Wentworth Tourism

History & Heritage

Captain John Egge Statue

Wentworth Wharf Wentworth NSW 2648

John Egge (c. 1830-1901), a Chinese riverboat captain was Born in Shanghai, China, and came to Australia in 1852 in the boat, Queen of Sheba, owned by Francis Cadell. When Cadell opened the Murray River trade with paddle steamers, John (on the books as “John Bull”), served as the cook in each new ship Cadell launched. In 1856 he assumed by deed poll his Scandinavian surname. Whilst establishing a piggery on Hindmarsh Island in Lake Alexandrina, South Australia, he met an English girl, Mary Perring, whom he courted by swimming the river to visit her, his clothes piled on his head.

03 5027 5080