The steamers 'Lady Augusta' and 'Mary Ann' at Swan Hill on the River Murray. Originally published as the frontispiece to James Allen, jun., Journal of an experimental trip by the 'Lady Augusta' on the River Murray, Adelaide : C.G.E. Platts, 1853. The Register published reports of the voyage by their correspondent; "Friday 16 September. The afternoon was very stormy, and at dusk we moored for the night by the river side, the Mary Anne doing the same a little astern us." Register 10 October 1853, page 3

After the South Australian government offered an incentive for the successful steam navigation of the River Murray two men quickly had their paddle steamers on the river. On 15 August 1852 William Randell set out a second time in the Mary Ann with 12 tons of stores, unaware that Francis Cadell with his Lady Augusta was also on the River. The latter overtook Randell near Swan Hill, and for some time the two paddle-steamers passed and repassed each other. Randell continued on to deliver stores at Moama, the Lady Augusta returning downstream to collect a load of wool bales. The media promoted this as a race, although there were no such intentions initially.

Randell and Cadell's efforts successfully opened the river as a highway for paddle steamers. Supplies for distant river communities could now be transported hundreds of miles inland, including the carrying of supplies to the Victorian gold fields. Station owners could ship their woolclip downriver more conveniently and quickly than by using bullock drays. Cadell established his River Murray Navigation Company and for a number of years had contracts with both the South Australian and New South Wales governments to remove snags from the river, before finally abandoning the river trade for other interests. Randell however continued and prospered, building a considerable fleet of paddle steamers before handing his busines interests over to his son Murray in 1899.

Cadell, Francis, 1822-1879

Randell, William Richard, 1824-1911

Kinloch, Arthur The Murray River: being a journal of the voyage of the "Lady Augusta" steamer from the Goolwa, in South Australia, to Gannewarra, above Swan Hill, Victoria; a distance from the sea mouth of 1400 miles Adelaide: Friends of the State Library of South Australia, 1997

Allen, James Journal of an experimental trip by the "Lady Augusta', on the River Murray Adelaide: Libraries Board of South Australia, 1976

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 Ridgehaven, S. Aust.: Gould Books, 1990

Phillips, Peter J. Redgum & paddlewheels: Australia's inland river trade Collingwood, Vic.: Greenhouse, 1980

Australian Dictionary of Biography online: Cadell, Francis (1822-1879)

Australian Dictionary of Biography online: Randell, William Richard (1824-1911)

SA Memory: Wooden walls and Iron Sides: Riverine shipping