Mitchells Pass and Lennox Horseshoe Bridge
Mitchell’s Pass and Lennox’s Horseshoe Bridge allowed easy ascent of the Blue Mountains. The pass and the bridge formed the route of the Great Western Highway for 93 years from 1833, and facilitated opening up of western NSW.
The pass was discovered by Surveyor General Major Thomas Mitchell, who also aligned the road.
David Lennox designed the bridge, and supervised its building by convicts, with sandstone quarried nearby. It crosses Brookside Creek (also known as Lapstone Creek), and replaced an earlier crossing of the creek 600 metres (2,000 ft) further south.
The bridge over Lapstone Creek is the oldest surviving stone arch bridge on the Australian mainland. It was strengthened and repaired in 1982 with an internal concrete structure.
Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
Marker Type | Engineering Heritage Marker (EHM) |
Award Date | 1 December 2002 |
Heritage Significance | Lennox Bridge is the oldest surviving stone arch bridge on the Australian mainland. |
Nomination Document | Available here. |
Ceremony Booklet | Available here. |
Plaque/Interpretation Panel | None Installed. |