Paterson River bridge, Hinton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hinton Bridge |
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Hinton Bridge viewed from north of Hinton, in 2007
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| Coordinates | 32°42′51″S 151°38′52″E / 32.7141°S 151.6478°E |
| Carries | Hinton-Morpeth Road |
| Crosses | Paterson River |
| Locale | Hinton, City of Maitland, New South Wales, Australia |
| Owner | Roads and Maritime Services |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Allan-type truss with lift span |
| Material | Timber |
| Pier construction | Cast iron cylinders |
| Total length | 178.6 metres (586 ft) |
| Longest span | 28 metres (92 ft) |
| Clearance below |
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| History | |
| Architect | Percy Allan |
| Engineering design by | Ernest de Burgh |
| Constructed by | S. McGill |
| Fabrication by |
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| Construction cost | A£9,845 |
| Opened | 13 February 1901 |
| Inaugurated | by John See, Colonial Secretary |
| Official name: Hinton Bridge over Paterson River | |
| Type: | State heritage (built) |
| Designated: | 20 June 2000 |
| Reference #: | 1470 |
| Type: | Road Bridge |
| Category: | Transport - Land |
| Builders: | S. McGill |
The Hinton Bridge is a special road bridge over the Paterson River in Hinton, Australia. It carries the Hinton-Morpeth Road. This bridge is important because it is a heritage site. It was designed by Ernest de Burgh and finished in 1901. Today, the Roads and Maritime Services agency owns it. The bridge was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on June 20, 2000.
Contents
Building Bridges: A Look Back
Why Timber Bridges Were Important
Timber bridges were very important for roads in New South Wales (NSW). Before these bridges, crossing rivers was often dangerous. It was also expensive to move goods like farm produce. Only valuable items like wool could be moved easily.
The Public Works Department liked timber bridges. They were cheap to build and used local wood. At the time, the government wanted to save money. They also wanted to use materials from Australia. This meant they could not use iron or steel. These materials had to be brought in from England.
The Allan Truss Design
The Allan truss was a new type of timber bridge. It was the first to use scientific engineering ideas. These ideas came from America. People in NSW were starting to see that American designs could be very good.
The Allan truss was high quality and cost less to build. This made timber bridges very popular in NSW for 30 years. Percy Allan designed the Allan truss. He was a top engineer in the Public Works Department. NSW was even known as the "timber bridge state" because of all its wooden bridges.
Hinton Bridge: Its Story
Building the Bridge
Work on the Hinton Bridge started in 1898. It was built to replace an old steam ferry. The cost was about A£9,845. A new road was also built to connect the bridge to the Morpeth Bridge.
S. McGill was the builder for the Hinton Bridge. This was the same company that built the Morpeth Bridge. Other companies provided the iron, steel, and steel ropes.
Design and Opening
Ernest de Burgh designed the bridge. He was an Assistant Engineer for Bridges. The bridge was made to let river boats pass through. It could open to create a clear space of about 15.3 meters (50 feet). When open, it could rise to 13.7 meters (45 feet) above high water.
The Hinton Bridge opened on February 13, 1901. John See, the Colonial Secretary, opened it. The part of the bridge that used to lift was fixed in place in 1940. This happened because river steamers were no longer used.
What the Bridge Looks Like
The Hinton Bridge is an Allan-type timber truss road bridge. It has two main timber sections. Each of these sections is about 28 meters (92 feet) long. There is also a steel section in the middle. This part used to lift up and is about 17.8 meters (58 feet) long.
The bridge also has many timber sections leading up to it. There are seven on one side and three on the other. This makes the whole bridge about 178.6 meters (586 feet) long.
The bridge is about 14.3 meters (47 feet) above the high water line. The middle section used to lift an extra 7.9 meters (26 feet). But as mentioned, this lifting part was fixed in 1940. The bridge has a road that is at least 5.1 meters (17 feet) wide. It was in good condition in 2005.
Why Hinton Bridge is Special
The Hinton Bridge is an important part of history. It is an Allan timber truss bridge with a lift span. This lift span used to let river steamers pass on the Hunter River system. Hinton is one of only three lift bridges in the Hunter area.
Most of its original parts are still there. The bridge is in good shape. It shows how the road network grew in NSW. It also connects to important people like Percy Allan. Allan trusses were a big improvement over older bridge designs. They were cheaper to build and could hold more weight.
People who live near the bridge really value it. This gives the bridge social importance. The Hunter Region has many old bridges. The Hinton Bridge is one of 15 historic road bridges built before 1905. It is a good example of an Allan timber truss bridge. It is important for its history and how it was built.
The Hinton Bridge was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on June 20, 2000.
Historical Importance
The bridge shows how the NSW road network grew. It also shows how people in NSW started to accept American design ideas. Its connection to Percy Allan also makes it historically important.
Design and Beauty
The bridge shows excellent design. You can clearly see how it was built. It also looks very nice in its natural setting. This gives the bridge strong aesthetic value.
Community Connection
The Hinton community values the bridge a lot. Timber bridges were very common in NSW. Many travelers in NSW might think highly of these bridges.
A Rare Find
This bridge is quite rare because it has a lift span and is very old.
A Great Example
The Hinton Bridge is a good example of an Allan timber truss bridge.
