Old Cobram-Barooga Bridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Old Cobram-Barooga Bridge
Location	Vermont Street, Barooga, Berrigan Shire, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1900–1902
Architect	Ernest de Burgh (engineer); NSW Department of Public Works
Owner	Roads and Maritime Services
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Old Cobram-Barooga Bridge; RMS Bridge No 3247
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	1 April 2016
Reference no.	1972
Type	Road Bridge
Category	Transport - Land
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The Old Cobram-Barooga Bridge is a special bridge with a long history. It used to be a road bridge but is now a footbridge for people walking or cycling. It crosses the Murray River and connects the town of Barooga in New South Wales (NSW) with Cobram in Victoria.

This bridge was designed by Ernest de Burgh and the New South Wales Department of Public Works. It was built between 1900 and 1902. Today, the Roads and Maritime Services owns the bridge. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 1, 2016, because it's an important part of history.

Bridge History

Timber Bridges in NSW

For thousands of years, bridges were simple. They were made of timber beams or strong stone arches. In Australia, stone bridges were common until the mid-1800s. After that, engineers started building many bridges using timber. Timber was cheaper and faster to use.

NSW had excellent hardwood timber, which is very strong. Engineers like McDonald, Allan, Dare, and De Burgh used this timber to build durable bridges. These timber bridges helped people and goods move around NSW for about 150 years.

Later in the 1800s, steel became available. It was stronger and cheaper than iron. Engineers around the world started using steel for bridges. In Australia, steel was used more often after 1915. Before that, NSW bridge designs began to mix timber with steel. They used steel in important parts, like the bottom sections of the bridge.

Types of Timber Truss Bridges

There were five main types of timber truss bridges built in NSW. A "truss" is a framework of beams that makes a bridge strong. Each type improved on the last:

• Old Public Works Department (PWD) Truss: Used from 1860 to 1886. It was a basic, strong design.
• McDonald Truss: Built from 1886 to 1893. It used cast-iron pieces where timber beams joined. It also had iron rods for strength.
• Allan Truss: Built from 1893 to 1929. This was a big improvement. It used cast iron and vertical iron rods, like the McDonald type.
• De Burgh Truss: Built from 1899 to 1905. This bridge type mixed timber and steel. It was unique because it used special "pin-joints" to connect the steel parts.
• Dare Truss: Built from 1905 to 1936. This bridge was similar to the Allan truss but used steel for the bottom sections. It was the most successful mixed timber-steel design.

The Old Cobram-Barooga Bridge uses the De Burgh Truss design. This design was special because it was the first to combine timber and steel in a new way. It had timber posts and top sections, but steel rods and plates for other parts.

Lift-Span Bridges

The Old Cobram-Barooga Bridge also had a special "lift-span." This meant a section of the bridge could be lifted up. This was important for boats with tall masts, like paddle-steamers, to pass underneath. These boats were used to transport goods on the Murray River.

When the river water was high, boats needed more space to pass. The lift-span provided this extra height. These lifting bridges were built from 1890 until 1941. After that, no new lifting bridges were built on the Murray River.

River Use and Federation

In the late 1800s, the Murray River's main use began to change. It went from being used mostly for boats to being used for irrigation. Irrigation means supplying water to farms. Farmers in the Riverina region of NSW needed a steady water supply for their crops, especially wheat. Rainfall was often unpredictable, with floods followed by droughts.

Engineers started looking into big irrigation plans. However, the different states (NSW, Victoria, and South Australia) often argued about who owned the river's water. They were like independent countries competing with each other. This made it hard to work together.

Then came Federation in 1901. This is when the Australian states joined together to form one country. This made it easier for the states to work together. They decided to set up a group to manage the Murray River's water. This group would make sure water was shared for irrigation, transport, and drinking. By the 1930s, river transport was much less common. But in the early 1900s, building lift-span bridges like this one still showed how important river transport once was.

Building the Bridge

People in the Cobram and Barooga area wanted a bridge for many years. They held meetings and asked their local politicians for help. By 1899, both the NSW and Victorian governments agreed to build it. Victoria ended up paying for and building the bridge.

The bridge showed how important the wool and other goods industries were. It also showed how much trade happened between NSW and Victoria. Having a bridge was a big deal for towns. It meant more economic growth and made it easier to cross the border.

In 2006, a new bridge was built next to the Old Cobram-Barooga Bridge. The new bridge carries all the road traffic. The Old Cobram-Barooga Bridge then became a special bridge just for people walking. The northern end of the bridge (on the NSW side) was changed. A staircase was added, which some people think doesn't quite fit the old bridge's style.

Bridge Description

The Old Cobram-Barooga Bridge is a timber truss and lift-span bridge. It used to have two lanes for cars. Now, it is only for pedestrians.

The bridge is quite long, with twelve sections. It is made of timber, steel, iron, and concrete. In the middle, it has a steel lift-span. This part can be lifted up. On either side of the lift-span are two large De Burgh timber-steel truss sections.

On the NSW side, only one timber section remains. It ends with a steel fence and stairs down to the ground. On the Victorian side, all three original timber sections are still there. The main parts of the bridge rest on strong timber posts and cast iron supports.

The lift-span section is about 18 meters long. It has a narrower road deck, which means it only allowed one lane of traffic when it was used for cars. The lifting system has four steel towers connected by steel frames.

The two De Burgh truss sections are each about 31.7 meters long. They are made of both timber and steel. They have paired timber beams on top and steel rods for diagonal support.

The other sections of the bridge are made of timber beams. Each section has been made stronger with extra steel beams.

There used to be a walkway on the southern side of the bridge. Most of the timber from this walkway has been removed. On the lifting section, there was no separate walkway. Pedestrians had to share the road with cars when the bridge was open to traffic.

The bridge is in good condition. However, the stairs on the NSW side are seen as not fitting the bridge's original look.

Why the Bridge is Special

The Old Cobram-Barooga Bridge is very important to the history of New South Wales. Here's why:

• Rare Design: It's a great example of a rare type of vertical lift-span bridge. It also has the special De Burgh Truss design.
• Historical Crossing: It was one of the most important places to cross the Murray River and the border between NSW and Victoria.
• River Transport: The fact that it had a lift-span shows how important the Murray River was for transporting goods like wheat and wool.
• Regional Development: The bridge's story is linked to how the Riverina region in NSW grew. It also shows how NSW traded with Victoria, especially using railways to Melbourne.
• Federation Link: The bridge is directly connected to the Federation of Australia in 1901. Its building was delayed until decisions about Federation were made. This shows the economic connections and arguments between the states before they became one country.

The Old Cobram-Barooga Bridge was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 1, 2016.

Historical Importance

The bridge is important because:

• It was the first main road link over the Murray River in this area for over 100 years.
• It shows what transport was like before cars were common. It helped farmers get their goods to markets by horse or bullock wagons.
• It's part of the story of how the Riverina region developed. The Murray River was key to farming and trade in this area.
• The lift-span shows the importance of river shipping in the 1800s. Even though river trade was slowing down, it was still important enough to build a lifting bridge.
• The lift-span also shows the political and economic talks between NSW, Victoria, and South Australia before Federation. They argued about sharing the river's water. The bridge is an example of the issues that led to the states joining together.

Important People

The bridge is important because it shows the work of Ernest de Burgh. He was a very important engineer in NSW history. He designed this bridge and many other major projects. He worked on big dams for water supply in Sydney, Newcastle, and Broken Hill. He even helped plan Canberra's water supply.

Creative and Technical Achievement

The bridge shows how skilled NSW engineers were in the late 1800s.

• The vertical lift-span design was largely developed in NSW. There weren't many similar bridges overseas. This shows great engineering skill.
• The timber truss sections were a big improvement over older designs. Using Australian hardwoods for these designs was a special achievement for NSW.
• The De Burgh timber truss design shows how engineers kept finding new ways to build bridges using different materials.

The bridge also has a nice look. Many people in the community like timber bridges for their natural materials and familiar shapes.

Community Connection

The Old Cobram-Barooga Bridge is very important to the communities of Cobram and Barooga.

• It's a traditional crossing point.
• It's a symbol of the area.
• It's featured in local tourism guides.
• Its story is closely tied to the history of both towns.

Research Potential

The bridge is important for research.

• It's one of only four De Burgh truss bridges kept in NSW. It helps us understand how timber bridge designs changed.
• It's one of only three Hinton-type vertical lift-span bridges designed by Ernest De Burgh that still exist. It's also one of only two that still have all their lifting parts working.

Rarity

The Old Cobram-Barooga Bridge is rare because:

• It's one of only three surviving Hinton-type vertical lift-span bridges designed by Ernest De Burgh.
• It's one of only two of these bridges that still have all their lifting parts.
• It's one of only nine bridges in NSW that use the De Burgh composite timber-truss design. Only four of these are planned to be kept long-term.

Representative Example

The bridge is a good example of:

• A Hinton-type vertical lift-span bridge.
• Two De Burgh composite timber-truss sections.
• A typical opening bridge from the early 1900s on an inland river in NSW. It shows the main features of a timber truss bridge with timber approach sections and a steel lifting section in the middle.