Side view of PS Murrabit at Echuca Wharf, at high water, loaded high with wool bales. Murrabit was built in 1914 by J Brooke at Koondrook in Victoria and was owned by a number of shipowners along the river. By 1932 it was owned by Landseer & Tinks and was used to tow barges filled with materials for the locks that were being built along the river to improve navigation.

In the early years of steam navigation on the rivers wool was one of the chief cargoes being shipped, with wheat and flour, building materials and general stores also a regular. Goolwa was for many years the port to which these cargoes were taken, then transferred to the railway for Port Elliot, later Victor Harbor. From here they were taken by ship to Port Adelaide or directly interstate or overseas. In 1878 a railway was built to Morgan on the North West Bend and the cargoes would be transferred there and railed directly to Port Adelaide. However goods collected from the lower river continued to go out through Goolwa.

Christopher, Peter. Paddlesteamers and riverboats of the River Murray [Stepney, S.Aust.]: Axiom , 2000
Parsons, Ronald. Ships of the inland rivers: an outline history and details of all known paddle ships, barges and other vessels trading on the Murray-Darling system Gumeracha, S. Aust.: Gould Books, 1996
Painter, Gwenda. The river trade: wool and steamers Wahroonga, N.S.W.: Turton & Armstrong with Pioneer Settlement Press, 1979