Denison Bridge

The Denison Bridge is a heritage-listed footbridge over the Macquarie River in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia.

[2][1] Despite the growing importance of Bathurst as the principal urban centre over the Blue Mountains, the Macquarie River, which flows past the town on the Sydney side, was not bridged until 1856.

The bridge contract drawings bear Morrell's signature and that of William Christopher Bennett, Commissioner for Roads.

[2] The bridge was constructed in 1869 to 1870 by the prominent engineering firm, P. N. Russell & Co at a cost of 18,818 pounds through the NSW Public Works Department.

[2] The cast-iron cylinders used in the piers were cast at P. N. Russell & Co's foundry in Sydney, mainly using pig-iron from the Fitzroy Iron Works.

It was superseded by a prestressed concrete bridge upstream and closed to vehicular traffic in the early 1990s and adapted for use as a footbridge.

[7] It was opened on New Year's Day 1856, and named in honour of the then Governor-General Sir William Denison, who was on a tour of inspection of the Bathurst region.

The roadway is formed of wood, not otherwise covered than with a coating of preparation to resist the action of the weather, mixed with some rough material to give foothold to the horses passing over.

On a buttress, at either end of the bridge, is raised a lamp, the light from which will serve to show the divisions of the track at night.

The bridge is a prominent local landmark which has played an important role in the history of Bathurst and the Central West.

[2] Denison Bridge was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 1 August 2003 having satisfied the following criteria.

Further, the bridge is a significant technical accomplishment in the management of compressive and tension forces in metal truss members.

Its design and innovative solution to the pressures of compression and tension is of historical significance in demonstrating the development of engineering and truss bridge technology.

Its fabrication and erection are important as it used substantial amounts of materials and skills already available in the colony with subsequent economic benefits to the government.

[2] The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

The clean, open arrangement of members and joints made for easy maintenance which contributed greatly to its long service life.

[2] Spanning the Macquarie River and Morse and Berry Parks, the Denison Bridge is locally significant as a prominent engineering landmark and enjoys a picturesque setting.

[2] The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

Through the distribution of its ironwork the fabric displays the types of forces, compression and tension generated in the members of trusses.

[2] The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

[2] The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales.

Denison Bridge, Bathurst
Denison Bridge, Bathurst