Cooerwull Railway footbridge

Item details


Name of item:	Cooerwull Railway footbridge
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Foot Bridge
Location:	Lat: -33.471626912352 Long: 150.1896175252
Primary address:	Top Points Zig Zag Railway, Lithgow, NSW 2790
Local govt. area:	Lithgow
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Bathurst

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	9		DP	788554
LOT	2		DP	932875

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Top Points Zig Zag Railway	Lithgow	Lithgow			Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	This is the only A frame timber bridge built in the State, built to the simplest design with local materials. It was built in 1941 as a low-cost temporary wartime railway footbridge for workers at the nearby Small Arms Factory. In 2002 it was relocated to Top Points at the Zig Zag Railway.
	Date significance updated: 16 Mar 06
	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:	1941-1941
Physical description:	Timber A-frame railway footbridge at Top Points, Zig Zag Railway. Originally located over tracks at Cooerwull.


Current use:	Footbridge
Former use:	Aboriginal land, Footbridge

History

Historical notes:

Originally constructed in 1941 as a low-cost temporary wartime railway footbridge for workers at the nearby Small Arms Factory Lithgow. After closure of the Small Arms Factory Factory in 1974 the footbridge was retained for public use and then replaced by a steel and concrete structure in 1995.

The State Rail Authority recognised the heritage significance of the A-frame structure and and placed it, in its complete form, adjacent to its original site. Subsequently in 2002 the Zig Zag Railway negotiated removal to the footbridge to its Top Points site for display, use and preservation.

In October 2019 to mark the 150th anniversary of the railway line to Bowenfels, the NSW Rail Museum will bring a special heritage train to Lithgow to celebrate the occasion - part of a weekend of activities (Lithgow Mercury, 17/10/19).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Changing the environment-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Developing local, regional and national economies-National Theme 3
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes of institutions - productive and ornamental-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Events-Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurences	Developing local landmarks-
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	Building the railway network-
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	Public tramline system-
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	Providing and using pedestrian tracks and ways-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Building settlements, towns and cities-National Theme 4
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Administering and alienating Crown lands-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	State government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - building and administering rail networks-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	This item is historically rare as the only A-frame timber footbridge in New South Wales.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	This item is associated with the Small Arms Factory, Lithgow for which it was purpose built.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	This item is assessed as architecturally rare.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The footbridge has some social significance to those people who worked at the nearby Small Arms Factory.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	This item is assessed as scientifically rare.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	This item is rare on a state-wide basis as the only A-frame timber bridge in New South Wales.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	This item is representative of many 'temporary' or 'for the duration of the war' structures that remain in New South Wales.
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.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		01115	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register

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:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5011973

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