Riverview Rise Retreats sits a 10-minute drive from the Mannum Dock Museum of River History, including the free seven-minute ferry crossing over the Murray. There, the boiler of the Mary Ann, the vessel William Randell launched in 1853 to become the first paddle steamer on the Murray, is preserved alongside the restored Paddle Steamer Marion and the heritage-listed Randell Dry Dock. That single 1853 voyage earned Mannum its title as the birthplace of the river’s paddle steamer trade, a history still visible along this stretch of the river, including in the 1991 mini-series The River Kings, filmed here with Michael Chorney, Riverview Rise’s designer, working as design assistant. Guests can walk the dock’s history in an afternoon, then return to a villa built by someone who has worked on this river’s own story.
A Short Drive Into the River’s Own History
Cross the free Mannum ferry, a seven-minute ride that’s part of the charm rather than an inconvenience, and you’re minutes from where the Murray’s paddle steamer story actually began. William Randell built and launched the Mary Ann here in 1853 with no formal training and a fair amount of nerve, starting a trade that shaped every river town from Mannum to the Murray-Darling junction. The museum holds his boiler still.
What’s Worth Seeing at the Dock
| Exhibit | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| PS Marion (1897) | Fully restored and operating; one of the last steam-driven, wood-fired, original overnight paddle steamers in the world |
| Randell Dry Dock (1876) | Heritage-listed; the only graving dock of its kind on the entire Murray-Darling system |
| PW Mayflower (1884) | The oldest original paddle wheeler in South Australia, restored to her 1913-era condition |
| John Key Beam Engine (1855) | Once pumped water from the dock; still the only working engine of its type in Australia |
A River That’s Been on Screen Before
This stretch of the Murray has done more than carry cargo. It carried a film crew too, in 1991, for the mini-series The River Kings, and Riverview Rise’s own designer, Michael Chorney, worked on it as design assistant. The production’s memorabilia is held further upriver at the Morgan Museum, not at Mannum, but the water the story was filmed on is right here.
Make an Afternoon of It
Wander the dock at your own pace, then head back across the ferry with the rest of the day still ahead of you. If the timing lines up, you can even book a cruise on the PS Marion herself and see the river the way Randell once did. Bring a jacket if the wind’s up on the water. There’s no rush, that’s rather the point of coming here in the first place.
FAQs
How did Lazy Jane Lodge get its name?
Lazy Jane Lodge is named after “Lazy Jane,” the paddle steamer character in The River Kings, the 1991 mini-series filmed on this stretch of the Murray. Riverview Rise Retreats’ designer, Michael Chorney, worked as design assistant on the production. Production memorabilia itself is held at the Morgan Museum, not at Mannum.
Do I need to book the Mannum ferry in advance?
No. The crossing is free, runs continuously, and takes about seven minutes. Simply drive or walk on when you arrive.
Is the Mannum Dock Museum an easy trip to fit into a stay at Riverview Rise Retreats?
Yes. It’s a ten-minute drive including the ferry crossing, making it a relaxed half-day outing rather than something you need to plan a whole day around.
Can you actually cruise on the PS Marion?
Yes, when she’s running. Bookings and current cruise times are handled directly through the vessel’s own site rather than through Riverview Rise Retreats.