Swan Hill Rural City Council

26 37 1803

Wednesday 28 January 2026 (AUS Eastern Standard Time)

Tuesday 17 February 2026 02:00 PM (AUS Eastern Standard Time) CLOSED

Thursday 12 February 2026 02:00 PM (AUS Eastern Daylight Time)

Tuesday 03 March 2026 (AUS Eastern Standard Time)

Swan Hill Rural City Council

45 Splatt St
Swan Hill, Victoria 3585
Australia

https://www.swanhill.vic.gov.au/

Swan Hill Rural City Council, "The Heart of the Murray" is a bustling provincial centre just three and a half hours from Melbourne and five and a half hours from Adelaide.The region is renowned for its world class produce, spectacular landscapes and close proximity to the Murray River. Our region runs adjacent to the Murray River for nearly 200 kilometres and encompasses 6,000 square kilometres and home to 20,000 people.

The buyer has elected to have their personal and contact details hidden. These details will be revealed at the buyers discretion.

Swan Hill Rural City Council is seeking responses to this Invitation from suitably qualified suppliers to undertake restoration works on the PS Gem, a heritage-listed paddle steamer vessel. The successful contractor will undertake structural repairs and repainting across key areas of the vessel, including paddle boxes, cabin windows and doors, trims, substructure cladding and the music room ceiling. The scope also includes restoration of the lower deck perimeter, sponson cabin and forward upper deck (including rectification of water ingress), painting of the hull topside and completion of a full external clean of the vessel. Further detail on the required works is provided in Part B – Specifications of the tender documents.

Suppliers are reminded that a site inspection will take place on Tuesday, 3 February 2026 at 10.00AM (AEDT). This inspection will provide suppliers with the opportunity to view the Gem, accompanied by the Pioneer Settlement General Manager. Attendance is by registration only. Suppliers wishing to attend must register by close of business on 02/02/2026, by emailing tenders@swanhill.vic.gov.au. Further information is available in Part A of the tender documents. Attendance is optional.

The Pioneer Settlement in Swan Hill, Victoria, is Australia’s first open-air museum, established in 1966 as the Swan Hill Folk Museum. It showcases life along the Murray River from 1830 to 1930 and was renamed after a visit by Queen Elizabeth II in 1970. Today, it is recognised for its state-level cultural heritage significance and is included in the Victorian Heritage Register.

The PS Gem is a notable 19th-century paddle steamer with a rich history in river transportation. Constructed in Moama in 1876 from red gum lumber and iron frames, she originally operated as a cargo and passenger vessel along the Murray River - running routes from Morgan to Mildura - and earned the moniker “Queen of the Murray” following her 1882 extension at Goolwa. The PS Gem has been moored at the Pioneer Settlement since June 1963, serving as a prominent static heritage display.

Listed on the Victorian Heritage Register in 1998 (VHR H1742), the vessel continues to undergo staged restoration to preserve its structural integrity and celebrate its historic role in the Murray River trade, with works now focused on enhancing its presentation ahead of its 150th anniversary in June 2026.

Tenderers must demonstrate proven experience in the restoration, repair or maintenance of heritage-listed vessels or comparable historic vessels. Evidence of completed projects of a similar scale and complexity should be provided.

• New South Wales
  1: Murray
• South Australia
  1: Murray Lands
• Victoria
  1: Loddon
  2: Mallee
  3: Melbourne

All Regions of Service locations are within Australia.

Suppliers are reminded that a site inspection will take place on Tuesday, 3 February 2026 at 10.00AM (AEDT). This inspection will provide suppliers with the opportunity to view the Gem, accompanied by the Pioneer Settlement General Manager. Attendance is by registration only. Suppliers wishing to attend must register by close of business on 02/02/2026, by emailing tenders@swanhill.vic.gov.au. Further information is available in Part A of the tender documents. Attendance is optional.