Many of our readers have fond memories of riding the Captain Sturt Riverboat at Dreamworld, and whilst it’s common to think it’s design was inspired by the Mark Twain Riverboat at Disneyland, there was another boat in South Australia that the Dreamworld Captain Sturt bears resemblance.
The Captain Sturt (SA) operated in the Murray River from 1917 till 1938, and it was built in the USA, and sent over to Australia in parts.
In 1946, the boat became a houseboat, and remained docked in Goolwa, SA until 1997 where the decks were removed, the hull was filled with concrete, and it was incorporated into the Captain Sturt Marina in Goolwa. The boats original steering wheel was transferred to the PS Goolwa, which it’s design is similar to the Captain Sturt.
Whilst we know for sure that the Captain Sturt (DW) was heavily inspired in style from the Mark Twain at Disneyland, comparing photos of all the vessels, there seem to be distinct visual queues from both in what was the Dreamworld Captain Sturt.
The Captain Sturt, even well after its career ended has its name immortalised in Gold Coast history, just as it is in Goolwa, South Australia.
What do you think? Do you see the resemblance?
Captain Sturt photo courtesy of the State Library of South Australia - https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+9965
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