Prince Alfred Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prince Alfred Bridge |
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Wooden viaduct, looking south, in October 2019
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| Coordinates | 35°04′28″S 148°06′25″E / 35.0744°S 148.1069°E |
| Crosses | Murrumbidgee River |
| Locale | Middleton Drive, Gundagai, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Owner | Roads and Maritime Services |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Warren truss |
| Material | Wrought iron |
| Trough construction | Timber beam approaches |
| Pier construction | Cast iron cylindrical |
| Total length | 922 metres (3,025 ft) |
| Width | 6 metres (21 ft) |
| Longest span | 3 x 31 metres (103 ft) |
| Number of spans | 4 |
| Piers in water | 2 |
| Clearance below | 12 metres (40 ft) |
| History | |
| Architect | William Christopher Bennett |
| Constructed by | Francis Bell |
| Opened | 17 October 1867 (Toll levied) |
| Closed | n.d. (To road and pedestrian traffic) |
The Prince Alfred Bridge is a very old and important bridge in Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia. It crosses the Murrumbidgee River and its wide flood plain. This bridge is special because it's made of wrought iron and timber. It was designed by William Christopher Bennett and built by Francis Bell between 1864 and 1867.
Today, parts of the bridge are no longer used for cars or walking. In 1977, a newer bridge called the Sheahan Bridge took over its job for the Hume Highway. The Prince Alfred Bridge is now owned by Roads and Maritime Services. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2019 because it's a significant historical landmark.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The bridge was named after Prince Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He was the son of Queen Victoria, who was the Queen at the time. The bridge was built to carry a major road, the Great Southern Road, which later became the Hume Highway.
A Bridge Through Time
Early River Crossings
The area where the bridge stands was always known as a good place to cross the Murrumbidgee River. Even Charles Sturt, an early explorer, crossed here. In the mid-1800s, Gundagai was often hit by big floods. In 1852, a huge flood drowned almost 100 people. Because of this, a new town was built on higher ground. Its main street became part of the Great South Road.
Why a Bridge Was Needed
Crossing the river was a big problem for travelers and traders. People often asked the government for a bridge. But the government kept saying no because it was too expensive. They also thought there wasn't enough traffic.
However, merchants in Wagga Wagga wanted to trade more with Victoria. Victoria had built a railway that made trade easier. So, the merchants built their own timber bridge over the Murrumbidgee. This made the New South Wales government realize they needed to act. They decided to build a strong iron bridge to show their support for the region.
Building the Bridge
In 1861, the government set aside money for a smaller bridge. But by 1864, they decided to build a much longer bridge that would cross the entire flood plain. The Prince Alfred Bridge opened on October 24, 1867. It was the first metal truss bridge built in New South Wales. A truss bridge uses a framework of triangles to make it strong.
The design used for the bridge was called a Warren truss. This design was invented in England in 1848 by James Warren and Willoughby Monzani. It uses a pattern of triangles to support the road. The Prince Alfred Bridge used a special version of this design.
Iron from Australia
The iron for the main parts of the bridge came from England. But the large, round cast iron columns that support the bridge were made in Australia. They were made at the Fitzroy Iron Works in Mittagong. This was the first ironworks in Australia. The iron for these columns came mostly from local mines.
These huge columns were delivered by bullock teams. Each section was about two metres (six feet) long and weighed about one point eight tonnes; one point eight long tons (two short tons). To put them in place, workers dug out the soil from inside the hollow columns. This made the columns sink into the ground. They kept adding sections until the columns reached a solid foundation. This was a very difficult job because of old timber buried in the ground from past floods.
How the Bridge Changed
When it first opened in 1867, the bridge was about 314 metres (1,030 ft) long. It had three iron spans over the river and many timber spans leading up to it. It was the first iron truss bridge in New South Wales.
Later, in 1896, the timber sections were replaced with even longer ones. This made the bridge 922 metres (3,025 ft) long. It was the longest bridge in New South Wales until the Sydney Harbour Bridge opened in 1932. Over the years, the timber deck of the bridge has been changed several times. A walkway was also added in the 1960s.
The Prince Alfred Bridge carried a lot of traffic for over 100 years. But in 1977, the Hume Highway was moved to bypass Gundagai. The newer Sheahan Bridge took over the main traffic. The Prince Alfred Bridge then carried only local traffic. Today, some parts of the timber sections are too old and are closed to cars and people.
Bridge Features
The Prince Alfred Bridge has three main sections made of wrought iron. These sections are called trusses, and they sit on four large, round cast iron columns. These columns are filled with soil and stones to make them strong.
The special Warren truss design uses a pattern of triangles. The bridge's trusses hang from a continuous top beam. This beam rests on special rollers on top of each column. This design helps the bridge handle weight and movement. The bridge has a timber deck that used to carry two lanes of traffic. A walkway was added to one side in the 1960s.
Current Condition
Even though it's very old, the wrought iron parts of the bridge are in excellent condition. There's some minor rust, but it doesn't affect how strong the bridge is. Some of the cast iron parts supporting the cross beams are broken. The parts of the cast iron columns that are underwater have some corrosion, which is normal for old cast iron in water. But overall, the bridge is still in good shape.
Why This Bridge is Special
Historical Importance
The Prince Alfred Bridge is very important to the history of New South Wales. It was the first iron truss bridge built in the state and is the second-oldest metal truss bridge still standing in Australia. It was also part of the longest bridge in New South Wales for many years.
The bridge helped connect Sydney and Melbourne, making travel and trade much easier. It helped channel wealth from the Riverina region towards Sydney, which was good for New South Wales.
Engineering Achievements
This bridge shows amazing engineering for its time. It used the Warren truss design, which was quite new. The way the trusses are supported on rollers is also very unique.
The bridge is also special because its cast iron columns were made at the Fitzroy Iron Works. This was Australia's first ironworks, and they used local iron. This shows how skilled engineers in New South Wales were at producing their own iron.
Important People
The bridge is linked to two very important engineers:
- William Christopher Bennett was the designer. He was the Chief Engineer for Roads in New South Wales for many years. He designed thousands of kilometers of roads and many bridges.
- Francis Bell was the contractor who built the bridge. He was also a very skilled engineer who worked on many big projects in Australia.
A Landmark
The Prince Alfred Bridge is a well-known landmark in Gundagai. Along with the long timber sections and the nearby railway bridge, it creates a historic view. Many travelers between Sydney and Melbourne remember seeing this impressive bridge. It's now a popular tourist attraction.
Rare and Unique
The Prince Alfred Bridge is rare because it's one of only two early Australian bridges built with Australian iron. It's also one of only three pin-jointed metal truss bridges still existing in New South Wales. Its unique design, with the trusses hanging from a continuous top beam on rollers, makes it even more special.
Images for kids
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Prince Albert Road Bridge, Murrumbidgee River, Gundagai, New South Wales, 1877
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Aerial view of the sections removed over O. I. Bell Drive in May 2021
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Prince Alfred Bridge, from southern bank of the Murrumbidgee River (Oct. 2019), showing supporting columns and spans with wrought-iron truss. Note how the truss is suspended from rollers under the horizontal top chord.
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