Hawkesbury River Railway Bridges
The Hawkesbury River, quite close to Sydney was the site of the last link in the east coast ralway, linking Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Asuttalia, and was thus a pre-requisite for Federation. The Father of Federation, Sir Henry Parkes, proclaimed this view in the speech he gave at the opening ceremony and this may have been his first oration promoting his vision towards the unification of the colonies.
The bridge site was a difficult one with the estuary broad, the currents and tides fast, the water deep, and rock foundations beyond the reach of technologes of the times. The first bridge was designed in New York, fabricated in Scotland from English steel, and erected by American engineers. It was the first bridge in Australia to use the then new material, and on completion its foundaions were the deepest of any bridge in the world - and the world knew it. Its construction was spectaular with the long and heavy spans being assembled on a nearby island and floated onto the piers using the tides.
The bridge did not prove to have been well built, especially the foundation caissons, and the whole structure had to be replaced, commencing in 1939. This was a task made more difficult by the coincidience with the Second World War whereby Australian engineering was cut off from overseas industrial resources and design expertise. Although the task was prolonged by material and manpower shortages the second bridge, of similar oversll design and construction techniques to the older bridge, was completed in 1946 - designed, fabricated and erected entirely within the organisation of the New South Wales Government Railways.
Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
| Marker Type | National Engineering Landmark (NEL) |
| Award Date | December 2001 |
| Heritage Significance | The first railway crossing completed in 1889 by the Union Bridge Co., USA was the largest bridge project in colonial Australia and used American pin-jointed trusses on the deepest piers in the world. It enabled the linking by rail of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, and was used by Sir Henry Parkes as a symbol in his campaign for federation of the Australian colonies. Deterioration of the piers and load limitations led to its replacement. The new structure completed in 1946, was entirely the work of the Way and Works Branch, New South Wales Government Railways. |
| Nomination Document | Available here. |
| Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report |
Available here. |
| Plaque/Interpretation Panel | None Installed. |
