Built in 1910 at Goolwa for the South Australian government as a tow boat, general works and snagging steamer, the PS Industry retired from active service in 1969 and was gifted to the township of Renmark. She was restored as a static display until 1990 before being full restored by a dedicated group of volunteers, now the Friends of the PS Industry.
She now steams every month including private charters and special events from Renmark, South Australia.
The Paddlesteamer Industry was designed and built by AJ Inches of Melbourne at Goolwa in 1910.
Mr GB Wilson was the engineer in charge of construction with Captain George Grundy supervising the building of the superstructure. After being launched in August 1910, the vessel was handed over to the South Australian Engineering & Water Supply Department in January 1911 to be used as a work boat. It cost £3,858 and was purposely built for de-snagging the river, ensuring that it was navigable and the construction and maintenance of the locks, weirs and barrages at Goolwa.
PS Industry sometimes towed the Department’s 90 ft x 70 ft derrick barge. In 1956 during the August flood that threatened Renmark, she stood by with steam up for several days, ready for any emergency.
By the late 1960s she became obsolete and another more modern vessel the Maratala was built to take its place. The paddle steamer was given to the town of Renmark in 1970 and she became a floating static museum.
Volunteers formed a group in 1990 to restore the vessel under the supervision of shipwright Andrew Cook. Meanwhile she took part in the ABC Television’s mini series “The River Kings”. By 1995 after much work and expense, PS Industry was brought up to steam working order was after survey it was licensed to carry paying passengers, being recommissioned as a historic passenger vessel.
Through the Friends of the PS Industry, this historic paddle steamer operates under steam as it once did and scheduled steaming days are about 20 times a year when the general public can experience the atmosphere of a bygone era. The Industry’s home is now at moorings behind the Visitors Information Centre through which visitors can access and board the vessel.
Cruises take place on the first Sunday of each month. The cruise duration is approximately 90 minutes and includes morning and afternoon tea. Visitors can also cruise the PS Industry at selected days throughout the years including the Kaesler Landing Open Days organised by the Loxton Museum of Agricultural Technology.