Cooper Creek Barge (M.V. Margaret) - SA

Flooding of the Birdsville Track at Cooper Creek Crossing is considered a rare and significant event, occurring roughly once every two decades or so. If the track becomes impassable due to flooding, a punt or ferry has been historically used to cross the water at this point - accessible via the bypass track.

The most recent floods of 2025 are the largest in 50 years. The last time the Birdsville Track was impassable was 2010 - 2012, some 20 years after the 1990 flood. However earlier large flood events were recorded in 1906, 1950, and 1974.

Though a boon for wildlife, Cooper Creek’s flooding causes damage and disruption to communities along its path. Cattle stations between Marree and Birdsville rely on the movement of goods and stock via the Birdsville Track and in modern times, many tourists and workers use the road as an arterial to travel from South Australia through to northern outback Qld.

In 1949 Tom Kruse was the first to use a Government built and supplied steel punt called the "M.V. Tom Brennan" to ferry people and goods across the flooded Cooper Creek when the track was impassable during his time as the "mailman of the Birdsville Track" (1936 - 1957).

The punt was eventually replaced by a larger, government-operated ferry in the early 1960s. This ferry was put up on blocks when not in use until it was required again in the flood of 1990. The next time the ferry was required for use was June 2010 - Jan 2012. In 2022 the old ferry was relocated to Marree for maintenance and repairs, however when the 2025 floods began there was no operational ferry. In July 2025 the Government announced that it would spent $27.4M to build a new modern barge and vowed to have it operational by end October. See photos of the older barge.

The new Cooper Creek barge, M.V. Margaret was operational as of Wednesday November 5, 2025. The barge is unlike anything ever seen before in this area and can carry a road train with cattle or 8 or more vehicles per crossing. There is a fee to use the barge and bookings can be made up to 14 days in advance. Information on availability, cost and terms of service are also available on this page. Use link provided.

M.V. Margaret replaces the old Cooper Creek Ferry that served the community for over 50 years. To accommodate the new barge, extensive building works were done on both banks and significant upgrades have occured on the bypass road both south and north of the barge crossing.