This replica of the River Murray Steam Navigation medal was copied from the original bronze example designed in 1853 (made 1856) in the Powerhouse Collection (89/1608). It is an important contemporary record of a Museum object. The year 2003 commemorated 150 years since the 1853 beginning of commercial navigation of the Murray-Darling River system. From this time till World War I, Australia's river systems with their prolific paddle steamers were essential economic lifelines bringing supplies to rural towns and returning to the coastal cities with produce.

The medal in the Powerhouse Museum collection commemorating the 1853 event was reproduced for the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC). Using a laser scanner the Royal Australian Mint created a digital duplicate of the Museum's medal that is perfect in every detail, and from which steel dies were made to strike the copies. To avoid confusion with the original medal the reproductions are 10mm smaller than the 77mm bronze original and marked 'replica'.

The original River Murray Steam Navigation medal shares the distinction of being the first to be commissioned by an Australian colonial government (the other marked the cessation of convict transportation to Tasmania also in 1853). Following the successful navigation of the Murray to Swan Hill and beyond, the South Australian Legislative Council ordered three gold medals to be produced. These are now lost but a small number of bronze examples were issued in 1856 of which the Museum's is the best surviving example. The reproduction of this medal by the Commission illustrates the significant role medals often perform as sole survivors of past ambitions, events, and achievements.

Paul Donnelly, Curator design & society, August 2011

This replica of the River Murray Steam Navigation medal was copied from the original 1856 commemorative bronze example in the Powerhouse Collection (89/1608) and celebrates the 150th anniversary of the opening of the River Murray for steam navigation and trade. The bronze example in the Powerhouse was struck (pressed under tremendous pressure) in 1856 from the earlier 1853 dies that had been used to strike three gold examples; now lost.

The Powerhouse medal was loaned to the Royal Australian Mint in 2003 where it was scanned using optical scanning technology to make new steel dies with an incuse (sunken) design. The dies were then used to strike the medal in a high-pressure mechanical press and impress the design in (raised) relief.

The MDBC manages the land and water resources of the Murray-Darling Basin and, in the 1990s to 2000s, greatly assisted the development of the Museum's 'Snowy!' and 'EcoLogic' exhibitions. In lending the medal, the Museum welcomed this opportunity to be of assistance in return.

This replica of the River Murray Steam Navigation medal was copied from the original 1856 bronze example in the Powerhouse Collection (86/1608). The replica commemorates the 150th anniversary of the opening of the River Murray for steam navigation and trade. The beginning of the opening of the Murray-Darling Rivers was an important event in the history of transport in Australia. The opening of the rivers to traffic effectively formed an inland transport system that joined the three states of NSW, South Australia and Victoria as alluded by the Latin legend 'Tri Juncta in Uno' (three joined in one). Its celebration in the form of the original 'River Murray medal' made it the subject of one of the first Australian commemorative medals; the other being the Tasmania Cessation of Transportation medal produced in 1853 at the same time as the original (now lost) three gold River Murray medals.

The Powerhouse medal of 1856 is one of a small number made in bronze from the same dies as the original 1853 gold examples. In 1919 a further small quantity were made with the then, seventy-year-old, rusty dies. These were finished in gilt bronze and a surviving example is held by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC). Because this example was made with the corroded dies, when the MDBC decided to commemorate the 150th anniversary with a replica medal they arranged to use the Powerhouse MuseumÂ?s pristine 1856 example. It was loaned to the Royal Australian Mint in 2003 where it was copied using optical scanning technology to make new steel dies which were then used to strike the medal in a high-pressure mechanical press. To avoid confusion with the original 77mm diameter medals, the replica is smaller with a diameter of 67mm.

Replica commemorative medal with case, 150th anniversary 'Murray River Medal', bronze, original design by Mr Pitts, Survey Office South Australia, engraved by Leonard C Wyon, struck by Royal Mint, London, England, 1853, replica commissioned by Murray-Darling Basin Commission and struck by Royal Australian Mint, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2003

Circular medal in solid bronze 10mm smaller diameter than original medal in hinged square box marked, '150th / Anniversary / Replica Medal'. Obverse (main side): Paddle steamer boat known to be the 'Lady Augusta' and barge 'Eureka' lashed beside it on river with foreground of verdant vegetation /crops and cattle and legend above, 'Inter Ripas Fluo' (between banks it flows) and under in exergue is RIVER MURRAY / *REPLICA* and around encircling border TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO / NEW SOUTH WALES SOUTH AUSTRALIA * VICTORIA *. Reverse: Oak wreath encircling central space with text, THE STEAM NAVIGATION / AND COMMERCE OF THE RIVER MURRAY / OPENED / 1853

Made: 2003

'L.C. Wyon' on each side near bottom of design

2011/90/1

2003

67 mm