PS Rodney facts for kids

The PS Rodney is a heritage-listed paddle steamer shipwreck. It lies on the Darling River at Polia Station, near Pooncarie in New South Wales, Australia. This historic ship was designed by Captains Dorward and Davies. It was built by Thomas McDonald. The Rodney is now owned by a New South Wales government department. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 23 November 2007.

The Story of the PS Rodney

The remains of the Rodney tell an important part of the history of the Darling River and the Western Plains. This includes stories about farming, river trade, and big changes in Australian politics.

The Shearers' Strike of 1894

The Rodney paddle steamer was burned by union shearers during the 1894 Australian shearers' strike. They did this to protest against the ship being used to break their strike. The shearers' strikes in the 1890s were a big moment for Australian politics. They led to the growth of a strong workers' movement.

Times were tough back then. Costs were rising, and new machines meant fewer jobs. The country was also heading into an economic downturn. At the same time, people felt a growing sense of Australian identity. The 1891 Australian shearers' strike led to the election of the first worker representative in parliament. This event is also seen as the start of the Australian Labor Party.

The 1894 strike was shorter than the one in 1891. But it included the dramatic burning of the Rodney on the Darling River.

The Burning of the Rodney

On 26 August 1894, Captain Dickson was in charge of the Rodney. The ship was carrying 45 workers who were not part of the union. They were heading upstream to work in the wool sheds at Tolarno Station. The Rodney was also pulling a barge with goods and supplies for the stations along the way.

On 28 August, the steamer reached a woodpile near Moorara Station. About 150 striking shearers took over the steamer and the surrounding area. They moved the passengers and crew safely to the riverbank. Then, they tore open bags of chaff (animal feed) in the ship's front and back storage areas. They soaked the chaff in kerosene and set it on fire.

The Rodney quickly caught fire from end to end. It was then let go down the river. The ship burned almost to the waterline and was completely destroyed. Newspapers at the time called it "the very worst outrage" by shearers. A reward was offered for catching those involved, but no one was ever found guilty.

After the Fire

The hull of the Rodney was so badly damaged that it was broken up. The pieces were removed from the river to clear the way for other boats.

In early 1895, another steamer called the Nile helped salvage parts from the wreck. The Nile is now also a wreck in the Darling River near Bourke. Workers removed the boiler and other machinery from the Rodney. They also recovered tools and ironwork. The boiler was supposedly taken back to Echuca. It was then used to power machines at a local freezing works. No one knows what happened to the engine.

Building the Rodney

The Rodney was built in Echuca in 1875. It was made for Captains Dorward and Davies by Thomas McDonald. The ship weighed about 133 tonnes. It was about 32.3 metres (106 feet) long and 6.4 metres (21 feet) wide. Its depth was just over 2.1 metres (7 feet).

The Rodney was powered by a 70 horsepower steam engine. This engine was built by Robinson Brothers in Melbourne. The ship's frame was made of angle iron. Its hull was planked with strong River Red Gum timber. It had a single deck, a cabin, and an upper saloon. The Rodney was thought to be worth about A£3,000 at the time.

When it was destroyed in 1894, the Rodney was owned by Permewan, Wright & Co. It was known as one of the most powerful and finest riverboats on the Darling River.

What the Rodney Looks Like Today

The shipwreck is located low down in the bed of the Darling River. It is next to Polia Station. This is about 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Pooncarie. It's also about 107 kilometres (66 miles) south of Menindee. The wreckage lies east-west on the southern bank of the river.

The Rodney was 32.3 metres (106 feet) long, 6.4 metres (21 feet) wide, and just over 2.1 metres (7 feet) deep. Its frames are made of angle iron. The hull planks, stringers, and keel timbers are made of River Red Gum.

You can reach the site by a track along the riverbank. Even during very dry periods, when the river is low, the lower part of the hull remains partly underwater. The riverbank is made of light grey soil. The land around it has scattered River Red Gum trees and other Eucalypt species.

Condition of the Wreck

As of 2005, the wreck lies in an east-west direction in a bend of the Darling River. It rests against the southern bank.

Even though the Rodney was mostly destroyed by fire in 1894, and has been underwater and exposed many times, its lower structure is still quite complete. As an archaeological site, there are enough remains to understand how the hull was built. This helps us learn about one of the largest paddle steamers on the river.

The parts of the iron frame that are exposed are very rusty and fragile. However, the River Red Gum planks are generally very well preserved. This is especially true for the lower hull area, which stays underwater even in very dry conditions.

The remains of the Rodney hull are in good condition, considering the fire and the parts that were salvaged. The site is important because it still has original parts. It is also highly valued as a piece of Darling River history and a reminder of the Shearers' Strike.

Why the Rodney is Important

The Rodney Historic Shipwreck site is important because it marks a violent event in the Shearers' Strikes of the 1890s. It also symbolizes the growth of the Australian labour movement. The ship was burned in 1894 by union shearers. Its archaeological remains give us a real link to this exciting time of riverboat activity on the Darling River.

People in the community care a lot about this historic shipwreck. This was shown during the big 100-year celebrations. The Rodney was known for its size and provided a vital service to farmers and river towns.

The PS Rodney was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 23 November 2007 for several reasons.

A Part of History

The PS Rodney is linked to an important time in history. The taking over and burning of the Rodney was directly related to the efforts of union workers. They wanted to stop sheep station owners along the Darling River from avoiding the Shearers' Strike. At that time, riverboat steamers were a very important way to transport wool. Controlling river transport was a key issue during the 1890s Shearers' Strike. This strike itself was a very important event in Australia's industrial history.

The fact that we can still see parts of the paddle steamer involved in this dispute helps us connect with the past. It shows how industrial relations have changed in the wool industry, which is still important on the Darling River today.

Showing Technical Skill

The PS Rodney shows important technical achievements. It demonstrates the main features of wide, shallow riverboats used for trade in the late 1800s. It is one of the few remaining original hulls that show how ships were built using both iron frames and River Red Gum planks.

The timbers, fastenings, and iron frames that still exist help us understand how ships were built inland in the late 19th century.

Community Connection

The PS Rodney is important to the local community. It shows how much the towns along the Darling River connect with their history. Especially with the river and the paddle steamer era.

In 1994, a special event was held to remember the Rodney. Over 700 people came to this remote spot on the Darling River. This showed how important the Rodney is to the communities along the river. Both union members and station owners still share an interest in the Rodney's history.

Learning from the Past

The PS Rodney can teach us a lot about the history of New South Wales. The Rodney is an important example of how riverboats were built in the late 19th century. It helps fill gaps in old records that don't often show building details. Its original parts are still in good condition. This is unlike some other shipwrecks that have been taken apart and rebuilt with new materials.

A Rare Find

The PS Rodney shows a way of life that no longer exists. It provides rare evidence of an important human activity. The Rodney shows us a transportation system that used to operate along the Darling River.

The original parts of the hull are very accurate examples of riverboat building skills from the late 19th century. The remains of the Rodney are the only known, undisturbed archaeological remains of a riverboat built with both iron and timber.

The Rodney is also the only recorded riverboat, coastal, or ocean-going vessel that was destroyed during an industrial dispute in Australia. This makes it very important to the history of industrial relations in this country.

A Typical Riverboat

The remains of the Rodney show the main features of inland riverboats. These include their wide hulls, shallow depth, and the use of local timbers like River Red Gum.