Podcasts

The Riv talks ... the salvage of the PS Alexander Arbuthnot

By Jaci Hicken

Jan 1, 2026

Helene Sutherland has written a book on the salvage of the sunk Alexander Arbuthnot paddle steamer, which her late husband and his crew brought back to the surface. Photo by Bree Harding

... with Mrs Helene Sutherland, who was there for every step of this remarkable salvage.

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The Echuca-Moama story is tied to the many river boats that call the mighty Murray River home.

One of those boats is the PS Alexander Arbuthnot, which was first built in 1916 as a barge before being commissioned as a paddlesteamer in 1923.

In 1947, the PS Alexander Arbuthnot sank, then was salvaged in 1972.

The remarkable story of the PS Alexander Arbuthnot's salvage has been chronicled in a book by Helene Sutherland, The Salvage of the Alexander Arbuthnot.

The ambitious salvage effort commenced in June 1972, spearheaded by Mrs Sutherland's husband John, who lived by the motto 'possible we do straight away, miracles take a little longer.'

We spoke to Mrs Sutherland, sharing the story of this remarkable salvage.