A piece of history has sunk in the Murray River, with the Paddle Vessel Amphibious mysteriously springing a leak at Echuca over the weekend.
The vessel only returned to Echuca last year after 143 years of exploring.
The boat was purchased by current owner Tim Mills in 2016, after which he began a trip up the Murray.
Arriving at Tocumwal, Mr Mills found PV Amphibious was too big to pass the bridge and so he docked in Echuca where the boat has stayed ever since.
Built by Britannia Ironworks in Melbourne 144 years ago, it is currently the second oldest wooden boat in Australia.
Heather Rendell from the Echuca Historical Society said it has had a lot of modification over the years.
"I don't think anyone who knew it in the 1870's would recognise it today," Ms Rendell said.
'Not the first time she's sunk'
The vessel is no stranger to hardship.
It was rebuilt as a showboat with a full-length deckhouse and operated excursions on the Port River in Adelaide until 1971.
Just a few years later, in 1978, it sank at Port Adelaide.
After being recovered and restored it was brought back to the Murray River and then began its journey to fame.
First starring in the 1981 film Gallipoli, and then later featuring in the miniseries The River Kings.
"After Gallipoli it became privately owned again and the owner has put an awful lot of time effort and care into it," Ms Rendell said.
"I think the owner intended to live on it and make it a private home."
In 2015 it was crowned the Best Paddle Boat at the Wooden Boat Festival at Goolwa.
Mr Mills is believed to be in Adelaide at the moment and is shocked by the news of the vessel sinking.
Police said an investigation is underway into the cause.
