The historic MV Beardmore has been added to the NSW State Heritage Register, a move expected to help preserve an important part of the Clarence Valley’s history and strengthen opportunities for community education, heritage tourism and cultural recognition.
The listing follows a recommendation from the Heritage Council of NSW and approval by the Minister for Heritage.
State Nationals Member for Clarence Richie Williamson said the listing reflected decades of community effort to preserve the vessel and would help ensure future generations could continue to learn about the region’s maritime, industrial and Aboriginal history.
“This recognition belongs to the many volunteers, historians, former crew members and community advocates who refused to let this important piece of our history be lost,” Williamson said.
“The people who fought to save the MV Beardmore, secured its preservation and continued to advocate for its heritage significance deserve enormous credit for achieving this outcome.
“I acknowledge that this listing has only been made possible because of the passion and commitment of countless local people over many years.”
Built in 1917, the MV Beardmore played a key role in transporting sugar cane and supporting trade along the Clarence River. The vessel also has cultural significance through its ownership and operation by the Nungera Aboriginal Cooperative during the 1970s and 1980s.
The heritage listing is expected to support the long-term preservation of the vessel and reinforce its value as a community asset and historical attraction.
Williamson acknowledged the contribution of local organisations and volunteers who have worked to maintain the vessel over several decades.
He paid tribute to the Maclean Rotary Club for fundraising efforts that helped deliver the protective shed housing the vessel.
“After the MV Beardmore was removed from the water in 1991, it was preserved thanks to the efforts of Owen Kevin Shortt, otherwise known as “Shortie the last Commodore” along with Maclean Rotary who played a pivotal role in ensuring the vessel could be properly preserved for future generations, culminating in the completion of the protective enclosure in 2000,” he said.
Williamson also recognised the Maclean Museum, which owns the vessel, and volunteer Carolyn Cameron for their ongoing commitment to preserving the vessel and sharing its history with the public.
“The preservation team, including former mill workers, skippers, deckhands and local volunteers, have invested countless hours in maintaining and promoting the MV Beardmore,” he said.
“Many members of that original preservation group are sadly no longer with us, but their legacy lives on through this important listing.”
He also thanked Sunshine Sugar and those involved in maintaining the vessel in its current display condition.
“The partnership between community volunteers, local organisations and industry has ensured the MV Beardmore remains a tangible link to the Clarence Valley’s proud sugar industry heritage,” he said.
Williamson said the vessel represented a shared history that connected generations of Clarence Valley residents.
“The MV Beardmore tells the story of our region’s working river, our sugar industry and an important chapter in Aboriginal economic development,” Williamson said.
“It is a remarkable piece of living history and I am delighted that its significance has now been formally recognised at the state level.
“This listing ensures future generations will continue to learn about and appreciate the vital role the MV Beardmore played in shaping the Clarence Valley.”
Williamson thanked everyone involved in securing the heritage listing and said the outcome demonstrated the value of community collaboration in preserving local history for future generations.
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