Built by Bevan & Cooke at their Britannia Iron Works in Melbourne, Vic, the vessell was originally installed with a pair of double-acting 20 horsepower steam engines, driving twin 6 ft (1.83 m) propellers, allowing the vessel to operate in shallow waters.

The Amphibious was sold again in 1904, and relocated to Port Adelaide, where her engines and propellers were removed in favour of converting her to a sailing ketch.

Following her sale again in 1959, the Amphibious was rebuilt as a showboat (including a full-length deckhouse), and operated on the Port River in Adelaide until 1971.

[2] In 1990, Bromhead rebuilt the Amphibious into a paddle vessel, for use in the 1991 Australian mini-series The River Kings filmed in and around Morgan (the boat was renamed the Lazy Jane).

The PV Amphibious is said to operate on a 120 hp 6354 Perkins diesel engine using a Paragon marine gearbox into Cat D4 dozer (featuring electronic clutches and brakes).