Marrangaroo, Middle River Brick Viaduct

Item details

Name of item: Marrangaroo, Middle River Brick Viaduct
Type of item: Built
Group/Collection: Transport - Rail
Category: Railway Bridge/ Viaduct
Primary address: 163.334km, Main Western Railway, Marrangaroo, NSW 2790
Parish: Marrangaroo
County: Cook
Local govt. area: Lithgow
All addresses
Street AddressSuburb/townLGAParishCountyType
163.334km, Main Western RailwayMarrangarooLithgowMarrangarooCookPrimary Address

Owner/s

Organisation NameOwner CategoryDate Ownership Updated
TAHE - Country Rail Network (CRN)State Government 

Statement of significance:

The 1919 brick viaduct is significant as an excellent representative and highly intact example of the use of brick arch construction in the 1910s and 1920s, the last period in NSW in which this technology gained widespread use by the NSW Government Railways. The 1870 stone viaduct and the 1919 brick viaduct, when viewed together, reveal changes in bridge technology and in the use of materials, historical changes (namely duplication and expansion of railway infrastructure west of the Blue Mountains) and remain a prominent and aesthetically important group of early railway bridges.
Date significance updated: 15 Jul 10
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: Engineering staff of the NSW Government Railways
Builder/Maker: Day labour
Physical description: The Marrangaroo, Middle River Viaduct is a brick arch underbridge consisting of 4 x 50-feet spans (completed 1919). It is located adjacent to the original (1870) stone arch viaduct (replaced by the brick viaduct during duplication works in 1919).
Physical condition and/or
Archaeological potential: 		Good
Date condition updated:15 Jul 10
Current use: Carries the Main Western Railway line between Bowenfels and Marrangaroo

Assessment of significance

SHR Criteria a)
[Historical significance] 		The Middle River brick viaduct is part of the Bowenfels to Wallerawang duplication, the last of such works dominated by brick arch construction.
SHR Criteria c)
[Aesthetic significance] 		The two viaducts at Marrangaroo (1870 and 1923), together are an impressive grouping of bridge designs, revealing the use of different materials for bridge construction in different eras.
SHR Criteria g)
[Representativeness] 		The Marrangaroo, Middle River Viaduct is a good representative example of brick arch construction.
Integrity/Intactness: The viaduct retains most or all of its original fabric.
Assessment criteria: Items are assessed against the PDF State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Listings

Heritage ListingListing TitleListing NumberGazette DateGazette NumberGazette Page
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register     

References, internet links & images

TypeAuthorYearTitleInternet Links
WrittenDon Fraser1995Bridges Down Under

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

Data source

The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name: State Government
Database number: 3150114

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

All information and pictures on this page are the copyright of Heritage NSW or respective copyright owners.