Historical information

The D26 is an authentic outrigger logging barge - one of four that were towed by P.S. Adelaide for 80 years of its working life. In March 1987 Council purchased the barge from Deakin Shire in South Australia for $15,000. However, its restoration was put on hold until the crew had completed work on the P.S. Enterprise, eventually beginning in 1988 using local red gum.
The barge was relaunched at Echuca East on Australia Day, 1990. The D26 remains at the Port of Echuca and on special occasions can be seen being towed by the P.S. Adelaide for demonstrations.

Significance

The restored D26 outrigger barge is an example of early 20th century boat building technology developed for transporting reg gum logs downstream along the Murray River, often from the Barmah Forest to the Murray River Sawmills at Echuca. It shows the resourcefulness and manual transport techniques for a timber that does not float and had to be chained to the outrigging logs laying perpendicular to the hull. These outrigger barges could be let go to float with the current downstream with a bargeman onboard. Often there was no tiller or helm, but a chain was tied to the ballast at the back to keep the barge in the centre of the river channel. This allowed the Murray River Sawmills built 4 barges to go behind the PS Adelaide, the A11, the B22, the C24 and the D26.

Physical description

Timber outrigger logging barge

Inscriptions & markings

D26