The Crossley Engine in Bourke is an oil-fuelled stationary engine manufactured by the Crossley Brothers in 1923. Over the years more than 100,000 Crossley oil and gas engines were built and it is a testament to their quality that many are still in use today.
It is an example of an early water cooled four stroke diesel type engine, which followed on from the steam era. With two cylinders sitting side by side and a 6-ton flywheel between them, the 6,562 cubic inch engine produced 138bhp at 260rpm or 108.6 litre with 103kW of power using modern measures.
This particular engine was originally used from 1923 to 1938 in the Sydney Power House to generate electricity for Sydney. From 1938 it was used in the Allowrie Butter Factory in Coffs Harbour until 1949 when it went to a property in Narromine in 1949 to pump water for irrigation until 1964.
The engine was purchased by the Bourke Shire Council from the Crawford Family in Narromine, and restored by Don Burnes in 2002.
The Crossley Engine was intriguing as Crossley is a family name. The Crawford family name was interesting as we grew up on Crawford Rd in Sydney.
The engine sits under a shelter next to the parking area it is installed at, with the Bourke Wharf 
in front of it at the Darling River’s edge. There are picnic tables near, and toilets across the road, and a cafe next door.