Mitchells Pass and Lennox Horseshoe Bridge

From Engineering Heritage Australia


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.


David Lennox' horseshoe bridge.


The stone parapet wall of the bridge carries the Engineers Australia plaque.
The Engineers Australia plaque.
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Lennox Bridge location map.

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.
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