Surprise (paddle steamer)
Encyclopedia
The Surprise was the first paddle steamer
, and the first steam powered vessel, built and run in Australia
. It was built possibly on the Parramatta River
, by shipbuilder Henry Gilbert, and launched in Sydney
on 14 March, 1831. Its first voyage was on 1 June on the Parramatta River
. It was 58 feet long.
The first steamer to operate in Australian waters was the Sophia Jane
, built in England which arrived in 1831. It was having its paddles fitted when the Surprise made its first voyage.
On 30 May, the Surprize (sic) advertised a service to Parramatta. At that time there were no advertisements for ferry services advertised in Sydney. The Sophia Jane advertised the first cruise on 13 June. From 8 August, the Surprise published a timetable in the Sydney Herald.
The Surprise was built to operate on the Parramatta River and later operated in Tasmanian waters
. Its fate is not known.
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
, and the first steam powered vessel, built and run in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It was built possibly on the Parramatta River
Parramatta River
The Parramatta River is a waterway in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson, along with the smaller Lane Cove and Duck Rivers....
, by shipbuilder Henry Gilbert, and launched in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
on 14 March, 1831. Its first voyage was on 1 June on the Parramatta River
Parramatta River
The Parramatta River is a waterway in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson, along with the smaller Lane Cove and Duck Rivers....
. It was 58 feet long.
The first steamer to operate in Australian waters was the Sophia Jane
Sophia Jane
The Sophia Jane was the first paddle steamer to operate in Australian waters. She was built in England and arrived in Sydney in 1831.The Sophia Jane advertised the first Australian steamship cruise on 13 June in the Sydney Herald...
, built in England which arrived in 1831. It was having its paddles fitted when the Surprise made its first voyage.
On 30 May, the Surprize (sic) advertised a service to Parramatta. At that time there were no advertisements for ferry services advertised in Sydney. The Sophia Jane advertised the first cruise on 13 June. From 8 August, the Surprise published a timetable in the Sydney Herald.
The Surprise was built to operate on the Parramatta River and later operated in Tasmanian waters
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. Its fate is not known.