Gundagai rail bridge over Murrumbidgee River

Item details


Name of item:	Gundagai rail bridge over Murrumbidgee River
Other name/s:	Murrumbidgee River Railway Bridge, Gundagai
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Railway Bridge/ Viaduct
Location:	Lat: -35.0733155212 Long: 148.1044630200
Primary address:	Cootamundra-Tumut railway, Gundagai, NSW 2722
Local govt. area:	Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Brungle/Tumut

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	1	DP	1179861
LOT	2	DP	1179964
LOT	3	DP	1179987

Boundary:

The viaduct is included as an item with the land upon which it immediately stands extenGundagaiding to the Prince Alfred Bridge. It is included with the road bridge which is not specifically included in this listing but which is integral with the rail bridge.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Cootamundra-Tumut railway	Gundagai	Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional			Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
TAHE - Country Rail Network - formr John Holland Australian Rail Track Corporation	State Government

Statement of significance:


	Gundagai is a major crossing of the Murrumbidgee River by the Hume Highway to Victoria, and the Tumut branch railway. The railway reached the town in 1886. Gundagai is a highly significant site with an excellent group of buildings and structures from the late 1880's. In particular the relationship of the station, yard and early timber road and rail viaducts adds to the particular significance of the area. The timber viaducts are of very high significance because of their size, their pairing and their construction as examples of an early engineering solution to crossing a major flood plain. Their national significance is recognised by listing by the National Estate. This viaduct is an example of timber bridge construction on a grand scale. A multi-span, high level viaduct of timber deck trusses and timber trestles, it is one of the most impressive structures in Australia. It dominates the crossing of the Murrumbidgee flood plain more so than the adjacent low level timber beam road viaduct. Its combination with the steel truss over the river makes for a unique technical juxtaposition of bridge types.
	Date significance updated: 02 Jun 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


Designer/Maker:	Railway Construction Branch staff, Public Works Department
Builder/Maker:	Day labour
Construction years:	1903-1903
Physical description:	A 77-span timber deck truss, 35-40 feet spans, on tall timber trestles
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Physical condition is good.
	Date condition updated:28 Apr 06


Current use:	Currently out of service, pedestrian use.
Former use:	Carried single track Gundagai-Tumut Line

History

Historical notes:

TRADITIONAL OWNERS
Gundagai is the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri Aboriginal people. It is unknown if the land on which the Gundagai Gaol was built had any special spiritual or cultural value for the Wiradjuri in pre-invasion or historic times.

SETTLEMENT OF GUNDAGAI
What became known as the Gundagai area was initially settled by British settlers in the late 1820s following in the footsteps of the explorers Hamiliton Hume and William Hovell who passed through the area in 1824. From this time a small settlement gradually developed on the low-lying flats on the north bank of the Murrumbidgee River near the river crossing. By 1840 the settlement had grown enough to be gazetted as a town. A few years later in 1843 there were four hotels, a post office, several stores, a school, blacksmith, and 20 houses. The following year this settlement was hit by the first of what were to be several floods. The local Wiradjuri continued to warn the settlers that this area was a poor choice for a settlement and it was only a matter of time before there was a large flood (NTA, 2012:8).

This flood finally came on 25 June 1852. It destroyed the entire settlement, consisting of 71 buildings, killing 173 people (of a population of around 400). Many people were forced to shelter in the lofts of their houses or in trees. The Wiradjuri men Yarri and Jackey Jackey heroically saved many of the settlers by braving the torrent in their canoes (NTA, 2012:8).

In the aftermath of this flood the settlers drastically rethought their settlement and moved the town to the higher slopes north of the river, founding the current North Gundagai. Within this new town plan a reserve was put aside for a Courthouse and Gaol along the main street.

GUNDAGAI RAIL BRIDGE OVER THE MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER
During the Whitton era, 1856-90, there was a government edict for railway construction to use as much local materials as possible instead of expensive imported iron bridges. Whitton used stone arches and some brick arches but mostly timber in the form of laminated arches, timber beam bridges and timber trusses.

His successor was his Deputy, Henry Deane who, following a visit to the USA instigated a policy of cheaper railway construction known as Pioneer Lines beginning in the late 1890s. Most inland rivers were crossed by a new series of timber trusses based on the American Howe truss. Only under special circumstances were steel trusses used.

There were two types of timber trusses, the large span 62 feet through trusses and the shorter 35 - 40 feet deck trusses. Upgrading replacements have reduced the survivors to 3 sites with through trusses and 5 sites with deck trusses. All but one are on lines that have suspended traffic.

At Gundagai there is a mix of both bridges policies. The main channel of the Murrumbidgee River had to be crossed by a high level major steel truss bridge but, in order to contain railway construction costs, the long, high level viaduct across the flood plain was built from timber in the form of 77 deck trusses on timber trestles.

It is timber bridge construction on a grand scale.

The total crossing had to be built first so as to provide access to South Gundagai and the railway construction beyond to Tumut.

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.	River flats-
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)-
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	Engineering the public railway 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	Building and maintaining the public railway 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	Bridging rivers-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Creating landmark structures and places in regional settings-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	20th Century infrastructure-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	19th Century Infrastructure-
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]	The Gundagai-Tumut Railway was one of the early branch lines built cheaply as a developmental railway. It was not sufficiently profitable to justify upgrading despite the heavy cost of crossing the Murrumbidgee River.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	A high level structure on timber trestles, it one of the most imposing bridge structures in Australia.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The Murrumbidgee railway crossing was essential to the social and commercial development of the district south of the river. Since the closing of rail services, the historic features of the railway have been successfully promoted such that the railway crossing is now a prominent tourist attraction.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The Murrumbidgee flood plain crossing at Gundagai was the largest application of the new type of timber deck truss bridge spans. It is an impressive example of the bridge carpenters’ skills.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	There are only five sites with timber Howe deck trusses.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	It is a spectacular representative example of a timber Howe deck truss.
Integrity/Intactness:	The structure retains its original fabric.
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		01039	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Rail Infrastructure Corporation s.170 Register	2003		Rail Infrastructure Corporation		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Tourism		2007	Gundagai Rail Bridge over Murrumbidgee River	View detail
Tourism	Attraction Homepage	2007	Gundagai rail bridge over Murrumbidgee River	View detail

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

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5012044

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