A history of the paddle steamer, the Theodore

Paddle steamers are relatively rare, but Lake Wānaka had its own and it was the first steam driven vessel to sail on the lake. It had quite a colourful and eventful life before it was beached in 1905 and finally scrapped and broken up in 1914.

The Theodore probably had its beginnings as an idea of Theodore Russell as an adjunct to the Wanaka Hotel business. Unfortunately, Theodore died in late 1877 before he could start the project. Enter Charles Hedditch, a previous partner of Theodore’s, and possibly supported by Theodore’s widow, Celia, who was running the Wanaka Hotel.

Hedditch must have contacted Asher Smith of Queenstown, a boat builder/carpenter, who may have built the Wanaka Hotel for Theodore Russell. He was living in Queenstown.  Asher moved over to Lake Wānaka and set up a base near the Matukituki River. There he commenced building the Theodore in 1880. It appears that he was in an ownership partnership with Charles Hedditch.

Asher designed the vessel and selected the local wood to be used. It is likely that it was obtained from Ewing’s sawmill. The vessel was to be a flat-bottomed hull with a length of 67 feet (though various other measurements are provided in local newspapers) and a beam of 16 feet. To put it into context, this is a smaller hull than those used in the recent America’s Cup races that were 86 feet by 42 feet!

On the 9 March 1881, the vessel was launched. Hedditch’s wife, Florence smashed a bottle of champagne on the prow, named it Theodore, and it slipped into Lake Wānaka. Some 70 persons had gathered at the site, having travelled in three or four boats from Pembroke which is 12 miles away, and by horse overland. After the celebrations were over, the hull was towed over to Roys Bay and moored there to await installation of the machinery, boiler, and paddles etc.

On 26 March it was reported “….portions of her machinery passed through Arrowtown en-route for Pembroke…. It is estimated that the steamer would be in full working trim within three months from date.”  But something was amiss – probably money!  The vessel was a sizeable investment – a reported £3,000.

Contrary to the earlier mentioned newspaper report, and five weeks later, Charles Hedditch was in Dunedin “…making arrangements for machinery for the steamer ‘Theodore’….” Moving on another 12 months, it was then reported that “The Theodore still rides at her moorings, and despite rancorous predictions to the contrary, her engines are expected and will, barring mishaps, soon be landed in Dunedin.”

However, again, all was not as reported. Another 5 months on and it was reported that “…the necessary machinery, paddles, etc, for the steamer are now on their way from England, having been specially manufactured by the renowned firm of Marshall and Sons, Gainsborough…[Mr Hedditch] expects to have the vessel completely fitted and plying on the lake early in the ensuing year.” It was indicated that but for a misunderstanding on the part of Marshall and Sons, the arrangement would have been completed by now. It is possible that Asher and Charles had run out of money and this caused the delays. A sum of money had been raised against the security of the vessel with the Commercial Property & Finance Co Ltd of Dunedin.  It is also suggested in another newspaper report that there was a second charge mortgage to “the Russells”.

Eventually, the machinery arrived in Dunedin and it was transported to Pembroke at a cost of £200. The engine was a “portable one of 29 hp but could be worked to 40hp.” The installation was completed and a trial voyage took place in 23 July 1883.  The trial was to everybody’s satisfaction – just over two years since it was launched!

On 7 August, the maiden public voyage was advertised - see advert

On 16 August, the big event took place, and a trip was made around part of the lake with lunch at McKay’s and a free ball held at the Wanaka Hotel that night. Charles, now known locally as Captain Hedditch, was the captain and as such continued in that position until the vessel was sold later on.

Then, on 17 July 1891, there appeared an advertisement for the purchase of the Theodore by way of a tender process. This was advertised by the previously mentioned Commercial Property & Finance Co Ltd as mortgagee. But the next day the Theodore sank alongside the Pembroke jetty. There was a suggestion away back in 1880 in a letter to a newspaper by an unknown person, that Asher may have been having trouble with caulking the timbers, as it was suggested that unseasoned wood was used in the construction.  Maybe that came back to haunt Captain Hedditch and Asher Smith?

As an aside, in the NZ Police Gazette dated 21 Oct 1891, the local policeman, Constable A E Remer was awarded £5 “by the New Zealand and other insurance companies in recognition of his services at the ps Theodore when sunk in Lake Wanaka.”

By 14 September, the Theodore had been overhauled, repaired, re-surveyed and re-launched. It cannot have sold by the tender, as in October it was advertised again by the mortgagees to be sold by auction. That cannot have worked either as the Commercial Property & Finance Co Ltd was registered as owner of the vessel in 1892.

A watercolour painting of the Theodore by Christopher Aubrey dated 1885. The original is in the National Library.

All was not lost however, as Robert M McDougall, a well-known entrepreneur in the district, purchased the vessel in April 1892 via his business R M McDougall & Sons. But their problems were just starting!

About May 1896 it was discovered that the hull was “….in a rotten state.” The McDougalls re-planked the hull and had it sailing again later that year, but this time under the name Wanaka. It was re-named back to Theodore a very short while later, it is thought, after a ‘hue and cry’ from the locals.

It continued plying the lake until 1905. January 1905 was the last time an advertisement appeared in the newspapers. It was beached at Roys Bay and slowly deteriorated. In 1914 it was broken up and the remains removed.