Gee Gee Bridge over Wakool River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gee Gee Bridge |
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|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°19′47″S 143°55′40″E / 35.3298°S 143.9278°E |
| Carries | Noorong Road |
| Crosses | Wakool River |
| Locale | Cunninyeuk to Wetuppa, Murray River Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Owner | Murray River Council |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Dare-type Allan truss |
| Material | Timber |
| Pier construction | Timber |
| Total length | 72.5 metres (238 ft) |
| Width | 5.5 metres (18 ft) |
| Longest span | 27.7 metres (91 ft) |
| Number of spans | 1 |
| History | |
| Engineering design by | Harvey Dare |
| Construction end | 1929 |
| Official name: Gee Gee Bridge over Wakool River (Revoked) | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 20 June 2000 |
| Delisted | 2 March 2018 |
| Reference no. | 1469 |
| Type | Road Bridge |
| Category | Transport - Land |
The Gee Gee Bridge was a special road bridge in New South Wales, Australia. It carried Noorong Road over the Wakool River. This bridge connected the towns of Cunninyeuk and Wetuppa. It was designed by Harvey Dare and built in 1929. The bridge was owned by the Murray River Council. It was once listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register from 2000 to 2018. The old Gee Gee Bridge was replaced and taken down starting in 2018.
Contents
Bridge History
Timber bridges played a big part in building roads across New South Wales. Before these bridges, crossing rivers was often risky, especially after rain. This made it very expensive to move farm goods and mining products. Only valuable items like wool could be moved easily.
The Public Works Department in NSW liked timber truss bridges. They were cheap to build and used mostly local wood. The government at the time wanted to save money. This meant they avoided using iron and steel, which had to be brought in from England. Steel works in Australia only started in the early 1900s.
Harvey Dare was a top engineer in the Public Works Department. He designed the Dare truss and other bridges. He was a very important person in NSW in the early 1900s. NSW was even known as the "timber bridge state" because these bridges were so common.
The 1929 Gee Gee Bridge was replaced as part of a plan to update old timber bridges. Work on the new bridge started in September 2018. The old bridge was taken down by mid-2020.
What the Bridge Looks Like
The Gee Gee Bridge was a "Dare-type Allan truss" timber bridge. It had one main timber truss section that was about 27.7 metres (91 feet) long. There were also smaller timber sections at each end. These sections made the bridge a total of 72.5 metres (238 feet) long.
The bridge rested on strong timber supports called trestles. It had two lanes for cars and trucks. The road part was at least 5.5 metres (18 feet) wide. A timber fence-like rail ran along both sides of the bridge for safety.
Bridge Condition and Changes
In the 1990s, the timber supports of the bridge were made stronger. By 2005, the bridge was in good shape. Its timber supports had been reinforced with extra piles. However, by 2018, when it was removed from the Heritage Register, the bridge was in poor condition. It was decided that it could not be moved or kept.
Why the Bridge Was Special
The Gee Gee Bridge was a Dare-type timber truss bridge, finished in 1929. In 1998, it was in good condition. It was considered important for several reasons:
- Connecting to History: It showed how the road network in NSW grew. It also showed how Australian engineers started using American design ideas. The bridge was linked to Harvey Dare, who designed this type of truss.
- Smart Design: Dare trusses were an improved version of Allan trusses. They were stronger and easier to look after. This showed important progress in bridge design.
- Rarity: In 1998, only 27 Dare trusses were left in NSW out of 40 that were built. Overall, only 82 timber truss road bridges remained from over 400 built. This made the Gee Gee Bridge quite rare.
- Good Example: It was a great example of a Dare timber truss road bridge. Because of its history and technical design, it was considered very important to the state of NSW.
The Gee Gee Bridge was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on June 20, 2000. It met several important heritage rules:
- Historical Links: The bridge was connected to the growth of roads in NSW. It showed how new design ideas were accepted. It also had a strong link to its designer, Harvey Dare.
- Technical Skill: The bridge showed excellent engineering. All its structural parts were clearly visible. It also looked nice in the landscape.
- Community Value: Timber truss bridges were well-known to people travelling by road. NSW was even called the "timber truss bridge state." Many people in NSW respected these bridges.
- Learning Opportunity: As a Dare truss, the bridge could teach us about big technical steps in timber bridge design.
- Rarity: It was one of only 27 Dare trusses left in NSW at the time.
- Good Example: It was a good example of a Dare truss bridge.
