29 September 2008
National Museum of Australia conservators have begun an assessment of damage to the Paddle Steamer Enterprise caused by a steel bar which was thrown at the vessel at 9.43am on Saturday 27 September.
A steel fence picket was thrown with force off Commonwealth Bridge at the PS Enterprise. The steel picket pierced the timber wall of the vessel's saloon.
PS Enterprise is a 130-year-old paddle steamer, built in Echuca of river red gums, which steamed the Murray River. In 1984 the vessel was acquired by the National Museum of Australia, for the past 20 years PS Enterprise has steamed on Lake Burley Griffin.
'It's a low act to attack the crew of the PS Enterprise and one of the world's oldest working paddle steamers,' said Dennis Grant, Director of Public Affairs.
"Thankfully, the crew members were unharmed but this was a shocking act of violence and vandalism. PS Enterprise is crewed by volunteers who give their time, skills and wisdom to keep the PS Enterprise still working after 130 years."
The National Museum of Australia is grateful for the prompt response of ACT Policing and urges anyone who may have seen the incident or noticed a man carrying a steel pole on Commonwealth Avenue Bridge about 9 am, last Saturday morning to contact police.
For interviews, images and more information please contact Dennis Grant on 02 6208 5351, 0409 916 481; Caroline Vero on 02 6208 5338, 0438 620 710 or media@nma.gov.au