Steam Tug Wattle

Steam Tug Wattle is a vessel which is currently out of survey. She was launched in 1933 as a tug in Sydney, Australia. She ran commercial cruises around Melbourne and surrounding areas. She suspended her marine commercial service in 2003 and is currently located in 2 Victoria Harbour, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Statistics

*Propeller: 7' 6"
*Engine: Two-cylinder compound steam engine
*Operating boiler pressure: convert|130|psi|lk=on|abbr=on
*Boiler: Oil-fired, twin-furnace scotch marine boiler
*Engine speed: 100rpm

History

Construction

The S.T. Wattle was built in 1933 at Cockatoo Island dockyard in Sydney, Australia. It was setup as a project to keep the dockland's apprentices in work during the depression. The project was named 'Codeco'.

Navy service

When she was completed, the Australian Navy took this small tug for work around the naval dockland. She was renamed 'Wattle' and was manned by a civilian crew, and carried out duties around the harbour.

Preservation

The Wattle was recognised by the National Trust, and machinery onboard was kept exactly as it was made, after being restored to pristine condition. She ran cruises around Port Phillip Bay. Finally, she suspended commercial service in June 2003.

For a period of time, the Wattle was moored at Victoria Dock, near Telstra Dome whilst volunteer members attempted to raise the required funds to get Wattle back into survey. The Wattle has been moved to No 2 Victoria Harbour due to the new construction work going on to redevelop Melbourne Docklands and fundraising is still progressing.

Sorrento Steam

During the latter part of 2007, a group of ten Melbourne-based businesspeople formed an organisation called Sorrento Steam P/L, a syndicate of vintage steam and Australian steam heritage enthusiasts, that has entered into close collaboration with the Bay Steamers Maritime Museum. The authentic and extensive restoration of the Steam Tug Wattle, and its return to active seafaring Steam, form part of Sorrento Steam's plans for reinstating the early 1900 Sorrento Steam Trams. The scheme is also aiming for the introduction of a heritage paddle steamer capable of ferrying large numbers of steam enthusiast visitors from Melbourne to Sorrento and back.

External links

* [http://www.sorrentosteam.com.au/story.htm Sorrento Steam – History of S.T. Wattle]
* [http://www.sorrentosteam.com.au/index.htm Official website – includes news of restoration and appearances]