Morpeth bridge

Heritage bridges like this one over the
Hunter River at Morpeth are a unique
part of the NSW landscape. A multi-
agency taskforce is now at work to
conserve these significant heritage
structures. Photo by David Barnes/
Forests NSW Image Library

Forests NSW has joined a multi-agency taskforce in efforts to conserve the state’s iconic timber bridges. Bill Nethery of the NSW Heritage Office reports.

The distinctive timber bridges of New South Wales face a challenging future. The maintenance cycle for timber is more rapid than for more modern materials, while the large, naturally-durable hardwood species that originally furnished timber for bridge construction are in increasingly short supply.

In early 2007, Forests NSW joined a timber bridge taskforce convened by the Premier’s Department, along with NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA), and the Heritage Office within NSW Department of Planning. The taskforce is developing a whole-of-government strategy for the identification, retention, conservation and safe use of these significant heritage structures.

Identifying and securing suitable timber from State forests and ensuring that it finds its way to the most significant bridges is an essential first step in the timber bridge conservation strategy. A full-time heritage bridge timbers officer has been funded by the RTA to carry out this task over the next six months, and will work in consultation with Forests NSW regional supervising forest officers and harvesting contractors.

Timber bridges are important elements of their communities’ built environments and of the scenery in many rural areas. Together, they have led to New South Wales’ reputation as ‘the timber bridge state’ and contribute significantly to the appeal of country tourism.

Ranging from simple timber beam creek crossings to complex timber truss road structures and rail bridges, they form a tangible record of the state’s engineering history and the evolution of its road and rail transport systems.

The RTA, State Rail Authority, Rail Infrastructure Corporation, Australian Rail Track Corporation, RailCorp and local councils all own and/or manage timber bridges.

The heritage conservation goal is to retain these items in their locations as functioning road bridges – keeping their technological structures and original materials – and to repair them as authentically as possible.

The taskforce is also considering establishment of dedicated hardwood plantations to fill bridge girder requirements in 50 to 60 years time. Interim repairs with substitute materials are an option for those bridges not deemed to be of the highest significance. It’s the measures adopted during that period – the next half century or so – that will determine the survival or disappearance of the timber bridges of NSW.

Of course, appropriate timber supply is only one of the challenges confronting these heritage icons of the timber bridge state.

The constantly growing size, weight and speed of commercial vehicles have overtaken the capacities that many timber bridges were designed to cope with. Not all bridges are of equal heritage value, and conservation is more feasible for some bridges than for others. The Heritage Office and the RTA are cooperating to identify those that will receive the highest priority for conservation.

Forests NSW will continue to work closely with the other agencies of the taskforce to ensure that these distinctive features of the New South Wales landscape retain their important role in the cultural, recreational and economic life of their communities.