Steam Tug Lyttelton II

I'm sure many of you would have seen the steam tug Lyttelton II (Renamed the Victoria) sitting down at Victoria docks along side the Wattle for many years.

Well on the 6th of December 2006 the Lyttelton II was taken down to Gelong and put onto a slip. Then was proceeded to be scrapped.

Luckey enough Melbourne Steam Traction Engine Club was able to secure the entire engine room. Including all the equipment, tools and even the floor, walls and even the roof! In total 16 steam engines including the 2 main engines. It has now been all transported to Scoresby. Including the two boilers which are still owned by the Lyttelton owners. But are onsite at Scoresby as well.

It is sad to see another steam boat get cut up. But at least with the entire engine room being preserved it will live on!

Goto the MSTEC news web page for some photos home.vicnet.net.au/~mstec/news.htm

Some of which are linked below:

Hi Jarrod,there's another steam boat sitting under the Bolte Bridge i think it's the Wattle if so they tell me it's in bad shape wont be going any where in awhile whats the go there!

I see there is Part 1 of a story about this boat in the latest issue of TOMM (The Old Machinery Magazine) which was worth reading.

Is it likely to be at MSTECs rally in March. I know the display will not be complete by then but will the engines etc be available for view

Dave,

The steam tug Wattle is I believe still at Victoria Docks. Last I heard its fate is not known. But needs extensive repairs to the Hull to make it sea worthy. Quite a lot of money required for the material also alot of time on a slipway which is also very costly.

Bruce,

Haven't seen TOMM yet but have heard about the article. The actual scrapping has been completed at Geelong and all the bits that the club was getting are pretty much on site now. The engines and most of the auxiliary engines are on the main arena. And the boilers are over near the toilet block. The parts of the hull are near the lake on the main shed side. It is intended to put a fence around the items and make them a static display for this rally. The planning for the final display has not begun as yet. The main thing was to get everything onsite! Which has now been done.