Gundagai Historic Bridges, Murrumbidgee River

These two bridges comprise similar pin-jointed structures over the Murrumbidgee River, and timber viaducts over the flood plain.

The 1867 iron, three-span Warren truss road bridge and viaduct – one of the longest in Australia, carried the Hume Highway for 110 years. The iron cylinders for the piers were cast at Mittagong by Fitzroy Iron Works, and the trusses were assembled using iron from England.

The railway bridge is a steel hog-back style truss which was manufactured in the USA by A & P Roberts Company. The bridge and its Howe truss viaduct, the longest in Australia, were completed in 1903 by the Department of Public Works’ engineers and day labour. These structures carried the branch railway to Tumut for 82 years.

Both bridges viewed from high ground to the south. The timber road bridge is out of service, with traffic from the iron spans over the main channel diverted onto the flood plain.

The road and rail routes intersected immediately they had reached the northern bank.

The Engineers Australia plaque at Gundagai.

The railway spans over the main river channel are pin-jointed Pratt Trusses.

Loading map...

Gundagai Historic Bridges location map.

Engineering Heritage Recognition Program

Marker Type	Historic Engineering Marker (HEM)
Award Date	November 1998
Heritage Significance	The timber sections of both bridges illustrate the heavy reliance on strong New South Wales hardwoods for economical engineering construction in times before the wide availability of steel and concrete.
Nomination Document	Available here.
Ceremony Booklet	Not vailable.
Interpretation Panel	None Installed.