New Buildings Bridge

Item details


Name of item:	New Buildings Bridge
Other name/s:	Not known
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Transport - Land
Category:	Road Bridge
Location:	Lat: -36.9587585487 Long: 149.56171309.30
Primary address:	New Buildings Road, New Buildings, NSW 2550
Parish:	Wapengo
County:	Dampier
Local govt. area:	Bega Valley

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
New Buildings Road	New Buildings	Bega Valley	Wapengo	Dampier	Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	The New Buildings bridge is a Dare type timber truss bridge, and was completed in 1921. In 1998 it was in good condition. As a timber truss road bridge, it has strong associations with the expansion of the road network and economic activity throughout NSW, and Harvey Dare, the designer of this type of truss. Dare trusses were fifth in the five stage design evolution of NSW timber truss road bridges. They were similar to Allan trusses, but contain improvements which make them stronger and easier to maintain. This engineering enhancement represents a significant evolution of the design of timber truss bridges, and gives Dare trusses some technical significance. In 1998 there were 27 surviving Dare trusses in NSW of the 40 built, and 82 timber truss road bridges survive from the over 400 built. The New Buildings bridge is a representative example of Dare timber truss road bridges, and is assessed as being State significant, primarily on the basis of its technical and historical significance. Date significance updated: 28 Jan 99 Note: There are incomplete details for a number of items listed in NSW. The Heritage Branch intends to develop or upgrade statements of significance and other information for these items as resources become available
	Date significance updated: 29 Aug 13
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	Unknown
Builder/Maker:	Harvey Dare
Construction years:	0-1921
Physical description:	This bridge is managed by the Roads and Traffic Authority and is a Dare type timber truss. New Buildings bridge is a Dare type timber truss road bridge. It has 3 timber truss spans, each of 28.3m (93ft). There are 2 timber approach spans at one end and none at the other giving the bridge an overall length of 101.9m (332ft). The bridge super structure is supported by timber trestles and provides a single lane carriage way with a minimum width of 4.6m. A timber post and rail guard rail extends the full length of the bridge.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	2007-08 condition update: 'Poor.' (Last updated: 17/4/09.)
	Date condition updated:26 Jun 13
Modifications and dates:	Not known
Further information:	Not known


Current use:	Bridge
Former use:	Bridge

History

Historical notes:

Constructed from parts of the original Towamba Bridge that was swept away in the 1919 flood, it was completed in 1921.The New Buildings bridge is a Dare type timber truss bridge, and was completed in 1921.

Timber truss road bridges have played a significant role in the expansion and improvement of the NSW road network. Prior to the bridges being built, river crossings were often dangerous in times of rain, which caused bulk freight movement to be prohibitively expensive for most agricultural and mining produce. Only the high priced wool clip of the time was able to carry the costs and inconvenience imposed by the generally inadequate river crossings that often existed prior to the trusses construction.

Timber truss bridges were preferred by the Public Works Department from the mid 19th to the early 20th century because they were relatively cheap to construct, and used mostly local materials. The financially troubled governments of the day applied pressure to the Public Works Department to produce as much road and bridge work for as little cost as possible, using local materials. This condition effectively prohibited the use of iron and steel, as these, prior to the construction of the steel works at Newcastle in the early 20th century, had to be imported from England.

Harvey Dare, the designer of Dare truss and other bridges, was a leading engineer in the Public Works Department, and a prominent figure in early 20th century NSW.

Timber truss bridges, and timber bridges generally were so common that NSW was known to travellers as the "timber bridge state".

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Through the bridge's association with the expansion of the NSW road network, its ability to demonstrate historically important concepts such as the gradual acceptance of NSW people of American design ideas, and its association with Harvey Dare, it has historical significance.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The bridge exhibits the technical excellence of its design, as all of the structural detail is clearly visible. In the context of its landscape it is visually attractive. As such, the bridge has moderate aesthetic significance.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The New Buildings bridge is valued by the people of Wyndham because of its long service as a river crossing in the area. Timber truss bridges are prominent to road travellers, and NSW has in the past been referred to as the "timber truss bridge state". Through this, the complete set of bridges gain some social significance, as they could be said to be held in reasonable esteem by many travellers in NSW.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The bridge has technical significance because it is a Dare truss, is representative of some major technical developments that were made in timber truss design by the Public Works Department.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	A rare example of a three span Dare truss. In 1998 there were 27 surviving Dare trusses in NSW of the 40 built, and 82 timber truss road bridges survive from the over 400 built. As for the Pretty Point bridge, this bridge has exceptional values. Only 40 Dare Truss bridges were constructed in NSW, of which 27 survived in 2002. This building is on the NSW State Heritage Register and is being conserved by the RTA.
Integrity/Intactness:	Intact
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Statutory Instrument	List on a Local Environmental Plan (LEP)	18 Jun 13

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Local Environmental Plan	Bega Valley Local Environmental Plan 2013	I260	02 Aug 13	408	104

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Timber Bridges, Bega Valley Shire	2009		Pip Giovanelli		No

References, internet links & images

None

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database number:	1100792

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