Lachlan River railway bridge, Cowra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lachlan River railway bridge, Cowra |
|
|---|---|
Railway bridge over the Lachlan River south of Cowra, showing the original iron section opened in 1887 and newer concrete piers, pictured in 2011
|
|
| Coordinates | 33°51′02″S 148°40′57″E / 33.8505°S 148.6826°E |
| Carries | Blayney–Demondrille railway line |
| Crosses | Lachlan River |
| Locale | Cowra, Cowra Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Owner | RailCorp |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Truss bridge |
| Material | Wrought iron lattice |
| Pier construction |
|
| Total length | 144 metres (472 ft) |
| Longest span | 48 metres (159 ft) |
| Number of spans | 3 |
| History | |
| Designer | John Whitton; Engineer-in-Chief for Railways |
| Constructed by | Fishburn & Co. |
| Construction begin | 1886 |
| Construction end | 1887 |
| Opened | 9 September 1887 |
| Official name: Cowra rail bridge over Lachlan River; Cowra Lattice Railway Bridge | |
| Type: | State heritage (built) |
| Designated: | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference #: | 1031 |
| Type: | Railway Bridge/ Viaduct |
| Category: | Transport - Rail |
| Builders: |
|
The Lachlan River railway bridge is a very old and important bridge in New South Wales, Australia. It crosses the Lachlan River near Cowra. This bridge was built for trains and is part of the Blayney–Demondrille railway line. It was designed by a famous engineer named John Whitton. The bridge was built between 1886 and 1887.
It is also known as the Cowra Rail Bridge over Lachlan River or the Cowra Lattice Railway Bridge. The bridge is so important that it is on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it is protected because of its history and design.
Contents
Building the Bridge: A Look Back
The idea for this railway line and bridge was announced in February 1885. The bridge was built very quickly, in just 16 months! Even though it was the tallest bridge in New South Wales at the time, there were no accidents during its construction.
To help the builders, a temporary bridge was put up first. Work continued even when the river flooded a few times. The railway line to Cowra officially opened on 25 August 1886. However, trains could only go as far as the river because the main bridge wasn't finished yet. The very last piece of the bridge was put in place in June 1887. Finally, on 9 September 1887, the bridge was ready for passengers.
What the Bridge Looks Like
The Cowra Rail Bridge over the Lachlan River is a special type of bridge. It has three main sections, called spans. These spans are made of strong iron that looks like a criss-cross pattern, called a lattice. Each span is about 48.5 metres (159 feet) long.
The bridge stands on strong supports called piers. These piers are made from cast iron cylinders. At each end of the bridge, there are also strong iron plates called girders. Even after all these years, the bridge still looks much like it did when it was first built. It has only had small repairs and strengthening work done.
Why This Bridge is Important
From 1873 to 1893, New South Wales built many new roads and railways. This was a busy time for construction. Engineers like John Whitton had to be smart with money. They used a lot of local wood for bridges.
But for very long bridges over big rivers, wood wasn't strong enough. These large bridges had to be made of metal. This metal usually came from England, which was very expensive.
Both the main engineers for roads and railways were British. They chose to build bridges using a design called the wrought iron lattice truss bridge. This was a popular and strong design. Twelve of these were built for railways and 24 for roads.
These iron lattice bridges are a very important group of bridges from that time. Many of them are still standing and being used today. The Cowra bridge is one of these special bridges.
Other Famous Lattice Railway Bridges
Here are some other important railway lattice bridges that are still around:
- 1876 – Bathurst Rail Bridge over Macquarie River (not used for trains anymore)
- 1881 – Macquarie River at Wellington
- 1882 – Peel River at Tamworth
- 1882 – MacDonald River at Woolbrook
- 1884 – Rail Bridge over Murray River, Albury-Wodonga
- 1884 – Macquarie River Railway Bridge, Dubbo
- 1885 – Murrumbidgee River at Narrandera
- 1887 – Lachlan River at Cowra (this bridge!)
Some of these old railway bridges have even been changed for new uses. For example, the 1885 bridge over the Georges River at Como and the 1886 Meadowbank Rail Bridge over Parramatta River are now used by people walking or riding bikes.
Sadly, some have been replaced. The 1871 bridge over the Hunter River at Aberdeen was taken down. The 1881 bridge at Wagga Wagga was replaced with a concrete bridge in 2004.
Why the Cowra Bridge is a Heritage Site
The railway reached Cowra in 1886. The bridge built there in 1886-1887 is one of the original iron lattice bridges designed by John Whitton. It's a key part of the history of railway building in New South Wales.
This large bridge was important for connecting coal from Lithgow and farm products from central NSW to the south and Victoria. It also allowed goods to travel the other way.
The Cowra bridge is part of the most important group of old bridges in New South Wales. They helped shape the history and growth of the state. Each bridge is an impressive sight. At the time they were built, these wrought iron lattice bridges were considered the best technology for major bridge projects.
The Cowra rail bridge over the Lachlan River was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 because it meets several important rules:
- It shows how history unfolded in New South Wales. Twelve wrought iron lattice railway bridges were built between 1871 and 1887. The Cowra bridge is one of the last ones built.
- It shows great design and technical skill. All nine of the surviving iron lattice railway bridges are impressive structures.
- It has a special connection to the community. Each iron lattice railway bridge crossed a major river. This helped railway lines reach new areas, which helped those communities grow socially and economically.
- It shows the main features of its type of historical place. Together, these iron lattice railway bridges are a very important type of bridge structure.
