Wollombi Brook bridge, Bulga
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Wollombi Brook Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32°39′04″S 151°01′16″E / 32.6511°S 151.0211°E |
| Carries | Putty Road  |
| Crosses | Wollombi Brook |
| Locale | Bulga, New South Wales, Australia |
| Other name(s) | Bulga Bridge |
| Owner | Transport for NSW |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Dare truss |
| Material | Timber |
| Total length | 129 metres (424 ft) |
| Width | 5.5 metres (18 ft) |
| No. of spans | 5: 2 main; 3 approach |
| History | |
| Designer | Harvey Dare |
| Constructed by | William Murphy and James Taylor |
| Construction end | 1912 |
| Official name | Bulga Bridge over Wollombi Brook |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 20 June 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1459 |
| Type | Road Bridge |
| Category | Transport - Land |
| Builders | William Murphy and James Taylor |
| Location | |
 | |
The Wollombi Brook bridge is a heritage-listed road bridge that carries Putty Road across the Wollombi Brook at Bulga, New South Wales, Australia. The bridge was designed by Harvey Dare and built in 1912. The bridge is owned by Transport for NSW. The bridge was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 20 June 2000.[1]
Timber truss bridges
Timber truss road bridges have played a significant role in the expansion and improvement of the New South Wales road network. Prior to the bridges being built, river crossings were often dangerous in times of rain, which caused bulk freight movement to be prohibitively expensive for most agricultural and mining produce. Only the high priced wool clip of the time was able to carry the costs and inconvenience imposed by the generally inadequate river crossings that often existed prior to the trusses construction.[1]
Timber truss bridges were preferred by the NSW Public Works Department from the mid 19th to the early 20th century because they were relatively cheap to construct, and used mostly local materials. The financially troubled governments of the day applied pressure to the NSW Public Works Department to produce as much road and bridge work for as little cost as possible, using local materials. This condition effectively prohibited the use of iron and steel, as these, prior to the construction of the steel works at Newcastle in the early 20th century, had to be imported from England.[1]
Harvey Dare, the designer of Dare truss and other bridges, was a leading engineer in the Public Works Department, and a prominent figure in early 20th century NSW.[1]
Timber truss bridges, and timber bridges generally were so common that NSW was known to travellers as the "timber bridge state".[1]
Wollombi Brook bridge
The bridge was built in 1911-12 by William Murphy and James Taylor over what was then known as Cockfighter Creek.[2]
In 2003-04, emergency works were undertaken including pier replacement, driving of new piles and a second row of piles.[1]
Description
Bulga Bridge is a Dare-type timber truss road bridge. It has two timber truss spans, each of 32 metres (105 ft). There are three timber approach spans at one end and two at the other giving the bridge an overall length of 129 metres (424 ft). The super structure is supported by sheeted timber trestles and provides a carriageway with a minimum width of 5.5 metres (18 ft). A timber post and rail guard rail extends the full length of the bridge. The underside of the bridge deck has been strengthened with steel tension ties.[1]
