Terrabile Creek Bridge

Item details


Name of item:	Terrabile Creek Bridge
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Transport - Land
Category:	Road Bridge
Location:	Lat: S 31º 31.996’ Long: E 148º 35.471’
Primary address:	National Park Road, Curban, NSW 2827
Local govt. area:	Gilgandra

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
National Park Road	Curban	Gilgandra			Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	Gilgandra Shire Council Bridge represents the improvements undertaken on regional roads in early 20th Century. It is also an example of the application of the improved style of timber bridge construction developed by engineer Percy Allan in 1894. It is representative timber bridges constructed in the late 19th century and early 20th century. It has local historical, aesthetic and technical/research significance, rarity and representativeness. It has a high level of integrity.
	Date significance updated: 19 Jan 09
	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


Construction years:	1923-
Physical description:	The Terrabile Creek Bridge is a six span longitudinal beam bridge supported by two abutments and five pile bents. This style of bridge building was imported from the United States of America in the late 19th century. The Clifton Bridge represents an improved design developed by engineer Percy Allan for the New South Wales Government in 1894. The longitudinal bridge beams are made from adzed logs. All other timbers in the bridge, bents and abutments appear to have been milled. Bents consist of milled posts supporting Allan’s improved headstock design featuring a pair of half-headstocks or capwales. This style of construction reduced original costs and ongoing maintenance costs of these types of bridges. The tallest bent in the centre of the bridge is braced on the downstream side to protect the bridge from the floods that can rage down Terrabile Creek.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The bridge appears to be generally sound. The bridge has moderate archaeological potential.
	Date condition updated:19 Jan 09


Current use:	Unused
Former use:	Road Bridge

History

Historical notes:

Construction of a bridge to carry the Dubbo to Coonamble Road over Terrabile Creek was proposed in 1878. The estimated cost was £1,400. (Dormer 1983:54)
The present bridge was built during the 1920s

The construction of the Terrabile Creek Bridge utilised innovative bridge building techniques developed by roads engineer Percy Allan in 1894. Allan’s design altered the style of the bridge bents, or trestles, to reduce construction and ongoing maintenance costs. (Cardno MBK 2000:19-20)

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	(none)-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Terrabile Creek Bridge represents the improvements undertaken on regional roads in the early 20th Century. It is also an example of the application of the style of timber bridge construction developed by engineer Percy Allan in 1894. It has local historical significance.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	Terrabile Creek Bridge has no particular historical association significance.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Terrabile Creek Bridge is a six span longitudinal timber bridge constructed to a design developed by Percy Allan in 1894. It has local aesthetic significance.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The bridge has little social significance.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	Terrabile Creek Bridge is an example of a six span longitudinal timber bridge constructed to a design developed by Percy Allan in 1894. It has local technical/research significance.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	Terrabile Creek Bridge is a rare local example of an Allan six span longitudinal timber bridge.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Terrabile Creek Bridge is representative timber bridges constructed in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Integrity/Intactness:	Terrabile Creek Bridge has a high level of integrity.
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.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Local Environmental Plan	Gilgandra Local Environmental Plan 2011	I21	09 Dec 11
Heritage study

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Gilgandra Shire Community Based Heritage Study	2008		Ray Christison	Ray Christison	Yes
Gilgandra Shire Community Based Heritage Study	2008		Ray Christison		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Bayley, W. A.	1977	Rich Earth: History of Young New South Wales
Written	Cardno MBK	2000	Historical Overview of Bridge Types in NSW: Extract from the Study of Relative Heritage Significance of RTA Controlled Timber Bean Road Bridges

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:	1590094

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