apart from the romantic era of the 'Riverboats' the River means many things to different people. The economist, the scientist, the naturalist, the politician, the historian, the fisherman, and the riverside dweller; each  sees it through different eyes. Not only has each group reflected upon its significance, in their turn they have also profoundly altered it.

Whilst Randall and Cadell revealed its economic potential, whilst the politician quickly moved to influence the flow of goods along its length and bask in the glory of bridge construction.

The Customs Men

Perhaps the earliest and most significant political legacy was the Customs Act of 1857 which declared that the operation of all riverboat vessels traded under the customs regulations which had been established for the colony of Victoria. At the time, duty was imposed by the various colonial governments in regard to the passage of goods across colony borders.

The immediate effect was the establishment of customs houses at the various river crossings and at the significant ports along its length to counteract the activities like those described below.
" A large quantity of tobacco has been arriving in Melbourne in the last few days, and there is more on the road. This tobacco was originally shipped from Melbourne to Port Adelaide, and transhipped from there to Goolwa, and then upstream by the River Murray Steamboats and carted back to Melbourne. The difference between the Melbourne and Adelaide tariffs allowing for this scope of operations, and leaving a handsome profit for the speculator"
Arthur Feltman: Documents, Volume 2, records the Bendigo Advertizer reporting thus in 1857

To the riverside dweller at Swan Hill one of the most significant changes, especially to his pocket, would have been the arrival of the customs officer.

According to Feltmann, although customs was operating from 1857, the first recorded Warehousing Post was set up at Swan Hill on 30 January, 1872, opposite that of the New South Wales Station of the same name. At this time, Henry Saddler who was 'Coast Waiter and Searcher' commenced collection of duties on 1 February, 1872 and boats were restricted to the official hours of 9 am. to 4 pm. Customs Officer Davidson probably followed Saddler, his wife being an active Church of England parishioner.

John Wyse, according to Feltmann was the first Swan Hill Customs
Officer, residing in a pine log house [dental clinic site in 1970], he became a prominent citizen as a Shire Councillor, a strong Presbyterian and chairman of various town boards. It is known that W.E. Maddison was a custom's officer prior to 1893. He, residing in a drop log cottage next to where Garden and Green now are. A bit of an entrepreneur, he later leased a shop site where his wife conducted a cake shop and later he rented the skating rink turning it into a general entertainment centre.

Maddison was probably assisted and then replaced by A.T. Brown, best known for losing his papers when fire destroyed Maddison's house. Brown , also Stock Inspector reported for 1894 that
"Cattle 104 introduced and duty paid on 1150, value £4126, sheep 5168 introduced, value £1903; in bond 26,574 head, value £ 9138; paid duty 46,103, value £12,183. Total duty £6335"

David Wiltshire arrived in 1901 to be followed by Alfred Lawrence said to be the planter of the willow trees along the river. His opposite number in N.S.W. at the time was David McMonies of Swan Hill.
Apparently John Grey the punt operator who daily, plied his trade across the river at Swan Hill, Officer Barry, from Melbourne, locked the punt on the Swan Hill side of the river only to be released when Grey signed an agreement of unknown significance with the Custom's department.

The punt, so often the close attention of the customs officer did a lively trade, its fees amounting to £40 in one day in March 1894. In part it was the level of such fees which prompted the building of the bridge in 1896.The rate of tolls at the time was as follows:
"For every passenger, excepting children going to school, 1 penny; gig, wagon, buggy, dray or other vehicle , 6 pence; horse, mare, gelding, ass or mule drawing or not drawing, 2 pence; sheep, lamb, pig or goat not exceeding 100 in number 1/2 pence; sheep, lamb, pig or goat exceeding 100, 4 pence; goods not conveyed in vehicles , per cwt 3 pence; persons riding, passengers, or travelling in vehicles not to be charged toll as foot passengers."

Prior to the 'Grey incident', in 1864, a peaceful skirmish took place at Swan Hill, one of the six designated points of entry for goods to Victoria. The Firefly, a small boat working only from Victorian ports, was boarded and seized by the NSW Customs Officer on behalf of his government.
Presumably technically he entered Victoria to do so. No sooner was the seizure undertaken than the NSW officer was tapped on the shoulder by the Victorian policemen ordering to return to his boat [presumably] and his side of the river.

The Bridge
The cost and awkwardness of punting across the river and the hope that a bridge would encourage development of land on the NSW side motivated an increasingly frustrated Swan Hill and its politicians of the time to pursue the construction of a new bridge. Nearby towns, already blessed with a bridge delighted in telling all about the difficulties experienced in transporting large numbers of stock across and the problems faced by vehicles as they maneuvered down the steep bank to the punt. Success came in 1896 when John Taverna MLA for Swan Hill and Donald, amongst great rejoicing by Swan Hill residents cut the mandatory ribbon to open a structure that was to change Swan Hill for ever. It cost £8900, was thought to be a magnificent structure, designed to let the highest of boats through on a high river and was celebrated by school children marching into NSW for a picnic and a celebratory banquet held in the railway goods shed at which Mr Taverna MLA told of progress towards federation.

Even before its opening wool and sheep were already being moved across the previously restricting water way in increasing numbers.

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