Grafton rail and road bridge over Clarence River

Item details


Name of item:	Grafton rail and road bridge over Clarence River
Other name/s:	Clarence River Bridge, Grafton Bridge
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Transport - Rail
Category:	Railway Bridge/ Viaduct
Location:	Lat: -29.6977976452 Long: 152.9420951020
Primary address:	North Coast railway, Grafton, NSW 2460
Local govt. area:	Clarence Valley
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Grafton-Ngerrie

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	3		DP	1138536
LOT	11		DP	839860

Boundary:

The listing boundary for each structure includes the structure, the piers, abutments, embankments and track formation for a distance of 10 metres in all directions from those elements.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
North Coast railway	Grafton	Clarence Valley			Primary Address
Pacific Highway	Grafton	Clarence Valley			Alternate 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:


	This bridge is a double-deck road/rail structure, the only one of its type in NSW. There is a lift span to allow passing of river traffic (no longer used). It presents a commanding visual reminder of rail and road to residents of Grafton. Opening of the bridge in 1932 completed the North coast standard guage line between Sydney and Brisbane, avoiding the winding route via Tenterfield. The viaduct along with the wharf remains are important relics of the development of the north coast railway. The viaduct is representative of similar structures constructed at a range of locations, many of which have been replaced.
	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


Physical description:	STRUCTURES bridge across Clarence River - double deck road/rail bridge with Bascule span, 1932, RNE timber viaduct south of station, 1915

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 f) [Rarity]	This item is assessed as historically rare. This item is assessed as scientifically 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.

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		01036	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Icons Project Nomination for SHR listing			20 Jul 04
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register
State Environmental Planning Policy			23 Dec 94
Local Environmental Plan	Schedule 1		23 Sep 88	147	5033

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:	5045477
File number:	H03/00026; H04/00091/4 (ICONS)

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