A Sunraysia family is selling three iconic Mildura paddle steamers after owning them for 70 years.
Owners Chris and Rob Pointon and Lyn McKenzie put PS Melbourne, Mundoo and PV Rothbury on the market this week.
The fleet has been a cornerstone of the Sunraysia community since PS Melbourne was first purchased in 1955.
The family bought Rothbury in 1968 and Mundoo in 1999.
Ms McKenzie said she initially got involved with the business to help her parents go into retirement.
"Then there were all sorts of different rewards from the different cruises from people coming on as children and coming back with their children, running into people years later," she said.
The family has held thousands of events including weddings, birthdays and scenic tours over the years.
Ms McKenzie said "not just anyone" can take over the business.
"They need to know how to operate the boats," she said.
"It was great working with my family, my sister and my brother, but our other staff became our second family and it's them who got the boats out every day."
She said COVID-19 had shaken the company, but the good memories still outweighed the bad.
"I grew up with them from my parents, the Pointons, here at Mildura, they've always been there," she said.
"There are a lot of memories, they were just plain iconic here," Ms McKenzie said.
Three generations of ownership
Mildura Regional Development chief executive Brett Millington said the fleet was a major tourism drawcard for the region.
"We are absolutely hoping the ships stay local and the services remain there for the future, from the tourism perspective and for events like weddings, birthdays and the like," he said.
"We use them quite often as a promotion of the region and our celebration of the region.
"You can't really get closer to the river than cruising along on the decks of the paddle steamer, particularly for visitors who haven't had experience with the river."
First National Real Estate Collie and Tierney normally sells property in the region, but the business will be taking care of the vessel handover.
