Murray River road bridge, Swan Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Murray River road bridge, Swan Hill |
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Swan Hill-Murray River Road Bridge, in 2006
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| Coordinates | 35°20′16″S 143°33′46″E / 35.3379°S 143.5629°E |
| Carries | Swan Hill Road |
| Crosses | Murray River |
| Locale | Murray Downs, Murray River Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Other name(s) |
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| Owner | Roads and Maritime Services |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Allan truss with lift span |
| Material | Timber and riveted lattice steel |
| Trough construction | Timber |
| Pier construction | Timber and cast iron |
| Longest span | 27.9 metres (92 ft) |
| Number of spans | 3 |
| History | |
| Designer | Percy Allan |
| Opened | 1896 |
| Official name: Swan Hill-Murray River Road Bridge; Murray River road bridge, Swan Hill | |
| Type: | State heritage (built) |
| Designated: | 20 June 2000 |
| Reference #: | 1481 |
| Type: | Road Bridge |
| Category: | Transport - Land |
The Murray River road bridge is a special road bridge that carries Swan Hill Road. It crosses the Murray River right on the border between New South Wales and Victoria, Australia. This bridge connects Murray Downs in New South Wales to McCallum Street in Swan Hill, Victoria.
Built in 1896, the bridge is owned by Roads and Maritime Services, a government agency in New South Wales. It is also known as the Swan Hill Bridge or the Swan Hill-Murray River Road Bridge. Because of its importance and unique design, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on June 20, 2000.
Contents
A Bridge Through Time
Early Days of Swan Hill
The area now known as Swan Hill was named by Sir Thomas Mitchell in 1836. He was a Surveyor General and camped there. His image is even on the crest of Swan Hill today!
In the years that followed, large farms and stations were set up. On the New South Wales side, Murray Downs covered a huge area of 60,000 hectares (about 148,000 acres). By the 1860s, it had 6,000 sheep. On the Victorian side, big farms like Tyntynder and Mercers Vale were started by the Beveridge family, mainly for cattle.
River Trade and the First Ferry
Because so many farms were growing, people needed a way to cross the river. A special punt (a flat-bottomed boat) was set up at Swan Hill as early as 1846.
In 1853, the first two steamboats on the river, the Lady Augusta and Mary Ann, raced up the river. Both stopped at Swan Hill. The local Campbell family even held a dance for the passengers and crew while wool was loaded onto the boats. Swan Hill grew into an important place for river trade. It had wharves, hotels, and stores on both sides of the river, right next to the ferry.
Building the Bridge
By 1889, the railway reached Swan Hill from Victoria. This made the need for a proper bridge even greater. People wanted a bridge that could also let riverboats pass underneath.
So, in 1895, plans were made for a lift span bridge. This type of bridge has a section that can be raised to let tall boats go by. The bridge was finished and opened in 1896. It's still used today! Swan Hill continued to grow, becoming a hub for farming and attracting many tourists to its outdoor museum.
How the Bridge is Built
Design and Materials
The Swan Hill Bridge is a mix of timber and steel. It's a truss bridge with a special lift span that goes across the Murray River. The main part of the bridge runs from east to west.
It has three main sections, or spans, including the lift span. These are held up by strong piers made of cast iron. On the northern side, there are three smaller approach spans, and on the southern side, there is one.
Key Features
The two main truss spans are about 27.9 meters (91.5 feet) long. They use a design called an Allan truss, named after its designer. These parts are made of timber with strong cross beams. The main support beams have been updated to steel. The bridge deck, where cars drive, is made of timber.
The lift span is about 17.8 meters (58.4 feet) long. It's built with strong, riveted lattice steel. The way it lifts was also designed by Percy Allan. The deck of the lift span is also timber, and only one lane of traffic can cross it at a time. The smaller approach spans are made of timber beams, supporting a timber deck. The piers holding up these sections are timber trestles.
Recent Updates
A walkway for people was added on the upstream side of the bridge. This involved some changes to the top parts of the Allan trusses.
As of 2005, the bridge was in good shape. It had been repaired and updated in recent years. For example, one of the truss spans was fixed in May 1998.
Why This Bridge is Special
A Piece of History
The Swan Hill Bridge is very important for its history. It shows how bridge building changed over time in New South Wales. It's also strongly connected to Percy Allan, a famous bridge engineer. He designed over 550 bridges in his career! The Swan Hill Bridge was one of his biggest and most advanced projects. He was very proud of it and even wrote a detailed paper about its design.
Beautiful and Unique
This bridge also has a special beauty because of where it is located. It acts like a gateway into New South Wales from the busy town of Swan Hill. It's a major landmark in the town, standing out because of its size. Having a lift bridge right in the middle of a town is quite rare. There's only one other similar bridge in the area, at Tooleybuc.
Important to the Community
The Swan Hill Bridge is very important to the people of Swan Hill and the Wakool District. It's the main way to cross the river and connects people and businesses. The river is a central part of life for fun and social activities in the region. The bridge is seen as a key part of this area by local people.
Engineering Award
The Swan Hill Bridge has been recognized for its engineering importance. It received a Historic Engineering Marker from Engineers Australia as part of their program that celebrates important engineering achievements.
