Editing Transport in Australia (section)

==Waterways==
Between 1850 and 1940, [[paddle steamer]]s were used extensively on the [[Murray-Darling Basin]] to transport produce, especially wool and wheat, to river ports such as [[Echuca]], [[Mannum, South Australia|Mannum]] and [[Goolwa, South Australia|Goolwa]]. However, the water levels of the inland waterways are highly unreliable, making the rivers impassable for large parts of the year. A system of [[Lock (water transport)|locks]] was created largely to overcome this variability, but the steamers were unable to compete with rail, and later, road transport. Traffic on inland waterways is now largely restricted to private recreational craft.<ref>[[Ian Mudie]] ''Riverboats'' Sun Books, Melbourne, Victoria 1965</ref>