Conference Paper

Authors

Glencross-Grant, Rex; and Berger, Ian

Title

The role of opening bridges for river traffic on the Murray-Darling River system in New South Wales, 1878-1925

In

19th Australasian engineering heritage conference: putting water to work: steam power, river navigation and water supply

Editors

Engineers Australia and Engineering Heritage Australia

Imprint

Engineering Heritage Australia, Barton, Australian Capital Territory, 2017, pp. 142-172

ISBN/ISSN

9781922107923

Url

https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.384614550747227

Subject

History of Applied Sciences Engineering and Technology

Abstract

This paper examines the significant role played by opening bridges on the Murray-Darling River system for the passage of river steamers in NSW in the period 1878 to 1925. A number of forms of opening bridges were used during this period, including bascule, swing and vertical lift spans. The latter type was the most common, but within that type there was also developmental variation of design in approach spans and lifting mechanisms. There were three bascule spans bridges built on tributaries of the Murray River (at Darlington Point and Carrathool over the Murrumbidgee River and at Kyalite over the Wakool River); one swing span bridge on the Murrumbidgee River at Hay; and some 11 lift span bridges on the Murray, Darling and Murrumbidgee Rivers, totalling15 opening bridges during the subject period. In all over 50 opening bridges were built by road authorities in NSW to span navigable coastal and inland rivers through to the mid-1960s. Many of these replaced former pontoon bridges, punts or vehicular ferries that operated at various sites. In some instances, no such service had been provided by way of river crossing until an opening bridge was erected.

The historical context will be discussed in the role of early transport networks, particularly inland waterways, the evolution of design of opening bridges, locations and importance to river traffic and the general agrarian economy of the time. However, paddle steamers were seriously impeded when faced with vigorous competition with arrival of the railway at numerous inland ports (e.g. Bourke and Hay) in the late 1880s. Nevertheless, opening bridges continued to be built over inland rivers through until 1941 (in the case of Nyah). However, this paper will cover the period up to 1925, which saw the last of the large timber and iron lattice truss bridges used on approach spans. After that time, fixed steel trusses became the norm for approach spans. This in turn heralded a new era in engineering design and materials technology; as well, river traffic declined quite dramatically after 1925, with more competitive, reliable and flexible competition from rail and later road transport.

Source

cohn 2018

Related Published resources

isPartOf

• 19th Australasian engineering heritage conference: putting water to work: steam power, river navigation and water supply edited by Engineers Australia and Engineering Heritage Australia (Barton, Australian Capital Territory: Engineers Australia, 2017), 536 pp. Details