Twins Craig and Rohan Burgess are leading a bold new chapter for river cruising in regional Victoria, committing $8 million to build two luxury paddle steamers aimed at celebrating the art of slow travel.
Based in Echuca on the Murray River, the Burgess brothers’ project is designed to give travellers a more relaxed and immersive way to explore Australia’s longest river, echoing the golden era of paddle steamer journeys.
The design of the new vessels blends classic paddle steamer aesthetics with modern luxury, offering spacious interiors, fine dining and scenic cruising that encourages guests to slow down and savour the landscape rather than rushing from one destination to the next.
“This isn’t just about getting from A to B,” one of the brothers said in unveiling the plan. “It’s about reconnecting people with the calm, beauty and heritage of river travel.”
The twin steamers will operate seasonally on the Murray River, providing multi-day cruises that highlight local food, wine and natural beauty, as well as river towns that have long histories tied to inland navigation.
Tourism experts say the investment could help boost regional tourism by attracting visitors seeking slower-paced holidays, complementing existing paddle steamer attractions already popular in the Echuca-Moama area.
While exact launch dates have yet to be confirmed, the brothers hope their vision will appeal to Australians looking for experiential travel that prioritises leisure, heritage and connection with the river environment.
The project signals renewed interest in paddle steamer cruising, a mode of transport with deep historical roots in Australia’s river regions.
Based in Echuca on the Murray River, the Burgess brothers’ project is designed to give travellers a more relaxed and immersive way to explore Australia’s longest river, echoing the golden era of paddle steamer journeys.
The design of the new vessels blends classic paddle steamer aesthetics with modern luxury, offering spacious interiors, fine dining and scenic cruising that encourages guests to slow down and savour the landscape rather than rushing from one destination to the next.
“This isn’t just about getting from A to B,” one of the brothers said in unveiling the plan. “It’s about reconnecting people with the calm, beauty and heritage of river travel.”
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| Big Dreams: Twins Craig and Rohan Burgess and their paddle steamer (The Age) |
The twin steamers will operate seasonally on the Murray River, providing multi-day cruises that highlight local food, wine and natural beauty, as well as river towns that have long histories tied to inland navigation.
Tourism experts say the investment could help boost regional tourism by attracting visitors seeking slower-paced holidays, complementing existing paddle steamer attractions already popular in the Echuca-Moama area.
While exact launch dates have yet to be confirmed, the brothers hope their vision will appeal to Australians looking for experiential travel that prioritises leisure, heritage and connection with the river environment.
The project signals renewed interest in paddle steamer cruising, a mode of transport with deep historical roots in Australia’s river regions.
For more information, visit the website: www.murrayriverpaddlesteamers.com.au
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