Bendemeer Bridge - Bendemeer, NSW, Australia
S 30° 52.840 E 151° 09.354
56J E 323717 N 6582166
Completed in 1905, from a Truss design by H Dare, it had remained in use until bypassed in 1985. It is now used as a 5 metres wide pedestrian bridge.
Waymark Code: WMWPYP
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date Posted: 09/29/2017
Views: 5
Don Fraser, of Engineering Heritage of Australia (Newcastle), prepared a submission/Nomination Report for this Truss Bridge to get a plaque for its 100th Anniversary (
visit link) and submitted it in September, 2004.
As a result, there is a bronze plaque on a small boulder at the western end of the bridge, which reads:
"Public Works engineer Harvey Dare designed this composite steel and timber truss bridge. It was constructed by prominent bridge builder W F Oakes and opened on 29 September 1905. The truss type, now known as a Dare truss, was the zenith of timber truss development, being technically superior to previous types. The bridge was in service for the New England Highway for 80 years before being bypassed in 1985.
"THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA, TAMWORTH REGIONAL COUNCIL, COMMUNITY OF BENDEMEER 2005"
Professor Colin O'Connor is quoted from 1985, in the Nomination Report [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: 1712, Sunday, 23 July, 2017