1875 - Rambler built by Ship Builder Peter Sharp, Port Adelaide.
1904 - Purchased by Rumbelow family and christened the Rambler.
The Rambler was used for catching snapper, snook and crayfish but also for doing the early mail run between Victor Harbor and Kangaroo Island and had been used to transport ballot boxes during elections. After it was sold by the Rumbelows it changed hands many times and was still used in the 1980s out of American River on Kangaroo Island. (Don Rumbelow).
1990s - The Rambler was owned and operated by Ross & David Jaimesons on Kangaroo Island. (Chris Frizzel).
2004 - Port Adelaide Boatbuilder Kinglsey Haskett purchased the Rambler for $5 to restore it.
2005 - 150th Family Reunion - https://www.rumbelow.net/events/2005
Funds raised from the event (around $8K from book and print sales) to be used to repair and update headstones in the council owned Victor Harbor cemetery.
https://www.rumbelow.net/memorials
2009 - Victor Harbor Mayor Mary-Lou Corcoran was contacted by boat owner Kingsley Haskett. He explained Searles boatyard in Birkenhead was to be demolished for a State Govt development. He mentioned that if no action was taken within the next three months, the boat would be disposed of or destroyed.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-06-19/boatyard-owner-kingsley-haskett-questions-the/2477432
2009 - Initial estimates of commercial relocation was $45,000 and $60,000 which was well beyond the reach of any Rumbelow funds.
Victor Harbor Mayor Mary-Lou and others arranged to have the Rambler relocated from Port Adelaide to Victor Harbor through sponsorship and personal connections. During council deliberations, extensive discussions took place regarding our long-term commitment beyond simply housing the vessel. Ultimately, the elected members agreed to allow the Rambler to be housed on Council land, under the condition that the Rumbelow family would take responsibility for its future restoration.
2016 - Victor Times article - Cr Terry Andrews supported a move to include the Rambler revival as part of the Victor Vision 20/20 plans.
2017 - Victor Times article - The future of a unique sailing vessel is proposed to be saved by the National Trust of Victor Harbor with the support of the State National Trust.
A visit on Thursday, May 18 from South Australian National Trust CEO Darren Peacock reinforced the support to salvage the Rambler, one of the oldest fishing vessels in the state. Secretary of the Victor Harbor branch of the National Trust Richard Higgins said the Trust was about preserving the city’s history, as the MV Rambler is an important link to the Fleurieu’s fishing history.
2017 - Victor Harbor council meeting City of Victor Harbor elected members voted for $2500 to be released to the National Trust for the Rambler project as soon as the Trust sets up a bank account showing matching funds and fundraising activities be advertised. The funds are for the purchase of a rip resistant PVC tarpaulin to cover the boat. City of Victor Harbor councillor Terry Andrews has been a major supporter of the project and said the working party has the $2500.
The cover was never purchased or installed.
2017 - Ownership transferred.
Don Rumbelow and Kay Ewens on behalf of the extended Rumbelow family as owners of the old fishing boat "Rambler" hereby give custodianship to the National Trust of South Australia. We believe that the Rambler plays a very important part in the early fishing history of this area and should be retained for future generations.
No other documentation is provided or exchanged by either party.
2017 - Victor Times article - Ownership of the Rambler transferred to National Trust Victor Harbor.
The National Trust South Australia has enthusiastically accepted custodianship of the MV Rambler from the Rumbelow Family and because of its historic value, absorbed the local preservation of the vessel as a project within their organisation as a Trust Conservation Project.
On Friday, June 30, a number of community groups joined forces to rejuvenate an important part of the region’s fishing history when they met at the current resting site of the MV Rambler. This custodianship means that Trust’s Adelaide Office will assist with a major promotion of a state-wide and national fundraising campaign on behalf of National Trust Victor Harbor and the Working Party. Fundraising plans and information will be supplied to the Adelaide office from the Working Party in Victor Harbor and ‘Save the Rambler’ will be a new project, publicised within the glossy state and national magazines of the Trust’s members.
The Trust will also manage the finances of the campaign in order that donations towards the fund can be made online or any other way are tax deductible and will allow invoices and payments to be made as required from the Victor Harbor Working Party.
2023 - Article by ABC News, (Caroline Horn and Bec Whetham)
But for the past 20 years, the Rambler's resting place has been the Waitpinga dump in Victor Harbor, only a few kilometres from the waters of Encounter Bay, where it spent the first few decades of its working life.
It was moved to the now disused dump and donated to the National Trust of South Australia after the closure of a Port Adelaide boatyard.
The trust's chief executive officer Darren Peacock says the 145-year-old boat could be saved and he plans to meet the Victor Harbor Council to discuss its future.
Mr Peacock said the trust had tried to persuade the Victor Harbor Council some years ago to look at relocating the Rambler.
"It would require significant government investment to make it presentable. We've had a huge number of people look and say, 'Wouldn't it be good.'"
Mr Peacock estimated preservation efforts could cost tens of thousands of dollars but a restoration would require into the hundreds of thousands.
He said an appeal for the Rambler was still ongoing and donations could be made via the National Trust.
2024 - National Trust Victor Harbor removes mast and boom from the Rambler to relocate and install at the Museum with small signage. Opening attended by Kaye Ewens.
2025 - Rambler Discussion with Victor Harbor branch of National Trust SA.
Attended by
Rick Norman, Chair of the National Trust of Victor Harbor,
Richard Higgins, National Trust of Victor Harbor
Wendy Van Duivenvoorde, Professor of Marine Archeology, Flinders University
Don Rumbelow
Peter Rumbelow
Jim Rumbelow
Matt Rumbelow
Susan Rumbelow
Lesley Avery
Neil Avery
General discussion regarding previous attempts by National Trust Victor Harbor to secure funding and protect the Rambler over the last few years. None successful. Wendy Van Duivenvoorde asked if she would conduct another survey/study of the boat, and advise on which aspects would be most suitable for salvage and static display. Rick Norman asked for the most suitable place to reposition the hull and/or artefacts from it. Rick advised the side court yard where the Rambler mast is currently displayed.
2026 - Victor Times article (May 2026)
The National Trust of South Australia was given custodianship of the vessel in 2017. The National Trust has engaged with the Flinders University Marine Archeology to conduct another survey to establish the part(s) of the vessel that could be retained and relocated on display at the National Trust of Victor Harbor Museum or if there could be some form of restoration.
Incoming CEO of the National Trust SA Nicolette Di Lernia will visit the site of The Rambler in May and will first hand see what condition the vessel is in.
"I understand it has been neglected and there are a number of options we will look at," Ms Di Lernia said.
"One is to see if we can repair the boat in some way, through the boat builders at the Armfield Slip in Goolwa.
"We will also be discussing the future of The Rambler with the Victor Harbor Council and the Maritime Museum."
The Trust intends to meet with the Victor Harbor council to ascertain the council's ability to provide funding or in-kind support and transport for the project. The Trust believes that such a logistical project needs the input and championing of the council for a successful outcome.
2026 - Victor Times article (June 2026)
CEO Nicolette Di Lernia visited the Victor Harbor branch of the National Trust in May and Victor Harbor council to ascertain the possibility of preserving an important part of South Australian maritime history.
"My primary focus is to meet National Trust volunteers and to contact council on gaining access to The Rambler," Nicolette Di Lernia said.
The Rambler is currently in a dilapidated condition on council land opposite the old dump site. The Rambler was once the pride of the fleet of the pioneering Rumbelow family, but in 2017, the National Trust took ownership in the hope of the boat being preserved.
"There are funds of $2300 raised from a community appeal and I am looking for a successful resolution to suit all parties," Nicolette said.
During the visit a Council representative spoke with National Trust SA CEO Nicolette Di Lernia to discuss the Rambler's current condition and options for its future.
"It was agreed that a joint on-site meeting involving the National Trust, the Rumbelow family and Council will be scheduled in the coming weeks to support a co-ordinated and timely resolution," the council spokesperson said.
"At present, the boat remains accessible to the National Trust as the responsible custodian, subject to standard site and safety considerations.
"Council has not received a formal proposal for relocation, however we remain open to working collaboratively with the National Trust and other stakeholders on an appropriate outcome."
The Rumbelow family is optimistic of a resolution that will honour The Rambler and its historic significance to the region.
"The Rumbelow's have always championed the preservation of the historic Rambler boat and why ownership was transferred to the National Trust in 2017 almost 10 years ago," a family spokesperson said.