Annan River Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Annan River Bridge |
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Annan River Bridge, 2008
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| Location | over Annan River at Development Road, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1886 - 1889 |
| Architect | John Henry Daniells |
| Official name: Annan River Bridge | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600417 |
| Significant period | 1880s (fabric) |
| Significant components | pier/s (bridge) |
| Builders | George Herbert Royce & Co. |
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The Annan River Bridge is an old road bridge in Queensland, Australia. It crosses the Annan River near Cooktown. This bridge is very special because it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. It was designed by John Henry Daniells and built between 1886 and 1889. The company that built it was George Herbert Royce & Co. The bridge helped connect Cooktown to important mining areas.
Contents
History of the Bridge
The Annan River Bridge was designed by John Henry Daniells. He was the Engineer for Bridges from 1884 to 1889. Building the bridge was important for the growing tin mining areas of Rossville and Bloomfield. Later, when a new road to Cairns was built, the bridge became less important.
Building the Annan River Bridge was a difficult and long project. This was because of wrong information, the remote location, and tough conditions. The bridge design had to be changed. The ground at the site was not good for the planned "screw piling" method.
Cooktown started in October 1873 as a port for the Palmer River goldfields. It grew very quickly. By 1874, there were many shops and businesses. The town became a municipality in 1876. In the 1880s, new things like the Cooktown to Laura railway were built. Better roads were also needed to connect the goldfields and tin mines to Cooktown's wharves.
People first talked about building the bridge in 1883. The local council, the Daintree Divisional Board, asked the government for money. They said the bridge was urgently needed. It would allow people to cross the Annan River safely at all times. Before the bridge, people could only cross at low tide, which was dangerous.
In 1884, after floods, the council realized the bridge needed more supports. They increased their cost estimate. The government sent an officer to check the site and make designs.
By early 1885, Daniells had looked at possible bridge sites. He suggested the "Old Crossing" because the ground seemed good for the bridge's supports. Designs were drawn, and companies were asked to bid on building the bridge.
George Herbert Royce and Co. won the contract to build the bridge. They were from Sydney and London. The bridge officially opened on 13 February 1889. The company had two contracts. One was to provide all the metal parts for the bridge. The second was to build the bridge itself. Construction was supposed to start after the wet season. The bridge was expected to open in November 1886. Most of the metal parts came from England. Other metalwork came from Mackay, Queensland. All the parts arrived in Cooktown by July 1886.
The project faced many delays. The biggest problems happened after construction began. This was mainly because Daniells received wrong information about the ground. The site was not suitable for the planned "screw-pile" method. In September 1886, Daniells found out the ground was too soft. He changed the plan. Workers had to dig out the ground by hand. This was very hard work, especially with crocodiles in the water. It was also hard to find workers willing to do the job. The wet season in North Queensland also caused delays. Floods in early 1888 damaged the construction site.
The completed bridge finally opened on 13 February 1889. About 250 people celebrated the opening. The bridge originally had a special handrail. It could be folded flat with the bridge deck during floods. This handrail was removed sometime before 1905.
In 1947, the Annan River Bridge became part of a new road link between Cooktown and Cairns. This road later became the Mulligan Highway. The Annan River Bridge was used for the "Big Annan" crossing.
Bridge Upkeep
The bridge has been repaired many times over the years. In 1962, major repairs were done. This included fixing concrete and replacing old bolts.
In 1969, another check of the bridge was done. A report in 1970 suggested "extensive treatment." The support columns (piles) were a big worry. The bridge looked good above the water, but not so good below. The report said the metal beams needed cleaning and painting right away. People also started talking about building a new bridge next to the old one.
New Bridge Built
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After an inspection in 1992, it was reported that parts of the bridge were wearing away. The concrete around the top supports was also falling apart. By late 1998, engineers said the bridge needed urgent attention. There was also a worry that big floods could badly damage it. It was decided that repairing the old bridge would be too expensive. So, plans for a new bridge began. They also had to decide what to do with the old bridge.
A new bridge was built next to the original one, on its west side.
How the Bridge Looks
Top Part of the Bridge
The Annan River Bridge is about 275 meters (902 feet) long. It has 18 metal box girder sections, called spans. Each span is about 15.3 meters (50 feet) long. The two end spans are a bit shorter, about 12.4 meters (41 feet) long. Each span has five strong metal beams called plate girders. These girders are about 0.76 meters (2.5 feet) deep.
The bridge was originally 5.6 meters (18 feet) wide. Now it is 6.1 meters (20 feet) wide. In recent years, it was fitted with timber kerbs. These are 3.7 meters (12 feet) apart. It also has special strips for vehicles, making it a single-lane bridge.
Bottom Part of the Bridge
The original main supports, called headstocks, are now covered in concrete. They are strong metal beams. Cast iron columns, called piles, support these headstocks. The piles are about 610 millimeters (2 feet) wide. They have thick walls, about 25 millimeters (1 inch) thick. People have tried to fill these piles with concrete, but it didn't work well.
The bridge originally had horizontal and diagonal metal braces on its supports. These braces have been replaced with new ones.
There were also diagonal supports called rakers on the outside of each pile. Many of these have fallen off because of rust. Others are very worn down where the water level changes.
Why it's Heritage Listed
The Annan River Bridge was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it's a very important historical site. Here's why:
- Shows Queensland's History: Building the Annan River Bridge was a big step in developing the Cooktown area. It helped connect important tin mining and farming regions in northern Queensland.
- Rare and Special: This bridge is a rare example of its type. It uses "plate girder" and "screw pile" construction. It's also an uncommon example of a "low-level" bridge. Many low-level bridges are being replaced. The Annan River Bridge is one of the last of its kind in Australia. At 275 meters long, it's also one of the longest bridges of this type.
- Can Teach Us More: The Annan River Bridge can teach us more about how engineers changed their plans. They had to adapt the "screw pile" method to fit the difficult ground. The parts of the bridge underwater might help us learn more about this challenging project from the late 1800s.
- Typical Design: The bridge shows the main features of "plate girder" bridges. These bridges use a vertical metal plate with other metal parts attached. These parts help carry the weight to the supports.
- Looks Good: The Annan River Bridge has a unique and pleasing look. It has a flat top, is very long, and sits low over the water.
- Shows Clever Engineering: Engineers had to be very creative when they found out the ground wasn't suitable for the original design. They made clever changes to build the bridge.
- Important to the Community: The Annan River Bridge is still a popular spot for fishing for both local people and visitors.
- Connected to Important People: The bridge is linked to JH Daniells. He was a very important Queensland Engineer for Bridges from 1884 to 1889.
See Also
- List of bridges on the Queensland Heritage Register
Images for kids
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Annan River Bridge, 2008
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The new and old bridges over the Annan River as seen from the south bank of the river, 2008
