It seems the people of the Hawkesbury have long had a strong desire to “muck about in boats” and have similarly had a long love affair with “their” River.
The story of the steamer “St Albans” has embedded within it both of these desires.
The “St Albans” was born when she slid down the skids at 10 o’clock into the waters of South Creek with an almighty splash in January 1886. Her owner was Mr Barden and her builder/designer was Mr W. S. Lockhart - she was launched in the presence of some 30-40 people. The “St Albans” was a flat-bottomed boat and little had been done to her than planking her up to the height of her deck beams and sheathing with metal. It was considered all her top work could be just as well finished when afloat. The machinery , with the exception of the boiler, that was used in her came from the old “Alma” – the steamer that John Jurd had traded with in the 1870’s.
In March 1886 she made the first successful attempt to navigate the Hawkesbury by steam from Windsor since the big flood of 1867. She left Windsor Wharf with passengers and cargo, including 3 racehorses! for St Albans. She was intended to trade between the Macdonald River and Windsor and was considered a great boon to residents.
Mr Barden had two boats, the “St Albans” and “Young Charlie” – these were sold after his death in the late ‘80’s. Then in 1889 a local syndicate, Mr G. Manning and one of his sons, Andrew; Mr Peter Kemp ( a famous sculler) and Mr W. Jones purchased the St Albans for a sum of 300 Pound. Kemp and Jones eventually fell out of the business and the boat went to the Manning family, with Andrew “Archie” Manning in command. Archie purchased the “St Albans” in 1890 and became owner/commander.
SOME STORIES
From the following stories we can glean some idea of what is was like to travel the River back in the days of the “St Albans”....and it wasn’t all beer and skittles....
Although the “St Albans” was a cargo boat, she also carried passengers and hosted many pleasant outings and excursions for the populace. Here are some of those stories......
* The Holiday Sat. 25 May 1889 “The Queen’s Birthday passed off very quietly in Windsor and Richmond. The steamer St Albans carried 40 passengers from Windsor down the Hawkesbury, picking up others on route. Tea meetings were held at Enfield (Wesleyan Church) and at St Thomas’ Sackville Reach. Sports took place at McDonald’s Hotel, Pitt Town.”
* Sat. 19 Nov. 1890 “The steamer St Albans (Capt. Manning) ran a very enjoyable moonlight excursion on Sat. last and had a fair compliment of passengers on board. This Sat. a fishing party will leave for the Ferry and if a good number of devotees to the past-time intend to go, there should be some sport on board!”
* 1891 “ The steamer St Albans landed 250 bags of maize at Windsor wharf.
* Steamer Trip To St Albans 16 Nov. 1895 “Steamer St Albans left Windsor Wharf with a mixed team of local Cricketers for St Albans. Owing to it being low tide at the time of starting, the 12 cricketers had to walk as far as Wilberforce where they met the boat and embarked. A pleasant trip was made and St Albans was reached early Sat. morning. They arrived back home on the top of the tide Sunday morning, speaking in the highest terms of their stay with Mrs Delander and Mr Jurd of the local hotel.”
* Flood 1892 “The steamer St Albans broke away from her moorings about day light and headed for downstream. The engineer seized the wheel and steadied her, cast anchor and with some assistance placed her in safety.”
* Accident at Wiseman’s June 1889 “ On Queen’s Birthday a lad apprenticed to Mr J. Walmesley was playing with fireworks when a Chinese gun exploded and burned him severely in the face. He was brought up to Windsor aboard the “St Albans” and treated at the Hospital by Dr Callaghan. He is now recovering.
* Case Of Drowning Sat. March 10 1894 “ Early on Wednesday morning last a young man named Henry Buckridge aged 17, was drowned off the steamer St Albans, near Windsor Wharf, whilst trying, in company with Mr Manning, to secure the steamer during a rise in the river.......the current was very strong and the river had risen 6 – 7 feet over the wharf......Buckridge lived at Wiseman’s Ferry with his parents and was a strong young fellow......he had only been with the steamer a few days and this was his first trip.”
* 1896 Hawkesbury Swimming Club ran the mile swimming championships of Australasia. There were 1,500 spectators and the river banks were gaily decorated. The river was alive with boats and 3 local steamers – the “St Albans”, “Lottie” and “Colonel” were there.
SOME REFITS
* March 1889 The Steamer St Albans “This vessel which has undergone a complete change since her last visit to Windsor, arrived last Tues. with a cargo of maize and lay-to at the wharf. The boat has been altered to suit the conditions of the river; an awning has been erected the whole length of the vessel, and the cabin has been enlarged. She now presents a first class appearance.”
* April 1889 “......despite the St Albans recently being overhauled and altered to suit the state of the river......she was built some time ago and it was found she drew too much water......she could not even at high tide make Windsor Wharf without being stranded. On Monday she left Windsor with 160 passengers, ran onto a sandbank but got free again. On returning she struck a shoal shortly after turning into Windsor Reach and had to disembark her passengers at 8 o’clock and they had to walk home.....”
* Oct. 1889 “In connection with clearing the river channel, Sunday night, the S.S. St Albans with a pleasure party on board, grounded on one of the numerous sand banks in Windsor Reach and the people had disembark and find their own way home....annoying situation....”
* June 1892 Mr A. Manning of the steamer St Albans has been appointed general agent for the Gazette along the river, and will take names of intending subscribers and receive monies on behalf of the proprietor of this journal.”
THE WRECK OF THE ST ALBANS
* Sat. Sept. 1897 “Word of the wreck of Capt. Manning’s steamer, St Albans – it seems that during the high winds of Tues. night the vessel was anchored mid-stream at the mouth of the Colo and was carried onto the rocks........she lays on one side on the ledge of a rock, there being several feet of water in the cabin.......”
* Sept. 1897 “ Mr A. Manning of the ill-fated steamer St Albans, has been up here collecting all the large boats and tanks he could get to try to float his steamer. His friends hope for his success...”
* 6 Nov. 1897 “ The S.S. St Albans is afloat and at work again. She passed us last week bound seaward with a Government punt along side....”
THE ORIGIN OF THE PHOTO
From the following articles we can date almost exactly the time the photograph of the St Albans and the children was taken.
* Sat. 21 Jan. 1899 “The old “river liner” St Albans is high and dry on the beach below Windsor Wharf, undergoing repairs. It will be necessary to wait till the high tides come round again before she can be floated.”
* Sat. 11 Feb. 1899 “The steamer St Albans has been over-hauled and is now back at work again on the river.”
* Sat. 18 Feb. 1899 “The old steamer St Albans is again high and dry at low tide. The old craft is undergoing repairs and when those are completed she should be somewhat improved.”
TOWARDS RETIREMENT
* 30 Sep. 1899 “......at present the poor old St Albans only reaches the local wharf when it is rid of “that tired feeling” which is about once every 3 weeks....”
* Sat. 4 Jan. 1902 “It is probable that the directors of the Hawkesbury River Steam Navigation Co. will before long put on a suitable steamer to run from the deep waters of the Hawkesbury to Windsor. Since the old St Albans ceased to run, much inconvenience is felt by those who prefer trading with Windsor, rather than Sydney.”
It seems the old man and his boat “retired” at the same time from the river.
OBITUARY
Mr Andrew (Archie) Manning died in 1928 at one of his daughter’s homes in Bridge street Windsor. He had suffered from severe rheumatism for the last 10 years of his life and had been retired from the river trading business for about a quarter of a century. He was well known and gained friends with everyone with whom he came in contact.
THE CHILDREN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
Andrew Manning was born in 1856 and he married Amanda Wall ( 1863-1922) of Wilberforce in 1885 in Sydney. They had 6 children :- 1886 – Vida ( Glebe)
1888 – Alfred N. (Glebe)
1888 – Amy B. ( Glebe )
1890 – Cecil H. (Windsor)
1894 – Unice ( Windsor )
1897 – Myra R. ( Windsor )
So, if the photo was taken in 1899, and the children in front of the St Albans are Andrew and Amanda Manning’s children, which ones do you think are in the image?
BUT THAT’S NOT QUITE THE END OF THE STORY.........
* 22 Jan. 1902 “Mr George Boyter having purchased the S.S. St Albans has entirely renovated her in order that he may carry on the river trade.....”
* 19 July 1902 “Mr George Boyter of Colo has been very unlucky with the old St Albans. He was in hopes of renovating the old craft but she was “past redemption”. He has brought her to Windsor and taken all the iron out of her, having disposed the “innards” to one purchaser and the hull to another......”
THE PHOTO AGAIN
Was it taken in 1899 when Archie brought it to Windsor for repair?
Or was it taken in 1902 when George Boyter brought her to Windsor to broken up?
Who might the children be now?
The story of the steamer “St Albans” has embedded within it both of these desires.
The “St Albans” was born when she slid down the skids at 10 o’clock into the waters of South Creek with an almighty splash in January 1886. Her owner was Mr Barden and her builder/designer was Mr W. S. Lockhart - she was launched in the presence of some 30-40 people. The “St Albans” was a flat-bottomed boat and little had been done to her than planking her up to the height of her deck beams and sheathing with metal. It was considered all her top work could be just as well finished when afloat. The machinery , with the exception of the boiler, that was used in her came from the old “Alma” – the steamer that John Jurd had traded with in the 1870’s.
In March 1886 she made the first successful attempt to navigate the Hawkesbury by steam from Windsor since the big flood of 1867. She left Windsor Wharf with passengers and cargo, including 3 racehorses! for St Albans. She was intended to trade between the Macdonald River and Windsor and was considered a great boon to residents.
Mr Barden had two boats, the “St Albans” and “Young Charlie” – these were sold after his death in the late ‘80’s. Then in 1889 a local syndicate, Mr G. Manning and one of his sons, Andrew; Mr Peter Kemp ( a famous sculler) and Mr W. Jones purchased the St Albans for a sum of 300 Pound. Kemp and Jones eventually fell out of the business and the boat went to the Manning family, with Andrew “Archie” Manning in command. Archie purchased the “St Albans” in 1890 and became owner/commander.
SOME STORIES
From the following stories we can glean some idea of what is was like to travel the River back in the days of the “St Albans”....and it wasn’t all beer and skittles....
Although the “St Albans” was a cargo boat, she also carried passengers and hosted many pleasant outings and excursions for the populace. Here are some of those stories......
* The Holiday Sat. 25 May 1889 “The Queen’s Birthday passed off very quietly in Windsor and Richmond. The steamer St Albans carried 40 passengers from Windsor down the Hawkesbury, picking up others on route. Tea meetings were held at Enfield (Wesleyan Church) and at St Thomas’ Sackville Reach. Sports took place at McDonald’s Hotel, Pitt Town.”
* Sat. 19 Nov. 1890 “The steamer St Albans (Capt. Manning) ran a very enjoyable moonlight excursion on Sat. last and had a fair compliment of passengers on board. This Sat. a fishing party will leave for the Ferry and if a good number of devotees to the past-time intend to go, there should be some sport on board!”
* 1891 “ The steamer St Albans landed 250 bags of maize at Windsor wharf.
* Steamer Trip To St Albans 16 Nov. 1895 “Steamer St Albans left Windsor Wharf with a mixed team of local Cricketers for St Albans. Owing to it being low tide at the time of starting, the 12 cricketers had to walk as far as Wilberforce where they met the boat and embarked. A pleasant trip was made and St Albans was reached early Sat. morning. They arrived back home on the top of the tide Sunday morning, speaking in the highest terms of their stay with Mrs Delander and Mr Jurd of the local hotel.”
* Flood 1892 “The steamer St Albans broke away from her moorings about day light and headed for downstream. The engineer seized the wheel and steadied her, cast anchor and with some assistance placed her in safety.”
* Accident at Wiseman’s June 1889 “ On Queen’s Birthday a lad apprenticed to Mr J. Walmesley was playing with fireworks when a Chinese gun exploded and burned him severely in the face. He was brought up to Windsor aboard the “St Albans” and treated at the Hospital by Dr Callaghan. He is now recovering.
* Case Of Drowning Sat. March 10 1894 “ Early on Wednesday morning last a young man named Henry Buckridge aged 17, was drowned off the steamer St Albans, near Windsor Wharf, whilst trying, in company with Mr Manning, to secure the steamer during a rise in the river.......the current was very strong and the river had risen 6 – 7 feet over the wharf......Buckridge lived at Wiseman’s Ferry with his parents and was a strong young fellow......he had only been with the steamer a few days and this was his first trip.”
* 1896 Hawkesbury Swimming Club ran the mile swimming championships of Australasia. There were 1,500 spectators and the river banks were gaily decorated. The river was alive with boats and 3 local steamers – the “St Albans”, “Lottie” and “Colonel” were there.
SOME REFITS
* March 1889 The Steamer St Albans “This vessel which has undergone a complete change since her last visit to Windsor, arrived last Tues. with a cargo of maize and lay-to at the wharf. The boat has been altered to suit the conditions of the river; an awning has been erected the whole length of the vessel, and the cabin has been enlarged. She now presents a first class appearance.”
* April 1889 “......despite the St Albans recently being overhauled and altered to suit the state of the river......she was built some time ago and it was found she drew too much water......she could not even at high tide make Windsor Wharf without being stranded. On Monday she left Windsor with 160 passengers, ran onto a sandbank but got free again. On returning she struck a shoal shortly after turning into Windsor Reach and had to disembark her passengers at 8 o’clock and they had to walk home.....”
* Oct. 1889 “In connection with clearing the river channel, Sunday night, the S.S. St Albans with a pleasure party on board, grounded on one of the numerous sand banks in Windsor Reach and the people had disembark and find their own way home....annoying situation....”
* June 1892 Mr A. Manning of the steamer St Albans has been appointed general agent for the Gazette along the river, and will take names of intending subscribers and receive monies on behalf of the proprietor of this journal.”
THE WRECK OF THE ST ALBANS
* Sat. Sept. 1897 “Word of the wreck of Capt. Manning’s steamer, St Albans – it seems that during the high winds of Tues. night the vessel was anchored mid-stream at the mouth of the Colo and was carried onto the rocks........she lays on one side on the ledge of a rock, there being several feet of water in the cabin.......”
* Sept. 1897 “ Mr A. Manning of the ill-fated steamer St Albans, has been up here collecting all the large boats and tanks he could get to try to float his steamer. His friends hope for his success...”
* 6 Nov. 1897 “ The S.S. St Albans is afloat and at work again. She passed us last week bound seaward with a Government punt along side....”
THE ORIGIN OF THE PHOTO
From the following articles we can date almost exactly the time the photograph of the St Albans and the children was taken.
* Sat. 21 Jan. 1899 “The old “river liner” St Albans is high and dry on the beach below Windsor Wharf, undergoing repairs. It will be necessary to wait till the high tides come round again before she can be floated.”
* Sat. 11 Feb. 1899 “The steamer St Albans has been over-hauled and is now back at work again on the river.”
* Sat. 18 Feb. 1899 “The old steamer St Albans is again high and dry at low tide. The old craft is undergoing repairs and when those are completed she should be somewhat improved.”
TOWARDS RETIREMENT
* 30 Sep. 1899 “......at present the poor old St Albans only reaches the local wharf when it is rid of “that tired feeling” which is about once every 3 weeks....”
* Sat. 4 Jan. 1902 “It is probable that the directors of the Hawkesbury River Steam Navigation Co. will before long put on a suitable steamer to run from the deep waters of the Hawkesbury to Windsor. Since the old St Albans ceased to run, much inconvenience is felt by those who prefer trading with Windsor, rather than Sydney.”
It seems the old man and his boat “retired” at the same time from the river.
OBITUARY
Mr Andrew (Archie) Manning died in 1928 at one of his daughter’s homes in Bridge street Windsor. He had suffered from severe rheumatism for the last 10 years of his life and had been retired from the river trading business for about a quarter of a century. He was well known and gained friends with everyone with whom he came in contact.
THE CHILDREN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
Andrew Manning was born in 1856 and he married Amanda Wall ( 1863-1922) of Wilberforce in 1885 in Sydney. They had 6 children :- 1886 – Vida ( Glebe)
1888 – Alfred N. (Glebe)
1888 – Amy B. ( Glebe )
1890 – Cecil H. (Windsor)
1894 – Unice ( Windsor )
1897 – Myra R. ( Windsor )
So, if the photo was taken in 1899, and the children in front of the St Albans are Andrew and Amanda Manning’s children, which ones do you think are in the image?
BUT THAT’S NOT QUITE THE END OF THE STORY.........
* 22 Jan. 1902 “Mr George Boyter having purchased the S.S. St Albans has entirely renovated her in order that he may carry on the river trade.....”
* 19 July 1902 “Mr George Boyter of Colo has been very unlucky with the old St Albans. He was in hopes of renovating the old craft but she was “past redemption”. He has brought her to Windsor and taken all the iron out of her, having disposed the “innards” to one purchaser and the hull to another......”
THE PHOTO AGAIN
Was it taken in 1899 when Archie brought it to Windsor for repair?
Or was it taken in 1902 when George Boyter brought her to Windsor to broken up?
Who might the children be now?
