The first steamboat was launched on Lake Wendouree in 1865 and within five years boating had become a mania, enough to induce complaints about dangerous racing and incessant whistling.  The century-old Golden City Paddlesteamer was the last survivor of a fleet of 15 steamers which ferried passengers from View Point across the lake to the Botanical Gardens, until it was destroyed by fire in March 2006.  A campaign is underway to build a new Golden City Paddlesteamer to once again cruise Lake Wendouree.