Orbost prepares for Curlip celebration
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The Curlip on the Snowy Festival will begin in Orbost tomorrow.
The original PS Curlip paddle-steamer was built in 1890, and volunteers have spent thousands of hours constructing an exact replica.
The Curlip the second will be commissioned at the weekend, and will operate as a cruise vessel on the Snowy River from December.
Gil Richardson, the great-grandson of the original Curlip builder, says the original used to cruise mainly in the Brobribb River, but was washed out to sea and destroyed.
He says its great to see the Curlip back up and running again.
"Some time ago the timber industry in the district was downsizing, we were losing families to other areas, after some discussion, a group of us decided we would try and do something that would generate more commercial activity in the district - the idea of the Curlip came up because of the history in the area," he said.
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