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The DART presently sits on chocks on the river bank,
under the Hindmarsh Island bridge.
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With the OSCAR �W� now in near pristine condition, our
dedicated volunteer workers are turning their attention to the barge �DART�.
We have applied to the Maritime Museum and received a grant of $10,000 to
start preservation work. The Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support
Scheme is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian
National Maritime Museum. We have matched this grant with $10,000 from OSCAR�S
own funds. Planning and preparatory work is under way, and our first task
is to fabricate new steel internal frames, to replace the existing badly
rusted frames.
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BRIEF HISTORY
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The Dart was built in 1912 by D. Milne at Goolwa for
the Engineering & Water Supply Department, and not registered
as it was owned and used by the South Australian Government. The DART is
72� in length, and 17� in breadth, with a composite hull � red gum bottom
and iron top sides. It was built as a floating work platform and used
as a pile-driving vessel on the construction of the weirs and locks,
and later other works along the river. The pile driver was steam powered
using a vertical boiler. Traces of this use are still visible on the deck.
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The DART moored by the Ferry landing.
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Loading bales onto the DART.
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In 1971 the DART was taken to Murray Bridge and partially restored,
then taken to shallow water and sunk to preserve the timber hull.
In 1985 it was raised and purchased by the District Council of Port Elliot
and Goolwa, and brought to Goolwa to be used as part of the Signal
Point River Murray Interpretive Centre plant of the P.S. Oscar W.
In 1999/2000 the 'DART' was transformed into a film set as the "Tingalla
Rose" for the children's TV series
"Chuck
Finn". |
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It has been used on numerous occasions as part of the Oscar W plant for
re-enactments, in particular in 1992 when the Oscar W and barge made
a record breaking run from Goolwa to Mildura in 4 days 23 hours, and also
in the 50th anniversary of the 1956 River Murray flood. In 2000 the superstructure
was added, in the form of "piles", ( as the 'DART' was used as a pile driver
in the past), to house a photographic display for the Centenary of Federation
Celebrations. In 2001 the 'DART' was towed behind the PS OSCAR 'W'
to Mildura taking part in the �Source to Sea�. Three years ago the Dart
sank at its moorings, and after raising was placed on land pending
restoration.
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Historic picture of the DART in times past.
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EXISTING HERITAGE LISTING
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The Dart's helm in early morning light.
A solitary reminder of past glories.
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The barge � DART� is listed on the National Maritime
Museum Register of Historic Vessels and a statement of significance is included
in the book Historic Shipping on the River Murray.
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