Lost trade keeper, Murray adventurer and paddlesteamer captain — Adam Fitton

There’s something special about sharing what you love with others, and Adam Fitton gets to share the Murray River and historic paddlesteamers every day in his role at the Port of Echuca.

A love for the Murray River runs in Adam’s blood. He moved to the Echuca Moama region with his parents in the 1980s, following his dad around as young boys tend to do.

“Dad had a love for the river [and] a paddleboat that he restored. And that's where the love of the river came for me."

Adam's career and the history of Paddlesteamers on the Murray

It’s not surprising the love of the river led to a career on the water too, with a shipwright apprenticeship — “a dying art” — at the Port of Echuca.

“I think it's very important for the apprenticeships to continue offering these lost trades, because whether you like it or not, whilst you have the vessels, they will require the maintenance and for people in the future to continue to come and enjoy it. I got involved because of the history of the paddleboats…where else will you go in the world to see these vessels and the history that we showcase today?”

With hundreds of paddlesteamers and barges once plying the river trade in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Adam acknowledges there are few that have survived the test of time. Places like Echuca are “a wonderful opportunity to showcase the history of the Murray River”.

“Echuca was the largest river port in the Southern Hemisphere, actually…[it] used to extend four times the length of what it is today. And the vessels would come all the way from South Australia to here, [that’s] a four-week journey.” With a reverence for the history of these vessels and their contribution to The Murray’s development, he knows it’s the people and stories that keep it going. “Everyone's got this strong passion [for] what the Murray River did and how it helped make Australia what it is today.”

Today, the river continues to bring life to the region, a big part of what draws 1.4 million visitors to the Echuca Moama region each year — along with being the closest location to Melbourne along the length of the Murray.

“Echuca’s largest drawcard is the Murray River itself. People come for many things, whether it be fishing, kayaking, the paddlesteamers, [hiring a] houseboat and exploring for themselves. [Many] want to see the history that we have displayed.”

Adam's recommendations in Echuca Moama and surrounds

Centred around the National Heritage-listed Echuca Wharf, the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre has daily walking tours and interactive displays. Outdoor exhibits to explore include a locomotive display and stationary paddlesteamers and barges. Visitors can also join Adam aboard a working paddlesteamer for a river cruise along the Murray.

“I'm lucky enough to crew the vessels. We've got the PS Pevensey, the PS Adelaide and the PS Alexander Arbuthnot. I get to skipper, engineer, sometimes I act as a deckhand, as well as doing maintenance and repairs.”

It’s on these cruises that he’s often asked for recommendations on what to see and do in Echuca Moama and the surrounding region. “We've got some beautiful eateries, we've got a Greek restaurant here, Sunago. We’ve got some lovely pubs, such as the Shamrock Hotel. [You can also find a nearby café to] get a lovely coffee and sit down here at the Port of Echuca…a beautiful spot looking over the Murray River, watching the paddleboats go past.”

With food covered, he also recommends exploring the river further around Barmah, a 30-minute drive from Echuca Moama where you’ll find the largest red gum forest in the Southern Hemisphere.

“It's very popular for camping and people going for bird life, and fishing. It's a wonderful part of the river that's really untouched, probably for the last 60 years. It's very beautiful. Or further downstream we've got Cohuna, and there's the canoe trail, which actually comes off the Koondrook Creek, which leads into the Murray River.”

Adam's favourite memories & his ambitions

Unsurprisingly, the river also features in Adam’s favourite memories throughout his life.

“I got to travel from Mildura all the way down towards Goolwa with a dear friend of mine…that's got to be one of my happiest moments on the river…every evening and every morning you just got to take it all in, whether it be the bird life, the sunset or the sunrise, the reflections on the river…simply the best. Something which will never be forgotten.”

Adam’s love for the Murray River runs deep, and while he’s got a taste of the river over many years through his trade, a trip down its entirety has so far eluded him.

“One of my dreams and ambitions is one day to travel the river, I haven't yet got to do that. I've heard all the stories, and I've read a lot of the books, and seen the boats travelling to and from…So one day, to experience the whole length, I think would be phenomenal.”

Explore more of Echuca Moama

Mates of The Murray series

This is the fourth blog in our Mates of The Murray series, and we’ll be introducing you to two more of our mates over the coming weeks. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to discover more of The Murray, or subscribe to our emails and get the latest straight to your inbox.