Tocumwal road and rail bridge over Murray River

Item details


Name of item:	Tocumwal road and rail bridge over Murray River
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Railway Bridge/ Viaduct
Location:	Lat: -35.8140857773 Long: 145.5567214740
Primary address:	Narrandera-Tocumwal railway, Tocumwal, NSW 2714
Local govt. area:	Berrigan
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Cummeragunja

Boundary:

The listing boundary is the bridge structure itself including abutments and approaches.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Narrandera-Tocumwal railway	Tocumwal	Berrigan			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:


	The river bridge was a combined road and rail structure. It is of very high significance because of its technological value and its importance in the history of transport in the State and inter State rivalries.
	Date significance updated: 29 Nov 00
	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:	1895-
Physical description:	STRUCTURES rail/road bridge - steel across Murray River to Victoria lift span, RNE, LEP. Comprises mostly wrought iron elements: Three spans: two through truss spans and through girder centre span, carrying a single broad-gauge railway track over the Murray River. The up end and down end spans (side spans) comprise wrought iron through trusses and the central span, which can be raised to allow river vessels through at high water levels, comprises of wrought iron through girders. Steel I-beam stringers span longitudinally between mild steel cross-girders and diagonal wrought iron tie rod plan bracing in the side spans. In the centre span, stringers span between wrought iron cross girders with wrought iron equal angle wind bracing (ibid, 2017, 12) Steel grid mesh spans between the stringers in spans 1 and 3, while in span 2 there are timber planks between the rails, and wrought iron trough sections either side of the rails. The rails are directly fixed to the stringers' top flanges in the centre span (ibid, 2017, 12). The centre span historically was operated as a lift span to allow passage of river-going vessels. The lift span mechanism has been disabled (Nuttall Engineering, 2017, 4).
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Recently there have been a few investigations into the bridge's condition. Though none have fully covered the entirety of the structure, they give good insight into ongoing issues and the state of components. More detail is in section 2 . The results of the inspection found no defects that may cause concern for the safe running of trains. However many require attention to prevent them from turning into more serious defects (Nuttall Engineering, 2017, 4).
	Date condition updated:30 Jan 18
Modifications and dates:	Since 1895 consrtuction, the bridge has undergone a number of changes, including strengthening and repair works on several occasions, deck replacements and raising the deck level (Nuttall Engineering, 2017, 4). Initially provided for road traffic only, it was strengthened for rail traffic in 1908, and used for both road and rail traffic until November 1987. The record drawings indicate apparent repairs and strengthening works in 1973, 1980, 1982 and 1987. 1977 lift span locked. 1987 road vehicle access removed (i.e. rail traffic only). 2012 strengthening and side span deck replacement. A concrete road bridge was provided as an alternative route for road traffic upstream, with the old bridge used for rail traffic only since that time, at which point various strengthening works were undertaken to allow for the new loading conditions. The deck was modified and strengthening repairs undertaken in 2012 (Nuttall Engineering, 2017, 11-12).


Current use:	Railway bridge over Murray River
Former use:	Aboriginal land, farmland

History

Historical notes:

The Tocumwall Railway Bridge was built in 1895, with three spans, the centre span having an opening lift for navigation (allowing river boats to pass). WHen opened, monthly lifting of the centre span was carried out for testing purposes (Nuttall Engineering, 2017, 11-12).

Initially provided for road traffic only, it was strengthened for rail traffic in 1908, and used for both road and rail traffic until November 1987. WHen the bridge was made a rail/road bridge, the centre span was always kept down unless river traffic needed it (up)(ibid, 2017, 12).

By 1930, river traffic declined, and so by 1944, the montly lifting was altered to yearly. In 1951 it was proposed to keep the span closed, the last lift (of it) for river traffic being in 1933, and no maintenance lifting having been done for a decade (ibid, 2017, 12).

In September 1977, both state governments agreed to keep the centre lift span fixed, and removed the requirement for being able to lift it (ibid, 2017, 12).

A concrete road bridge was provided as an alternative route for road traffic upstream, with the old bridge used for rail traffic only since that time, at which point various strengthening works were undertaken to allow for the new loading conditions. The record drawings indicate apparent repairs and strengthening works in 1973, 1980, 1982 and 1987. The deck was modified and strengthening repairs undertaken in 2012. (ibid, 2017, 11-12).

Easter 1995 celebrations included operation of the bridge's lift span (ibid, 2017,12). Tocumwal Rail bridge is currently in use by V/Line providing transport to passengers and freight travelling between Shepparton and NSW (Tiarne Gordon , 2018, 2).

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	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	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	Bridging rivers-
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 f) [Rarity]	This item is assessed as historically rare. This item is assessed as arch. rare. This item is assessed as socially rare.
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
Recommended Management	Produce a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)
Recommended Management	Prepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines
Recommended Management	Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education

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		01061	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register
Local Environmental Plan	Berrigan Local Environmental Plan 2013	I52	04 Oct 13

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Nuttal Engineering Consultants	2017	Special Investigation Report - Tocumwal Rawilway Bridge - Structure ID: KM 250.621 - Murray River Bridge at Tocumwal - Inspection and Assessment Report
Written	Tiane Gordon	2018	Tocumwal Rail and Road Bridge over Murray River - Heritage Impact Statement

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:	5012248
File number:	EF14/4403

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