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Barge – MV ‘Tom Brennan’

Photograph courtesy TSA.

Not really a Motor Vessel, yet the ‘Tom Brennan’ was a valuable resource for the people trapped by floodwaters from the Cooper(s) Creek. The barge stands as a monument on the Marree to Birdsville road. It was made by the South Australian Harbours Board in 1949 and measures 4.9 x 1.8 x 0.76 m.

The barge was used during major floods between 1949 and 1956 for transporting mail, stores and drovers across Cooper(s) Creek at Kopperamana Crossing, to stranded settlers on the Marree/Birdsville travelling stock route. It is a steel punt with airtight tanks, powered by a 4 horse power outboard motor. One of the early operators of the punt was Tom Kruse, the well-known Marree to Birdsville Mail Contractor.

The barge was named after Dalgety’s Livestock Manager, Mr Tom Brennan, who was instrumental in providing it for the settlers. Dalgety & Co. Ltd presented the punt to the settlers on the Birdsville to Marree travelling stock route in 1949. In 1963 the Highways Department replaced the MV 'Tom Brennan' with a larger punt capable of carrying stock and vehicles. Fortunately now there is usually plenty of notice of flooding which allows preparation for moving to higher ground.

Photograph courtesy TSA.

Originally operated by the Engineering and Water Supply Board the MV ‘Tom Brennan’ was transferred to the Highways Department as part of the Far North road plant in 1967. The interesting story of the barge made restoration a worthwhile project for the crew at the Crystal Brook Depot and in 1985-86 it became a Jubilee 150 project.

Taken from Donovan, Peter, Highways (Department of Road Transport, South Australia, 1991).

Goods are unloaded from the MV ‘Tom Brennan’ onto the northern shore of the flooded Cooper(s) Creek.

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