By 1899, with the population of Sydney expanding rapidly southwards (thanks to the extension of the Illawarra railway line through opening of the railway bridge across the Georges River at Como) the demand for river boat tours along the Georges River upstream from Como had grown to the point where a large 200 passenger paddle steamer called the "S.S. "Telephone"" began making return tours to the Parkesvale Pleasure Grounds (now Picnic Point) from J.H.