Pointons to sell Mildura paddle-steamers Melbourne, Mundoo and Rothbury

After more than a century on the Murray River, a famous fleet of Sunraysia paddle-steamers have hit the market.

On the Murray River and in Victoria’s Sunraysia, historic paddle-steamers are synonymous with the region for tourists and locals alike acting as an ode to a bygone era.

A fleet of these beautiful relics have been listed for sale with Mildura’s Pointon family selling their three boats after an almost 70-year tenure on the Murray.

Chris Pointon and family are selling the PS Melbourne and paddle vessels Mundoo and Rothbury, calling time on their business.

The three boat enterprise was borne by Mr Pointon’s parents Alby and Freeda who continued to operate the vessel until well into their 90s.

For Mr Pointon the PS Melbourne, Mundoo and Rothbury have been a constant in his life.

“It has always been flowing through the veins,” he said.

“It has been my whole life. I grew up with the boats in the family and worked seven days a week.

Chris Pointon, Lyn McKenzie and Robert Pointon are selling their three paddle boats at Mildura.

“It was a way of life and it was the way we grew up.”

The first boat of the historic fleet was purchased in 1955, but proved too small, with Alby purchasing the PS Melbourne in 1965, which started operation in January 1966.

The Pointon’s purchased the smaller Rothbury in 1968, the year Mr Pointon was born, with the family later purchasing Mundoo in 1999 at a South Australian auction.

“The business continued to grow and by the time I was ready to leave school 1986, instead of going elsewhere I jumped straight into the boat business,” Mr Pointon said.

“It was Alba’s and Freeda’s beginning with all their hard work developing them from wrecks along the river to tourist attractions.

“I have been doing it for about 35 years and am lucky enough to be the second generation to continue on.

Chris and Robert Pointon and Lyn McKenzie are ready to relinquish their ownership of their paddle boat fleet.

“For all the family members it will be a sad day selling but it is the time for someone else to take it on and for us to hand on the baton.

“We would love to pass the baton on to someone to nurture the boats for the next 20, 50, or 100 years.”

The Rothbury is 140 years old, the Melbourne is 110 years old, while Mundoo was built 1987.

Over the last few decades the Pointon family have run tourist tours, events and functions on the boats as they power up and down the Murray River.

Paddle-steamers are rarely on the market, but in 2015 three historic Echuca vessels were up for grabs for $3.8 million.

First National Real Estate Collie and Tierney selling agent Robert Stephens was managing the sale of the Pointon’s boats which are for sale as a whole or individually, via expressions of interest.