ABC Wednesdays - G is for Goolwa

The Goolwa Railway Station is now only used by the Steam Ranger Tourist Railway. On some occasions they actually do run a steam train, but the day I was there recently this diesel train was being used. Known as the Redhen, these trains were used on Adelaide's metropolitan lines between 1995 and 1996.


The railway, opened in 1854, was the first in South Australia, linking Goolwa and Port Elliot. At that time the train was horse drawn. The railway was built to transport goods carried down the River Murray. As the mouth of the river was too treacherous for shipping, the port was established at Port Elliot.

Ten years later the line was extended to Victor Harbor, as Port Elliot was also proved not to be a safe harbour.

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HMB Endeavour

The HMB Endeavour was built in Freemantle, Western Australia. This beautiful boat is a full scale replica, although some materials used in its construction differed from those used over 200 years ago in Cook's original vessel. Construction began in 1988 using WA jarah. The iron fittings were hand crafted in a blacksmith shop on site.

The Endeavour was launched in 1993, and has since sailed over 170,000 nautical miles, including 2 round the world voyages.

Detailed information about the construction of this magnificent ship can be found here on the Australian Maritime Museum Website.

 

The HMB Endeavour in Port Adelaide

The HMB Endeavour is a full scale replica of the ship that Captain Cook used in his 1768-71 voyage of discovery that resulted in the settlement of Australia by Europeans in 1788.

For detailed information about the ship on the Australian National Maritime Museum website, click here.