MV Beardmore, the only surviving timber river tugboat in NSW from the 20th century, has been added to the State Heritage Register.
The listing celebrates its role in the prosperity of the Northern Rivers region and its importance as a symbol of enterprise for local Aboriginal communities.
Built in 1914, MV Beardmore was used for collecting, towing and delivering cane along the Clarence River.
The vessel played a critical role in settlement, agriculture and industry in northern NSW, helping cement the Clarence River as the heart of the state's sugar industry for over 150 years.
It was built and used by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (known as CSR), one of Australia's oldest companies, and served the Harwood Sugar Mill, the longest continuously operating mill in NSW.
In 1975, ownership of the MV Beardmore was transferred to the Nungera Aboriginal Cooperative.
It was commercially operated by the community-led organisation throughout the late 1970s and the 1980s, supporting the aspirations of the local Yaegl people.
To this day, the MV Beardmore remains a powerful symbol of Aboriginal enterprise, resilience and community leadership.
Now retired, the tugboat remains housed at Harwood Sugar Mill, an enduring icon of connection, history and identity for local communities.
NSW DCCEEW, Executive Director for Heritage, Shane Eccleston said:
"The MV Beardmore is so much more than a boat. It's a relic from one of the most iconic industrial periods in NSW, as well as a symbol of shared history and community pride.
"To have a working timber tugboat from this era, one imbued with such a rich history, is extremely rare.
"I am absolutely delighted that the MV Beardmore's significance will now be officially recognised through a state heritage listing, and to know it will be preserved for generations to come."
