MacDonald River Truss Bridge - Bendemeer, NSW
S 30° 52.850 E 151° 09.400
56J E 323791 N 6582149
This Truss Bridge, built in 1903-5 has been turned into a 5.2 metre wide pedestrian bridge, since being bypassed in 1985.
Waymark Code: WMWPWX
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date Posted: 09/28/2017
Views: 3
Designed by Harvey H Dare in 1903, it replaced an earlier, 3-span laminated arch bridge built in 1865. [That bridge being closed in 1895, due to rot of the timber laminates.]
It was built by Walter Frank Oakes, and opened on 29 September, 1905 (
visit link)
It was bypassed in 1985 with a highway deviation to the east of the village Bendemeer.
"It has a place in history and heritage of road infrastructure, being the site of the first of the composite steel and timber Dare truss bridge which superseded the last of the laminated timber arch bridges." [Above link]
Professor Colin O'Connor is quoted on p. 6:
"Completed in 1905, it is one of the first examples of the Dare truss designed by H H Dare in 1903 and placed in service from about 1904 until at least 1912. This type was a composite Howe truss bridge with timber upper chords and compression diagonals, a metal lower chord and metal tension rods for the verticals. It was designed for spans of 22.4m and 31.7m. The Bendemeer Bridge is of considerable age for a timber bridge; the span is also considerable for a timber truss bridge. The bridge is thus of considerable technological significance.
"The bridge carries a 5.2m roadway and has spans of 9m, 10.6m, 10.6m, 10.5m, 31.6m, 9.3m and 9.2m. The six approach spans are timber girders. The main span is a half through composite truss of the Dare type. The main piers are concrete."
Visited: 1715, Sunday, 23 July, 2017