EDINA

Location

Port Phillip Bay, Maribyrnong River

VHR Number

S199

Date lost

1957

Year of construction

1854

Official number

11136

Statement of Significance

The SS Edina was an iconic and affectionately regarded part of Port Phillips maritime history and culture. It is historically significant for being internationally famous as the worlds oldest working screw steamship between 1912 and 1938. Its career was varied and interesting and it is considered significant for its involvement in the Crimean War, US Civil War, NZ gold rushes, and locally for its career as a western district steamship and Bay steamer. The site is archaeologically significant as the only remnant of the hull of the vessel and as part of the Maribyrnong riverine landscape situated amongst the remnants of shipbuilding slipways, Footscray wharves, S781 Unidentified Hopper Barge wreck and goods warehouses.

Physical Description

Construction Material Iron

Hull Details Clipper bow, traditional figurehead, short bowsprit , iron hull and frames

Propulsion Steam - Screw

Engine Specification D. Rolls & Sons, Liverpool

Engine Builder 2 cyl 22" & 40", 26" stroke, 85 NHP, 13 knots. Removed before conversion to lighter

Number of Masts 1

Length / Breadth / Depth 171.0 Feet / 23.5 Feet / 12.6 Feet

History

Builder Barclay, Curle & Co., Scotland

Built Date 1854

Built Port / Country Glasgow / Scotland

Former Details of Registration First owner Leith, Hull & Hamburg Steam Packet Company; requisitioned by Admiralty for Crimean War; ; Stephen Henty; Captain William Howard Smith

Details
The Edina had a long and varied career. After service with Cowan & Co. in Leith-Hamburg trade, served with Admiralty in Crimean War (1855). Then sold to interests in American Southern States, running Union blockade with cargoes of cotton. Propellor temporarily removed for voyage to Australia under sail, bought by SG Henty in 1863, and sold to Warrnambool Steam PacketCo. On the Western District run until 1875 with an occasional trip to New Zealand during Otago gold rushes .. Then purchased by Howard Smith for Queensland trade. Transferred to Melbourne-Geelong run in 1880 until 1938 when economic conditions forced closure of service. Sold to George Burton, shipbreaker, stripped and fittings auctioned and widely dispersed. Hull sold to Victorian Lighterage Pty Ltd and converted to wool lighter between Geelong and Melbourne, renamed Dina. The most famous steamer in Australia underwent a number of changes and refits during its lifetime. Had an unchallenged record of strandings and collisions with other vessels and of escaping serious damage itself. The vessels City of Melbourne, Courier, Manawatu, Excelsior (twice), Hovell, Batman, all suffered. When Edina was retired in 1938 it as the world's oldest working steamer. Had travelled more than 1 million km. Was finally broken up by George Seelf on the banks of the Maribyrnong in 1957.

Voyage Details

Date Lost 1957

Cargo
Former cargos included horses & ordinance for Crimean War; cotton; gold; dairy produce, bales of wool and livestock; potatoes

Owner 1862: Stephen Henty & Co. 1875: Capt Howard Smith 1938 -1957: Victorian Lighterage Pty Ltd

Cause of Loss
Broken up in Maribyrnong River

Further Details

Number of Passengers 0

Number of Crew Members 0

Physical Description
Construction Material	Iron
Hull Details	Clipper bow, traditional figurehead, short bowsprit , iron hull and frames
Propulsion	Steam - Screw
Engine Specification	D. Rolls & Sons, Liverpool
Engine Builder	2 cyl 22" & 40", 26" stroke, 85 NHP, 13 knots. Removed before conversion to lighter
Number of Masts	1
Length / Breadth / Depth	171.0 Feet / 23.5 Feet / 12.6 Feet

Builder	Barclay, Curle & Co., Scotland
Built Date	1854
Built Port / Country	Glasgow / Scotland
Former Details of Registration	First owner Leith, Hull & Hamburg Steam Packet Company; requisitioned by Admiralty for Crimean War; ; Stephen Henty; Captain William Howard Smith
Details	The Edina had a long and varied career. After service with Cowan & Co. in Leith-Hamburg trade, served with Admiralty in Crimean War (1855). Then sold to interests in American Southern States, running Union blockade with cargoes of cotton. Propellor temporarily removed for voyage to Australia under sail, bought by SG Henty in 1863, and sold to Warrnambool Steam PacketCo. On the Western District run until 1875 with an occasional trip to New Zealand during Otago gold rushes .. Then purchased by Howard Smith for Queensland trade. Transferred to Melbourne-Geelong run in 1880 until 1938 when economic conditions forced closure of service. Sold to George Burton, shipbreaker, stripped and fittings auctioned and widely dispersed. Hull sold to Victorian Lighterage Pty Ltd and converted to wool lighter between Geelong and Melbourne, renamed Dina. The most famous steamer in Australia underwent a number of changes and refits during its lifetime. Had an unchallenged record of strandings and collisions with other vessels and of escaping serious damage itself. The vessels City of Melbourne, Courier, Manawatu, Excelsior (twice), Hovell, Batman, all suffered. When Edina was retired in 1938 it as the world's oldest working steamer. Had travelled more than 1 million km. Was finally broken up by George Seelf on the banks of the Maribyrnong in 1957.


Date Lost	1957
Cargo	Former cargos included horses & ordinance for Crimean War; cotton; gold; dairy produce, bales of wool and livestock; potatoes
Owner	1862: Stephen Henty & Co. 1875: Capt Howard Smith 1938 -1957: Victorian Lighterage Pty Ltd
Cause of Loss	Broken up in Maribyrnong River

Number of Passengers	0
Number of Crew Members	0

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